Russian flag was raised over the island of Kauai in 1816-1817, and names like the Don River and the fortresses of Elizabeth, Alexander and Barclay appeared on its map. On May 21, a PIR Center’s seminar will be held on Hawaii: 210 years of the raising of the Russian flag over the island of Kauai and the History of Russian Hawaii. These events, which almost made Hawaii part of the Russian Empire, remain a little-studied page of history. Fort Elizabeth (a fortress named after the Russian Empress) still exists, but there are proposals to rename it, which is part of the trend of revising the Russian historical heritage in the US.
What is the history of relations between Russia and the Kingdom of Kauai? What nuclear and missile aspects should be considered as part of the analysis of the current state in Kauai? What are the main conclusions about the history of the annexation of the Hawaiian Kingdom?
These and many other issues will be discussed at the PIR Center’s seminar entitled “Hawaii: 210 Years of Raising the Russian Flag Over the Island of Kauai and the History of Russian Hawaii,” which will be held on May 21, 2026 at MGIMO University. For participants who do not have the opportunity to join in person, an online connection will be provided.
The seminar will continue the tradition of previous events organized by PIR Center on the topic of Russian America, such as the 2017 and 2018 round tables with the participation of diplomats, historians, as well as the PIR Center’s seminar on “Hawaii: Pages and Lessons of History. The Russian Flag and the American Annexation,” held in 2025 at MGIMO University.
Ms. Cynthia Lazaroff, independent expert (US), Dr. Niklaus Schweizer, historian and writer from Switzerland, author of the book “His Hawaiian Excellency. The overthrow of the Government of Queen Liliuokalani and the Annexation of Hawaii”, Ms. Irina Kolotyrkina, translator of Niklaus Schweizer’s book, as well as Dr. Nikolai Niklukho-Maklay Jr., Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of Southeast Asia, Australia, and Oceania, Institute of Oriental Studies RAS, will serve as experts during the event. Dr. Vladimir Orlov, PIR Center Founding Director, Professor at MGIMO University, will also provide an expert commentary at the seminar. In addition to invited guests from Russia, the United States and other countries, students of MA Program International Security (implemented by MGIMO University jointly with PIR Center) will also deliver presentations.
Format of participation:
The event will be held on May 21 from 17:30 to 20:30 in a hybrid format:
• Offline: MGIMO University, room No. 442. Admission is free for those who have a pass to MGIMO University. For external guests who wish to participate in the event in person and do not have a pass to MGIMO University, please contact Mr. Artem Astvatsaturov, Assistant to PIR Center Director, via e-mail: editor@pircenter.org.
• Online: broadcast on the Yandex platform.
The working language is English.
Registration for online participants is mandatory (until 12:00 on May 20, 2026).
If you have any questions about participation, please contact Mr. Artem Astvatsaturov, Assistant to PIR Center Director, via e-mail: editor@pircenter.org.
