Hawaii’s Back yard
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi
KING'S VILLAGE
Paul Naki's personal collection of memorabilia is the basis for the King's Guard Museum, which pays tribute to the drill team modeled after King Kalakaua's Royal Household Guards.
You've seen them at parades, conventions, sports competitions, state ceremonies and other events -- a cadre of five to 25 men nattily dressed in blue coats and white pants, gloves and helmets. Their brass buttons shine; their shoes, belts and rifles are spotless. They'd fit right in at the front gates of Buckingham Palace, but the King's Village shopping center in Waikiki is where the King's Guard calls home. 25-member KingÕs Guard
stands tall in Waikiki
Hawaii's only semi-professional drill unit, the King's Guard was introduced in 1972 when King's Village opened. Over the years, it has won numerous distinctions, including being the reigning World Champion of Exhibition Rifle Drill, but it was originally created as an attraction to perpetuate the traditions and pageantry of the 19th-century Hawaiian monarchy.
Address: King's Village, 131 Kaiulani Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815 King's Guard Museum
Hours: 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily
Admission: Free
Call: 944-6855
Web site: www.kings-village.com
In the late 1880s, King Kalakaua established the Royal Household Guards, an elite corps of 50 men stationed at Iolani Barracks, adjacent to Iolani Palace. They were charged with protecting the king, and the men were hand-picked by Kalakaua for their loyalty and fighting ability. The king is said to have enjoyed watching their military exercises on the palace grounds.
The Royal Household Guards served until Jan. 16, 1893, when the monarchy, under the reign of Queen Liliuokalani, was overthrown. The King's Guard recalls these proud, brave soldiers of a century ago. At the entrance to King's Village every night at 6:15, the group presents a free Changing of the Guard Ceremony, featuring a snappy rifle drill exhibition. The unit's movements are so smooth and well coordinated, they belie the many years of training and practice each Guard goes through to achieve his expertise.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 25 active members in the King's Guard, ranging in age from 16 to 46. They come from all walks of life -- from high school and college students to lawyers, teachers, entertainers, retailers and active military personnel.
"We start drilling them young, and they practice and practice and practice," says King's Guard's Director Paul Naki, who began his training in rifle drill 29 years ago while attending McKinley High School. "It takes five years before someone can even be considered for our top-notch team."
As Junior ROTC cadets in high school, potential Guards first learn the basics of presenting arms and marching formations. From there, they advance to the exhibition or fancy drills, which include throwing and spinning rifles that weigh 8.5 to 10 pounds.
King's Guard's routines usually last between three and five minutes, but "during that short time, you expend so much energy," Naki says. "Our routines are precise, and we have to remember every step, every movement, just like a professional dancer. Your mind is whizzing when it's happening."
Since the King's Guard was formed 31 years ago, only about 200 men have made the cut. Naki estimates just one out of 15 who audition today earns a place in the prestigious unit. "It's tougher than getting into a private school," he laughs.
In addition to performing nightly at King's Village, the King's Guard is involved with community projects year round, including free shows for charity events and two annual drill team competitions for Junior ROTC units statewide.
"I tell my guys we need to give back to the community, we need to be service oriented," Naki says. "We represent Hawaii at many functions here, on the mainland and abroad."
OPENED IN January, the 850-square-foot King's Guard Museum showcases never-before-seen memorabilia documenting the history and accomplishments of Hawaii's acclaimed drill team. Among the items on display are uniforms, rifles, sabers, flags, banners, posters, photographs and awards the Guard has received throughout the years.
"This is the only museum I know of that is dedicated to an exhibition rifle drill team," says Naki, a 21-year veteran of the King's Guard. "Visitors will enjoying perusing this one-of-a-kind collection. Former and present Guards will feel a great sense of pride when reviewing, reflecting on and reliving the history of the program."
The idea to create the museum was born in August of last year during a reception celebrating the King's Guard's 30th anniversary. At that party, Naki displayed a selection of memorabilia he had gathered from King's Village's storerooms and his private collection, which he had tucked away in trunks, boxes and closets at home.
"People were just blown away when they saw the exhibit," recalls Naki. "The management of King's Village said, 'Hey, we need to preserve this stuff.' Thirty years ago, we never thought about doing that, but the King's Guard is an important part of Hawaii's history. We put on one of the longest running shows in Waikiki."
There are wonderful stories behind every item in the glass cases. One black rifle was among a set of eight that was stolen from the King's Guard in 1976. "The thieves dropped it in Waikiki," says Naki, "and a visitor picked it up and turned it in to the police, who didn't know what to do with it. They thought it belonged to King's Alley, as the shopping center was known back then, put a note on it that read 'King's Alley?' and threw it in the evidence room."
The rifle sat there for 24 years. When the evidence room finally was cleaned out, an officer gave Naki a call, saying, "We may have one of your rifles here." Naki went to the station and was able to identify it through its serial number. "Because of that," he says, "we now have one of only three existing examples of that black rifle that I know of. It's an 1860s Steyers valued at $2,000."
According to Naki, only about half of the King's Guard's treasures are currently on view at the museum. He plans to rotate the displays, enabling other items to receive the time they deserve in the spotlight.
"The museum provides a fascinating look at the past, present and future of the King's Guard," he says. "Never before could people discover so much about the Guard; I'm delighted to finally be able to share this special part of Hawaii's history with the public. There are so many great stories to tell!"
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based free-lance writer
and Society of American Travel Writers award winner.
