About

The Royal Order of Kamehameha was established by Kamehameha V in 1865 to honor his grandfather King Kamehameha I. Membership was based on meritorious service to the Hawaiian Kingdom. As a result, several prominent people of Hawaii including kings, queens and emperors from around the world who supported the Hawaiian Kingdom, were knighted by the Order. After the illegal overthrow, the Order was forced underground and became a secret society. In 1902 under the direction of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, the Order reorganized but this time as a fraternal organization, based on charity and benevolence. In 1907 Kuhio created chapter 1 of the Royal Order of Kamehameha.

In 2011, Moku o Kohala was organized as chapter 9 of the Order representing the Kohala district and the homelands of Kamehameha I. It is presently one of ten chapters throughout Hawaii.