The imagined guarantee begins with Kamehameha II and Queen Kamamalu's fatal 1824 visit to Britain. The scenario has them become friendly enough with George IV to ask on their deathbeds for protection of the Kamehameha family, the Hawaiian people, and the kingdom's independence. Its proposed mechanism depends on a particular interpretation of George IV's vanity and impulsiveness: he might agree without weighing the practical limits. Once the head of state gave his word, the government could face a question of British national honor that it would struggle to disregard. In this scenario, the promise produces a protectorate that preserves Hawaiian government, with no colony or governorship.
Notable Point · 3:18-7:02
George IV and the royal promise
The proposed point of divergence has Kamehameha II and Queen Kamamalu secure a British promise of protection on their deathbeds during their 1824 visit.