A prompt personal meeting between Kamehameha III and Paulet might have prevented the affair from escalating. Directing Paulet to negotiate through Judd instead put the accused minister between the captain and the king. Paulet probably went too far, but his direct approach and reliance on force made him a poor fit for this crisis rather than simply a bad officer. Thomas succeeded partly because experience, rank, and broader powers allowed him to think laterally and reopen the encounter on different terms.
Notable Point · 1:22:20-1:24:43
Judd's role as intermediary and the escalation of the crisis
Trying to make Judd the intermediary when he was the subject of complaint encouraged a direct, forceful officer to treat the crisis as a problem for coercion.