The endeavors of Georg Anton Schäffer were primarily motivated by the Russian-American Company's interest in expanding its fur trade and securing territorial claims in the Pacific. In an effort to establish Russian authority in Hawaiʻi, Schäffer arrived in Kauaʻi with a small contingent of men and a vision of converting the islands' resources into profit for his company. During his campaign, Schäffer secured initial alliances with certain local chiefs who viewed the Russians as potential allies against rival factions. However, the overall response among the Hawaiian people was largely defensive, and tensions quickly escalated as local authorities sensed the potential threat posed by the foreign presence.

As Schäffer's negotiations grew tenuous, resistance mounted, and it became evident that a prolonged occupation would not be feasible. Schäffer attempted to gather more support and resources but faced logistical challenges and isolation from further assistance from the Russian empire. The native resistance was both a cultural and military repudiation of foreign conquest, bolstering unity among the various tribes of Kauaʻi against the interlopers. Ultimately, the combination of assertive local opposition and strategic challenges compelled Schäffer to concede defeat and withdraw from Hawaiʻi, marking the end of his ambitions in the region.

This failure highlighted the limits of European colonial ambitions in the Pacific at that time, illustrating the resilience of indigenous governance and the challenges posed by distance and lack of supplies. The Russian-American Company would later shift its focus instead to Alaska and parts of North America, thus avoiding further entanglement in Hawaii's affairs. In hindsight, this moment represented not just a defeat for Schäffer, but an affirmation of Hawaiian sovereignty during a period rife with external threats.