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Kalakaua also had a still-famous statue of King Kamehameha I erected across the street from the palace, and was an active patron of hula and other traditional arts, including music, surfing, and Hawaiian martial arts. The annual Merrie Monarch Festival, the top hula competition, is named in his honor.

Kalakaua also had a still-famous statue of King Kamehameha I erected across the street from the palace, and was an active patron of hula and other traditional arts, including music, surfing, and Hawaiian martial arts. The annual Merrie Monarch Festival, the top hula competition, is named in his honor.

Politically, Kalakaua struggled against the Missionary Party, a political party founded in Hawaii by American plantation owners, land speculators and the like who pushed for greater advantages for businessmen like themselves, greater US involvement in the islands, stronger adherence to Protestantism, and a figurehead role for the Hawaiian monarchy. Opposing these pressures, Kalakaua pushed for a more strongly independent Hawaiian Kingdom, under a strong monarchy, and traveled the world to meet with world leaders, displaying his cultural and political savvy and seeking to negotiate favorable diplomatic relationships between his kingdom and other nations. These included meeting with [[Ulysses S. Grant]] in Washington DC, and the Meiji Emperor in Tokyo (as detailed below). Pushing against Western imperialism, Kalakaua initiated or engaged favorably with proposals for both a pan-Pacific confederation under Hawaiian leadership, or an alliance of Asian and Pacific polities under Japanese leadership.

Politically, Kalakaua struggled against the Missionary Party, a political party founded in Hawaii by American plantation owners, land speculators and the like who pushed for greater advantages for businessmen like themselves, greater US involvement in the islands, stronger adherence to Protestantism, and a figurehead role for the Hawaiian monarchy. Opposing these pressures, Kalakaua pushed for a more strongly independent Hawaiian Kingdom, under a strong monarchy, and traveled the world to meet with world leaders, displaying his cultural and political savvy and seeking to negotiate favorable diplomatic relationships between his kingdom and other nations. These included meeting with [[Ulysses S. Grant]] in Washington DC, and the Meiji Emperor in Tokyo (as detailed below). During his visit to Washington, Kalakaua became the first foreign head of state to address a joint session of Congress.<ref>Schweizer, 108.</ref> Pushing against Western imperialism, Kalakaua initiated or engaged favorably with proposals for both a pan-Pacific confederation under Hawaiian leadership, or an alliance of Asian and Pacific polities under Japanese leadership.

===In Japan===

===In Japan===