Context: During the reign of King Kamehameha II, Christian missionaries began to arrive per invitation by the rulers, after they abolished the previous system of worship known as the Kapu.

His mother in law Ka’ahumanu was a Christian convert and Kamehameha II was friendly towards it, but refused to convert as he would have to give up having multiple wives including his half sister Kamāmalu.

He purchased a royal yacht known as Cleopatra’s Barge and was said to have such pride in it that his agent stated:

If you want to know how Religion stands at the Islands I can tell you — All sects are tolerated but the King worships the Barge.