One of Robert Louis Stevenson's most beautiful poems The Island Rose, was dedicated to the half Scottish, half Hawaiian Princess Ka'iulani.

But our Scots islands far away
Shall glitter with unwonted day,
And cast for once their tempests by
To smile in Ka'iulani's eye.

She was heir apparent to the Hawaiian throne before the American overthrow of the kingdom in the 1890's. Billy Kay visits places in Waikiki and Honolulu associated with RLS and Ka'iulani, and attends a commemoration ceremony in memory of her and her father Archibald Cleghorn. We will also hear of other influential Scots in the 19th century: Archibald Campbell from Paisley who was taken into the Royal household and there practiced his skills as a weaver; the Scottish statesman from Ayrshire, Robert Crichton Wylie who was an advisor to three kings and is regarded as a leading influence who contributed hugely to the development of Hawaii and its political independence at a time when France, Russia, Britain and the United States had all designs on annexing the islands; Captain Alexander Adams from Arbroath ran the navy for the king, and is buried in Honolulu alongside one of his Scottish drinking companions...the gravestone reads "Twa Cronies frae the Land o Heather Lie sleepin here in daith thegither.". Show less