Russian interests in Hawaii?

Okay, in keeping up my recent interest with Hawaiian history, what if the Tsar ratifies the proposed treaty of protection with Hawaii?
 

maverick

Banned
I've heard he went as far as sending a warship over there...hmmm...

This could mean troubles with Britain, France or the USA, depending on the time and the political situation...

Then again, didn't the Tsar get rid of Alaska for being ridiculously far/hard to keep/expensive?
 
Russian Alaska was primarily a furring and trapping colony, however, as you mentioned, it was never very profitable due to the long distances between Russian trading centers and the colony itself. Then too, by the early nineteenth century, the population of Otters (the animals exploited for their furs) began to decline, and the British and Americans began to encroach upon Russian territory.

Hawaii would face many of these same problems, however; perhaps the Tsar becomes convinced it will be more profitable than Alaska as a colony or protectorate, due to its abundant tropical resources. In any case, the Russian presence probably will never be very strong there (unless the Tsar becomes seriously and atypically interested), and the Russians will face substantial resistance from the British.
 

maverick

Banned
Maybe it becomes a summer vacation colony for the royal family and the home of the exiled Russian Empire after the revolution of 1917...

Imagine the map, Hawaii as "Russian Empire":p
 
That would be pretty neat, I must admit, however, I've got something even cooler from Victoria: Empire Under the Sun. Take a look (*note, Hawaii was also a vassal of the Russian Empire):

RussianExpandedColonies.png

RussianExpandedColonies.png
 
Maybe it becomes a summer vacation colony for the royal family and the home of the exiled Russian Empire after the revolution of 1917...

Imagine the map, Hawaii as "Russian Empire":p

Well, they would finally get their all-year warm water port.

I'm not quite aware of any treaty of protection between the Tsar and the Kingdom of Hawaii. There was involvement in the Kingdom of Kauai, the lone island that held out against Kamehameha's conquest and unification of the islands. I think Hawaii becomes far more important to the Russians - or even just Kauai, if Alaska remains Russian.
 
I've never heard of any real-life Russian involvement in Hawaii. Can anyone link any info on it? Someone mentioned that they dispatched a ship there...
 
I want to know how Russia, if the premise of this scenario is accurate, would manage to maintain its protectorate/control over Hawaii for a long span of time.
 
The Russian Empire would likely protect Hawaii in the same manner that they protected Alaska. While foreign traders would likely encroach upon Hawaiian territory, I doubt the British, French or Americans would want to risk an actual war with Russia to gain Hawaii as a territory, for such a conflict could very well unbalance Europe (Russia might drag her allies in if provoked enough).
 
The Russian Empire would likely protect Hawaii in the same manner that they protected Alaska. While foreign traders would likely encroach upon Hawaiian territory, I doubt the British, French or Americans would want to risk an actual war with Russia to gain Hawaii as a territory, for such a conflict could very well unbalance Europe (Russia might drag her allies in if provoked enough).

And if the islands are seized during an ongoing war?;)
 
The Russian Empire would likely protect Hawaii in the same manner that they protected Alaska. While foreign traders would likely encroach upon Hawaiian territory, I doubt the British, French or Americans would want to risk an actual war with Russia to gain Hawaii as a territory, for such a conflict could very well unbalance Europe (Russia might drag her allies in if provoked enough).

I doubt even more Russia would risk war over a bunch of small islands that might risk their fleet . Hawaii is simply too hard for them to defend. Alaska is practically on top of Russia but Hawaii is not.
 
I doubt even more Russia would risk war over a bunch of small islands that might risk their fleet . Hawaii is simply too hard for them to defend. Alaska is practically on top of Russia but Hawaii is not.
If by "on top" you mean "beyond a continent-worth of emptyness, followed by a massive moat we don't have a navy for, and then more barren engulfing wilderness, all with no one there to do anything," then sure. Then I suppose Alaska would be easier to defend than Alaska.
 
If by "on top" you mean "beyond a continent-worth of emptyness, followed by a massive moat we don't have a navy for, and then more barren engulfing wilderness, all with no one there to do anything," then sure. Then I suppose Alaska would be easier to defend than Alaska.

Vladavostok was founded in 1860. Didn't Russia have some sort of fleet in the area soon after then?
 
I think it would be far more realistic that just the island of Kauai would end up in some loose alliance with Russia, or more correctly the Russian-American Company. Probably throw in Niihau is that is at the same end of the archipelago.
 
And if the islands are seized during an ongoing war?
If the islands are seized, than they are seized, and I doubt the Russians are going to be able to resist a major invasion force. This is not to say, however, that the Tsar will simply “turn the other cheek” and acquiesce quietly to the aggressor.

I doubt even more Russia would risk war over a bunch of small islands that might risk their fleet . Hawaii is simply too hard for them to defend. Alaska is practically on top of Russia but Hawaii is not.
Obviously a new Hawaiian colony of the Russian Empire isn’t going to be very strongly protected, as the lines of supply and communication are HUGE. This does not mean, however, that a colonial garrison couldn’t be placed here if the Tsar wanted the islands badly enough (which is, I believe, the topic of this thread). Many colonial powers were able to defend vast strips of territory (ostensibly if not in actuality) with small garrisons and as Hawaii is rather fertile, I do not see this as being a huge exception. I agree with you that the Russians would not wish to risk the destruction of their fleet over the islands, however, I certainly do not see them looking favorably upon another power just walking in and seizing their territory. A general war would probably result.
 
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