Chinese Merchants of Honolulu

Invitation to a Ball in honor of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma to be held on 13th November. Addressed to Captain Luce of the ship "Onward". Honolulu, 1 November 1856



8vo (6 7/8 x 4 3/8 in.; 175 x 112 mm.). 1 page plus blank leaf, on paper with embossed edges, printed in blue and gold, with addressed envelope.

David W. Forbes, Treasures of Hawaiian History (1992), no. 148

The marriage of King Kamehameha IV and Emma Rooke on 19 June 1856 was the incentive for a number of social functions during the succeeding months of the year, one of the most interesting of which was a grand ball in their honor given by the Chinese merchants of Honolulu. This was a key event in the social history of Honolulu as foreigners and natives met as social equals.