Faith and Philanthropy: Queen Emma Kaleleonālani’s Visit to England, 1865-1866

Between 1865-1866, Queen Emma Kaleleonālani departed Hawaiʻi for a year-long journey to England, the only journey outside of the Hawaiian Kingdom that she took during her lifetime (1836-1885). Her trip was not for recreation or pleasure but had a specific mission: fundraising for the construction of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican Church in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. This presentation highlights new research identifying items associated with Queen Emma’s travel and fundraising strategies, utilizing objects from multiple Bishop Museum collections to demonstrate not only the richness of her journey but also the social, religious, and political spaces she navigated as a Hawaiian royal.

Sarah Kuaiwa is Curator for Hawaiʻi and Pacific Cultural Resources at Bishop Museum. Kuaiwa’s curatorial practice centers collection-based research and activates emergent museum models for ethical returns and shared stewardship. Her forthcoming exhibition, Ea Mai ‘Eiwa: Patterns of Practice, presents new art works by esteemed artists Nālani Kanakaʻole, Sig Zane, and Kūhaʻo Zane inspired by Bishop Museum cultural objects and the artist’s deep and intimate knowledge of Hawaiian hula traditions. She holds a Ph.D. in art history from the University of East Anglia, Sainsbury Research Unit and a M.A. in history from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Kuaiwa is a 2025-2026 Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library Postdoctoral Fellow.

Please RSVP by: Friday, May 8, 2026

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Mahalo nui loa!