Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/King Kalākaua's world tour

King Kalākaua's world tour[edit]

This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page unless you are renominating the article at TFAR. For renominations, please add {{collapse top|Previous nomination}} to the top of the discussion and {{collapse bottom}} at the bottom, then complete a new nomination underneath. To do this, see the instructions at {{TFAR nom/doc}}.

The result was: (after initially not being chosen for the nominated date) scheduled for Wikipedia:Today's featured article/April 16, 2017 by Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 11:53, 2 April 2017 (UTC)[reply]
situation updated by Bencherlite ^Talk 17:04, 5 April 2017 (UTC)[reply]

King Kalākaua's world tour in 1881 was a 281-day feat distinguishing him as the first monarch to circumnavigate the globe. His agenda was to negotiate contract labor for the Kingdom of Hawaii's sugar plantations, with hopes of saving the dwindling Native Hawaiian population by drawing immigration from Asia-Pacific nations. Rumors circulated that the negotiations were a ruse to cover a plan to put the Hawaiian Islands on the auction block. He met with heads of state, reviewed military troops, had an audience with the Pope in Rome, and became influenced by the styles of European monarchies. In between negotiations, Kalākaua and his boyhood friends who traveled with him visited renowned tourist sites and attended local Freemasonry lodge meetings. A visit with Thomas Edison on the return trip through New York led to Iolani Palace becoming the first place in Hawaii to have electric lighting. Kalākaua's amiable personality generated goodwill around the world, and the trip resulted in an increased labor force. A century later, Japanese-Americans erected a statue of Kalākaua in Waikiki commemorating the anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese laborers following his trip. (Full article...)

Most recent similar article(s): Feb 27, 2017 Henry Hoʻolulu Pitman (Hawaiian article, but nothing to do with royalty or similar subject matter)
Main editors: Maile66, KAVEBEAR
Promoted: January 22, 2017
Reasons for nomination: April 16 opening date of Hawaii's annual week-long Merrie Monarch Festival, dedicated to Kalākaua
Support as nominator. — Maile (talk) 12:45, 4 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Support fascinating story. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 07:26, 14 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Support - cool story Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 11:33, 22 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Support - Very interesting! I love the vibe this article gives, great writing! Also, the fact that you seem to use the weird apostrophes in a consistent way satisfies my bar for consistency. RileyBugz ^{Yell at me} | _Edits 15:26, 26 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]