A Knights Templar Masonic sword made for King David Kalakaua

the thin double-edged steel blade with center groove, and engraved on one side with the inscription in Latin, 'in hoc signo inces' encircling a Latin cross, and the reverse engraved with a fortress and medieval knights, beneath the hard-wood hilt mounted with a brass cross and the pommel in the form of a knight's head wearing a helmet, a double flange forming the brass guard with two triangular cut-outs, and inset in a brass sheath engraved with scrolling motifs and the same Latin inscription above a stylized mask at the tip.

King David Kalakaua (1836-1874)

Prince David Kawananakoa (1868-1908)

Abigail Wahiikaahuula Campbell Kawananakoa (1883-1945)

David Laamea Kahalepouli Kalakaua Kawananakoa (1904-1953)

By descent through the family

An archival photograph from the Iolani Palace shows King David Kalakaua wearing the uniform of the Knights Templar and holding the offered sword (see reproduction).

Like many important male members of the Hawaiian royalty, the King was a Freemason who belonged to the Lodge Le Progres de l'Oceanie Number 124, which was founded in Honolulu on April 8, 1843.

King Kalakaua ultimately became a Master of his Lodge in 1876. Later he became a 32nd degree Scottish Right Mason as a charter member of the Honolulu Scottish Right Bodies. Both the offered sword and his Scottish Right sword were some of his most treasured possessions.