Royal Hawaiian from back page … of Hawaii, John O. Dominis (ob. August 30, 1891), was one of the first two Scottish Rite Masons in Hawaii to receive the 33º AASR (SJ) on July 14, 1878. His petition for initiation was received April 30, 1858 in Lodge le Progres de l’Oceanie while King Kamehameha IV was Master of the Lodge and he was raised August 15, 1858. He served as Master of the Lodge in 1863, 1864 and 1868. Kamehameha V (December 11, 1830 – December 11, 1872) was king of Hawaii from 1863 – 1872. He was the first full-blooded Hawaiian to be made a Freemason. His petition was read in Hawaiian Lodge #21 on June 10, 1853. This was the first American Lodge to be instituted in the Sandwich Islands (later named Hawaii), under the Grand Lodge of California.. He Kamehameha V was elected June 13, initiated June 15, passed December 8, 1853, and raised February 27, 1854. At the time he was Prince Lot Kapuaiwa Kamehameha, who ascended the throne as Kamehameha V on November 30, 1863 upon the death of his brother. He was present on January 14, 1857, in Lodge Le Progress de l’Oceanie #124 (under AASR constitution) when his brother King Kamehameha IV was initiated. This Lodge was the first Masonic Lodge established on the Islands when, during the reign of Prince Lot’s uncle, King Kamehameha III, it was chartered April 8, 1843, by the AASR for the Supreme Council of France. Because of a conflict between the affiliations of the two Lodges, Kamehameha V dimitted from the Lodge on March 2, 1857. He was always treated as a Freemason and upon his death both Lodges joined in the Masonic funeral ceremonies. Kalakaua (David La’amea Kamanakapu’u Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kal’kaua) was born November 16, 1836 and reigned from February 12, 1874 until his death on January 20, 1891 in San Francisco. He saw parallels between Freemasonry and ancient ali’i practices. Not only was he an enthusiastic Freemason, but he tried to create corollary Hawaiian organizations, such as Hale Naua, an exclusive society established for the study of ancient Hawaiian traditions. Alexander Liholiho Keawenui ‘Iolani (February 9, 1834 – November 30, 1863) was the grandson of Kamehameha I, first monarch of the islands, and nephew of Kamehameha III. He assumed the throne as Kamehameha IV on Alexander Liholiho January 11, 1855, at the age of 20. Keawenui ‘Iolani Denslow gives this account of his 102 Fall 2013
entrance into Freemasonry: “On Jan. 14, 1857 he was initiated and passed in the Lodge Le Progress de l’Oceanie #124 (under AASR jurisdiction, later #371 under Calif.). His raising was deferred until Feb. 8 of that year, at which time he passed his examination in open Lodge in full on the two degrees he had taken, to the surprise and admiration of the Brethren present. R. G. Davis, Master of the Lodge at the time, wrote: ‘Seldom have I witnessed the impressive ceremonies of this degree conducted with such solemnity. The candidate, divested of all regal honors, standing before a large assembly of Brethren, many of them decorated with rich jewels, and all in Masonic clothing, gave the Lodge a striking appearance and left an impression on our minds not soon to be effaced. It was a lesson in humility.’ The Lodge was closed at 11 p.m. and the Brethren repaired to the king’s palace where they were entertained in a truly royal manner. At five minutes after midnight, they toasted the king’s 22nd birthday. Kamehameha took immediate interest in Masonic activities. He was installed as junior warden, Sept. 9, 1857, and as Master the following January. He served as Master for three years. A crowning act of his reign, and a monument to him, was the founding of the Queen’s Hospital, the cornerstone of which he laid, July 17, 1860, with Masonic ceremonies….Alexander Liholiho Council of Kadosh #1, AASR (SJ) of Honolulu is named in his honor.” In The Northern Light 43.4 (November, 2012) Mark Lovell reports that a permanent exhibit now at Iolani Palace features the Masonic lifestyle of King Kalakaua, including a portrait of the King in full 33º regalia. This exhibit was established by Lodge Le Progres de l’Oceanie and the curatorial staff of Iolani Palace. Included in the exhibit are the ceremonial trowels, level, plumb, and square which in 1879 commemorated the laying of the palace’s cornerstone, as well as King Kalakaua’s Past Master’s Jewel. The Honolulu Star Advertiser (March 4, 2012) reported how some of these artifacts were discovered. When renovating the Makiki Lodge building in Honolulu, workers found hidden under a stairway a safe, in which were found Masonic documents and artifacts, signed by such notables as King David Kalakaua and John Dominis, Queen Lili’uokalani’s husband. The documents showed John Dominis that many of the best-known leaders during the royal era were Freemasons. [Sources: William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons (1957-1960); The Northern Light; Honolulu Star Advertiser; www.hawaiiFreemason.org; Herbert G. Gardiner, PG Secretary, “The First Full Blooded Hawaiian Freemason.”] the missouri freemason