The Order was first introduced and created as the Order of the Crown and Cross

by H.M. King Kamehameha III in July 1848, on the advice of his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert C. Wyllie.  Although the decorations, motto & colors were not created as there were resistance by Americans to establish the order.

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In 1883, H.M. King Kalākaua created the Order of the Crown and its statutes written with the motto "Hawaiʻi Ke Kalaunu", and the ribbon colors of blue and white.  After H.M. Queen Liliʻuokalani was illegally deposed, 

the Order of the Crown was held in abeyance. 

The Order of the Crown and Cross has been re-established as the Order of the Crown amended in 2016 by HRH Princess Owana Kaʻohelelani Laʻanui Salazar, who is the Head of the Royal House of Hawaiʻi and Grandmaster of the order.  The revised 2016 order installs the ribbon colors of gold with purple edges, the shield has

a purple ring surrounding the Hawaiian crown with the motto "Onipaʻa".

The Order of the Crown is highly awarded to the head of states/dynasties, 

also as awards of merit to loyal supporters of the royal family and those who provide excellent services in the field of cultural achievement and education in Hawaii.

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For nominations, please submit a request to the Chancellor at chancellery@crownofhawaii.com

(original) Order of the Crown

Information about the Royal Orders of the Hawaiian Kingdom

The Kingdom of Hawai’i was established in 1810 by King Kamehameha I of the House of Keōua Nui at the capitulation of all the other island chiefs.  During the reign of his son, Kamehameha III (1825-1854), it was felt that a royal order of chivalry needed to be established to match the international recognition of the islands as a sovereign kingdom among the nations of the world. 

Royal Order of the Crown. The idea for a Hawaiian order was first discussed in an Order-in-Council meeting in 1848 but was not implemented due to resistance from the America missionaries who generally did not favor monarchical symbols.  The Royal Order of the Crown was finally awarded during the reign of King Kalākaua and is the oldest of the royal orders.  In 2016 its statutes were rewritten and the award reestablished by the senior heir to the House of Keoua Nui, HRH Princess Owana Kaʻōhelelani.

Royal Order of King Kamehameha I.  In 1865 King Kamehameha V established this order to honor his grandfather, the conqueror Kamehameha I.  In 1902, Prince Kūhio reorganized and secularized the order as a civic lodge and not as a dynastic order.  It now operates as a civic fraternal organization under several, often competing chapters.

Royal Order of Kalākaua I.  To celebrate his coronation, King Kalākaua created the Royal Order of Kalākaua.  It has never been reestablished.

Royal Order of Kapiʻolani.  Established by King Kalākaua in 1880, this order was awarded for those prominent in humanitarian causes and artistic endeavors.  It was abrogated in 1893.

Royal Order of the Star of Oceania.  In 1886, King Kalākaua established this order to help build alliances with notable people throughout the Pacific and advancing his plan to establish a conference of islands across the Pacific.  It was abolished during the overthrown of Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893. Its statutes were rewritten and the award reestablished by the senior heir to the House of Keōua Nui, HRH Princess Owana Kaʻōhelelani.

Princess Owana Kaʻōhelelani.  As senior heir to the ruling House of Keōua Nui, Princess Owana has placed all the royal orders under her patronage.  Since they were never nationalized with the Overthrow, they are recast as House Orders awarded at the pleasure of its head.  In respecting the long fraternal establishment of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, she supports that organization.  Princess Owana owns title to the trade names of all orders except this one, through the State of Hawaii Bureau of Conveyances and are Trademarked under the USPTO, Princess Owana intends to re-establish the other orders. Therefore, any use of these names by other parties is noted as prohibited as a breech of trade name infringement, and any orders issued by these parties must be considered counterfeit. In addition, Princess Owana has established the House Order of Ka’ōhelelani in honor of her grandmother.  It exists in seven classes and is given only to members of the Royal Family.