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KAMALEHUA: THE SHELTERING TREE tells the true story of Timoteo Ha?alilio, Royal Secretary and lifelong friend to King Kamehameha III. Set in the mid-nineteenth century, the opera reveals the little-known history of the Hawaiian Kingdom and its early struggles to maintain independence. The focus is Ha?alilio's 1842-45 mission to the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, and France to secure treaties recognizing Hawai?i as a sovereign nation with the goal of protecting the kingdom from annexation by foreigners. Ha?alilio was accompanied by the Reverend William Richards, a trusted advisor and friend to both Ha?alilio and King Kamehameha III. During the expedition Ha?alilio and Richards met with officials, including US Secretary of State Daniel Webster and Lord Aberdeen, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Ha?alilio became quite the celebrity, particularly in Washington and Paris, due to his dashing presence and status as royalty from an exotic kingdom. Although they received verbal, and in some cases written, recognition, no formal treaties were ratified. But the mission was successful in bringing the Kingdom of Hawai?i to the attention of those nations. During their return from Boston to Hawai?i in 1844, Ha?alilio's health declined rapidly, and he passed away less than a month into the voyage. The opera illustrates the sophistication and establishment of the Hawaiian government at the time, as well as the vigilance of Hawaiian leaders in dealing with the pressures and politics of the western world. While the story focuses on the unique culture, politics, and history of Hawai?i, its themes are universal.
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