German literature – enlightenment, storm and stress, classicism, romanticism; Europeans in the Pacific, including the aboriginal peoples in the Pacific and their native agency
Office: Moore Hall 463 | Phone: (808) 956-4184
Email: niklaus@hawaii.edu
Niklaus Schweizer’s areas of expertise are: Classical German Literature, British and Colonial History, German History, and History of Hawai’i and the Pacific. During his years in Hawai’i, he has held several diplomatic posts: Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Honolulu (1972-2009); Historian, Consular Corps of Hawai’i (1987-present); and Dean Emeritus, Consular Corps of Hawai’i (2010-present). In addition, in 2003, he was named Honorary Member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha.
He teaches all levels of German, from elementary through graduate level, including courses on 18th-century literature, classicism, romanticism, German history and culture, as well as Europeans in the Pacific. His recent publications include: the Russian translation of his 1987 book, His Hawaiian Excellency (Moscow Delibri, 2022); the translation from Hawaiian into English, with Nancy Morris, of The Biography of Hon. Robert Wilcox (manuscript available at the Bishop Museum); and “Königreich Hawai’i, eine diplomatische Knacknuss (1887/2017)” (in Max Schweizer, ed. Aussenpolitisches Lesebuch: Schweiz, Europa, Welt. Berlin:LIT. Verlag, 331-36).
His numerous awards and honors include the Robert W. Clopton Award for Outstanding Service to the Community (2011); the Certificate of Commendation (awarded by Mayor Mufi Hannemann, 2010); the Distinguished Service Medal by the Consular Corps of Hawai’i (2009); and the Kalani Aliʻi Award from ‘Aha Hipuʻu, the Association of the Four Royal Societies of Hawaiʻi (2008). In addition to his academic career, Professor Schweizer finds time to learn languages. He speaks fluent English, Swiss German, German, French, Hawaiian, Tahitian, and basic Spanish, Italian, and Russian.