Fort Alexander, Russian earthwork fort in Hanalei, Hawaii
Fort Alexander was a Russian fortification featuring low earthen walls, possible palisades, and mounted cannons near the Hanalei River on Kauai. The structure served as a trading post and was built to secure operations for the Russian-American Company.
The fortification was built in October 1816 by Georg Anton Schäffer and named after Tsar Alexander I as Russia sought to establish a foothold in Hawaii. The project relied on an unauthorized agreement between Schäffer and the local ruler King Kaumuali'i.
The fort represents a moment when Russian trading interests and Hawaiian rule intersected during the era of Pacific maritime commerce. Today, visitors can sense how these two worlds met at this single location.
The site is now located within the grounds of a hotel on Ka Haku Road, where visitors can see partial outlines of the original structure. It is useful to check in advance what areas are accessible and whether guided tours are available.
Workers of the Russian-American Company built this fortification under an unofficial agreement that lasted only a short time. Russian control ended quickly, making this place a short-lived experiment in imperial expansion.
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