As the kingdom's chief diplomat during the reigns of King Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani, Curtis I'aukea was among the most traveled and decorated individuals in the history of Hawai'i.
I'aukea was born in 1855 at Waimea, Hawai'i, and raised in Honolulu, where he received training at 'Iolani Palace from his uncle, Kaihupa'a, who was an attendant of King Kamehameha III.
After completing his education at Iolani School, I'aukea returned to Hilo to learn the sugar trade. Spotted there by King Kalakaua during a royal tour of the Islands, I'aukea was ordered by the king to return to the palace.
Considered a "One-man Diplomatic Corps," I'aukea traveled to India, Japan and all the courts of Europe as a royal representative, receiving half a dozen honorary orders from foreign governments along the way.
He was the king's special envoy to the coronation of Czar Alexander III of Russia, and attended the celebration of British Queen Victoria's golden and diamond jubilees.
I'aukea represented the monarchy until its overthrow in 1893, and thereafter served in a number of republic and territorial positions until his death in 1940.
