The original guards were called the Royal House old Guards - an elite group of soldiers who were stationed at the royal palace in Honolulu with the responsibility of guarding the kings of Hawaii in the 1800's. Each guard was selected by the king himself for his loyalty. These guards were taught drill and ceremonies by European standards and the uniforms reflected a Prussian influence. The last king of Hawaii especially enjoyed military displays of drill and the palace grounds held numerous drill events which helped to enforce
order and discipline within the ranks. The Guards faithfully fulfilled their duties until the Hawaiian monarchy ended, at which time they were decommissioned. 

When Hawaii became a territory of the U.S., the islands were then considered a vital military port. With this large military presence, the rigors of daily discipline & drill continued. In the early 1920's, ROTC programs were opened to select high schools in Honolulu. The cadets were instructed in drill & ceremony by military personnel. Specialized regulation teams were organized within the units and were soon followed by exhibition drill which became very popular. 

Because of Hawaii's isolation, exhibition drill was little known and taught by a select few with knowledge on the subject. It was not like today with the availability of media such as television and videos. Back then if you saw something you liked, you would memorize it and try to recreate it from memory. By the 1950's, Hawaii was the crossroads of the Pacific and all drill information that passed by was quickly absorbed. 

Each Guard is selected for his discipline and positive attitude and willingness to contribute to the team effort. Instilling discipline in the Guard program is accomplished in a number of ways. The most unusual means is the form of Hawaiian dance called the Hula. In ancient Hawaii, the hula was a rigid form of discipline used by Hawaiian warriors to teach battle and defense techniques. Warriors would respond to drum commands and rhythms to coordinate battle formations. Their skills were practiced relentlessly until perfection was reached. Because ancient Hawaii had no form of written language, these techniques were memorized and passed down from teacher to student. 

Because of the demanding performance schedules, flexibility is a necessary trait. Guards are instructed in several basic formations and position changes. We are rotated on a daily basis to form specialized teams. It is not uncommon that one day we perform with 30 Guards in a local parade and the next day join a 12-man team traveling abroad on a special advertising tour. 

Mr. Paul Naki is the gracious leader of the famous King's Guard drill team.