HISTORY OF THE GUARD
Origins of Kings Alley
During the 1960’s, prominent developer Christopher Hemmeter progressively acquired properties in Waikiki on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. One of his acquisitions was a parcel of land once owned by beloved Hawaiian Princess Victoria Ka’iulani. Building on the former royal estate, Hemmeter opened the King’s Alley Shopping Center in 1972. Styled in elegant, old-world essence, the center’s concept was part historical, and part artistic visualization of Hawaii during the 1800’s. The charming outdoor mall featured cobblestone walkways, arched entrances, mosaic tiled fountains, a bell tower, and architectural flourishes that reflected the influence of European courts on the Hawaiian Monarchy. In memory of the late Princess, Hemmeter integrated several of her cherished Banyan trees into King’s Alley’s design, and images of her stately peacocks that once nested under these trees were also accented on shop signs.
THE KINGS ALLEY ROYAL HONOR GUARD
The crowning touch of the mall was the King’s Alley Royal Honor Guard. To complete the center’s regal presentation, Hemmeter established an exhibition guard to model the historic household troops that, a century earlier, attended the royal family at Iolani Palace in Honolulu.
High school students from local R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officer Training Corps) drill teams were fitted in Monarchy replicated uniforms, trained with colonial period rifles, and entrusted as “keepers of the kingdom”.
The King’s Alley Royal Honor Guard stood sentry at the front gates, patrolled the walkways, entertained shoppers with Hawaiian songs, and performed a changing of the guard ceremony at regular intervals.
Promoting Kings Alley through nighlty ceremonies, annual parades, special appearances, and nationwide drill competitions, in 1981 the contingent became known, simply, as the Kings Guard.