Paulet became captain of HMS Carysfort on 28 December 1841, serving on the Pacific Station under Rear-Admiral Richard Darton Thomas (1777–1857).

Paulet warned Captain Long of an American ship, USS Boston on 17 February: Sir, I have the honour to notify you that Her Britannic Majesty's Ship Carysfort, under my command, will be prepared to make an immediate attack upon this town, at 4 o'clock P.M. to-morrow, (Saturday) in the event of the demands now forwarded by me to the King of these Islands not being complied with by that time.

[5] On 18 February the Hawaiian government wrote back that they would comply with the demands under protest, and hoped that a diplomatic mission already in London could settle any conflicts.

Kamehameha III agreed to reopen the disputed cases but refused to overrule the courts and ignore due process.

[6] James F. B. Marshall, an American merchant of Ladd and Company was invited aboard Boston where he secretly met Hawaiian Kingdom minister Judd.

Judd gave Marshall an emergency commission as "envoy extraordinary" and sent him to plead the case for an independent Hawaii in London.

Paulet closed down all shipping, but wanted to send Alexander Simpson back to England so that his side of the case could be heard first.

He spread the news in the American press, and on 4 June, met with fellow Bostonians such as U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster and business partner and future minister to Hawaii Henry A. Peirce.

[7] On April 1, 1843, Lord Aberdeen, the foreign minister on behalf of the Queen, assured the Hawaiian delegation that:Her Majesty's Government was willing and had determined to recognize the independence of the Sandwich Islands under their present sovereign.

The site of a ceremony raising the flag of Hawaii was made into a park in downtown Honolulu named Thomas Square in his honor.

"[11] Jones tried to hasten the peace process by inviting British officers to dinners, and celebrations including the restored king.