Yes, Scots have been coming to Hawaii since the end of the 18th century. They arrived with other Westerners soon after Kamehameha the Great unified the islands and Captain James Cook, a part-Scot, opened Hawaii to the West.

Hawaii's own Princess Ka'iulani was half Scottish. Her father, Archibald Scott Cleghorn, who arrived in Hawaii in 1851, was born in Edinburgh. He married Princess Miriam Likelike, sister of Queen Liliuokalani and King Kalakaua. Cleghorn served in several government positions under the monarchy and was Governor of Oahu under Queen Liliuokalani.

Many Scots either immigrated to Hawaii or passed through as visitors, since the first seafaring Scots discovered our beautiful islands. A visit by the author, Robert Louis Stevenson in 1889, was well publicized and has a historical note because of his friendship with King Kalakaua and Princess Ka'iulani.

From 1976-1982, The Caledonian Society sponsored an oral history project involving Scots in Hawaii, which resulted in 26 oral interviews being taped and transcribed for research purposes. In 1986 a monograph entitled Speaking of Scots in Hawaii was published. Many of the stories from the interviews and from some of the more famous Scots who visited and came to live in Hawaii can be found in The Story of Scots in Hawaii, a book published by The Caledonian Society in 2000. An order form for the book is available in the website.


Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii	Hawaiian Scottish Association	The Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii	Isle of Maui Pipe Band

The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Hawaii Branch	The Council of Scottish Clans and Associations	ScotlandOnline.com	X Marks the Scot

Scottish Tartans World Register	Tartans.com	Scottish Tartans Authority

Maui Celtic	Celtic Craft Centre	SportKilt