Along with David Malo and John Papa ʻĪʻī, Kamakau is considered one of Hawaii's greatest historians, and his contributions to the preservation of Hawaiian history have been honored throughout the State of Hawaiʻi.

Dibble instructed Kamakau and other students to collect and preserve information on the Hawaiian culture, language, and people.

[2] Known as the Royal Hawaiian Historical Society, members included King Kamehameha III, John Young, Timothy Haʻalilio, David Malo, Dwight Baldwin, William Richards, Sheldon Dibble, Kamakau and others.

Elected officials included president Kamehameha III, vice-president William Richards, secretary Sheldon Dibble, and treasurer Samuel Kamakau.

[2] The society disbanded after the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii moved from Lahaina on the island of Maui to Honolulu, Oahu in 1845.

The articles were published in the Hawaiian language newspapers, Ke Au ʻOkoʻa and Ka Nūpepa Kūʻokoʻa.

WHEREAS, as a noted writer, SAMUEL MANAIAKALANI KAMAKAU authored books in Hawaiian that would later be translated by esteemed organizations such as the Bishop Museum and Kamehameha Schools, for future generations to learn from; and