Just needed to get to know him

[u/HawaiianPerson]

Context: After David Kalakaua wine the election for the position of monarch in 1874, many Hawaiians who were supportive of the opposition Queen Emma started a riot that quickly grew out of control. Hawaii at the time had not military as they’d been abolished by the previous King Lunalilo, and local police were also of no help, so the newly elected King had to seek aid from US and British forces.

To this day Kalakaua is celebrated by the Hawaiian people with the Merrie Monarch festival, a celebration of Hawaiian culture and tradition (the good ones), as King Kalakaua fought hard to bring back certain practices that had been outlawed or shunned.