Kaahumanu II
Encyclopedia
Princess Kalani Ahumanu i Kaliko o Iwi Kauhipua o Kīnau, also known as Elizabeth Kīnau (c. 1805–April 4, 1839) was Kuhina Nui of the Kingdom of Hawaii
as Kaahumanu II, Queen regent and Dowager Queen.
and mother was his sixth wife Queen Kalākua Kaheiheimālie. She was born probably in the year 1805 on the island of Oahu
at Waikiki
. She was given in hānai to her stepmother Peleuli and her second husband Kawelookalani, her father's half-brother. Peleuli named her Kīnau after her son Kahōanokū Kīnau (her half-brother) and took her back to the island of Hawaii
after Kamehameha moved his capital back to Kailua-Kona.
Kīnau was first married to her half-brother Liholiho (1797–1824) who ascended in 1819 as King Kamehameha II
. In 1824, quite young, she became Dowager Queen when Kamehameha II died in London
together with his favorite wife (her sister) Queen Kamāmalu
.
Her second husband was Kahalaia Luanuu, a grandson of Kamehameha I. She had two children, one who was adopted by another high ranking chiefly family and the other a son who perished along with his father in the whooping cough epidemic of 1826.
Her third husband was Mataio Kekūanāoa
(1791–1868), from 1827. Queen Kaahumanu was furious over their union because of his inferior rank and her wish that she married Kamehameha III
in accordance with their father's wish that his children by Keōpūolani would continued his line with his children by Kaheiheimālie.
Kekūanāoa was Governor of Oahu 1834–1868.
To him she bore four sons: David Kamehameha
(1828–1835), Moses Kekūāiwa (1829–1848), Lot Kapuāiwa (1830–1873), and Alexander Liholiho (1830–1873), and one daughter Victoria Kamāmalu (1838–1866).
She became the Kuhina Nui
(an office somewhat like Prime Minister
or co-regent) styled as Kaahumanu II June 5, 1832 when Queen Kaahumanu died. She acted as the Regent
for her brother Kauikeaouli when he became King Kamehameha III
, from June 5, 1832 to March 15, 1833. She would rule with him until her death. She was responsible for enforcing Hawaii's first penal code, proclaimed by the king in 1835. She adopted Protestant Christianity like many of the chiefs and chiefesses. She persecuted many of the Catholic missionaries and tried to expel the French Jesuit Priests, which would later lead into diplomatic troubles with France.
During the early years of Kamehameha III, he was seen to be indifferent to his duties as king and spend his time pursuing leisure instead of ruling, according to the missionaries. She felt she had to take full duty of a monarch, but soon became disheartened and at length came to Mrs. Judd, the wife of Gerrit P. Judd
, and said: "I am in sore straits and heavy hearted, and I have come to tell you my thought. I am quite discouraged and cannot bear this burden any longer. I wish to throw away my rank and title and responsibility together, bring my family here, and live with you; or, we will take our families and go away together." Mrs. Judd referred her to the story of Esther
, and pointed out to her that she must be strong and accept the responsibility of Regent of the nation for the sake of her people.
Kīnau and Kamehameha III argued over government policies. Kīnau favored the policies recommended by the missionaries and was not as tolerant of other religions as her predecessor, Kaahumanu. She strengthened the land tenure of the Crown Lands by written and official proclamation. Kamehameha III resented the lessened power of the king who no longer had sole power to give and take land at will. He wanted the old ways for his people. Eventually they resolved their differences and formed a new government. Now there was a King, a Kuhina Nui, and a Counsel of Chiefs.
Her two sons from her third husband who had survived to adulthood ascended as kings of Hawaii: the younger Alexander Liholiho as Kamehameha IV
and then Lot Kapuāiwa as Kamehameha V
. Her only daughter Victoria Kamāmalu became Kuhina Nui as Kaahumanu IV
.
Her widower Mataio Kekūanāoa became Kuhina Nui from 1863 until August 24, 1864, the last holder of that position when it was dissolved by the 1864 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
Kaahumanu II died of the mumps
at Honolulu, Oahu
on April 4, 1839.
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
as Kaahumanu II, Queen regent and Dowager Queen.
Life
Her father was King Kamehameha IKamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
and mother was his sixth wife Queen Kalākua Kaheiheimālie. She was born probably in the year 1805 on the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
at Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
. She was given in hānai to her stepmother Peleuli and her second husband Kawelookalani, her father's half-brother. Peleuli named her Kīnau after her son Kahōanokū Kīnau (her half-brother) and took her back to the island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
after Kamehameha moved his capital back to Kailua-Kona.
Kīnau was first married to her half-brother Liholiho (1797–1824) who ascended in 1819 as King Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
. In 1824, quite young, she became Dowager Queen when Kamehameha II died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
together with his favorite wife (her sister) Queen Kamāmalu
Kamamalu
Kamāmalu Kalani-Kuaana-o-Kamehamalu-Kekuaiwa-o-kalani-Kealii-Hoopili-a-Walu was Queen consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii as the wife of King Kamehameha II. She is not to be confused with Princess Victoria Kamāmalu who was her niece...
.
Her second husband was Kahalaia Luanuu, a grandson of Kamehameha I. She had two children, one who was adopted by another high ranking chiefly family and the other a son who perished along with his father in the whooping cough epidemic of 1826.
Her third husband was Mataio Kekūanāoa
Mataio Kekuanaoa
Mataio Kekūanāoa was descended from the high chiefs of the island of Oahu. His name Mataio was the Hawaiian form of Matthew, although the former remain the most common form used to referred to him....
(1791–1868), from 1827. Queen Kaahumanu was furious over their union because of his inferior rank and her wish that she married Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
in accordance with their father's wish that his children by Keōpūolani would continued his line with his children by Kaheiheimālie.
Kekūanāoa was Governor of Oahu 1834–1868.
To him she bore four sons: David Kamehameha
David Kamehameha
David Kamehameha was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Biography:Born May 20th, 1828, he was the firstborn and eldest son of Mataio Kekūanāoʻa and Elizabeth Kīnaʻu. He was a grandson of King Kamehameha I through his mother and was named in his grandfather's honor and after the...
(1828–1835), Moses Kekūāiwa (1829–1848), Lot Kapuāiwa (1830–1873), and Alexander Liholiho (1830–1873), and one daughter Victoria Kamāmalu (1838–1866).
She became the Kuhina Nui
Kuhina Nui
Kuhina Nui was a powerful office in the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1819 to 1864. It was usually held by a relative of the king and was the rough equivalent of the 19th century European office of Prime Minister or sometimes Regent.- Origin of the office :...
(an office somewhat like Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
or co-regent) styled as Kaahumanu II June 5, 1832 when Queen Kaahumanu died. She acted as the Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for her brother Kauikeaouli when he became King Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
, from June 5, 1832 to March 15, 1833. She would rule with him until her death. She was responsible for enforcing Hawaii's first penal code, proclaimed by the king in 1835. She adopted Protestant Christianity like many of the chiefs and chiefesses. She persecuted many of the Catholic missionaries and tried to expel the French Jesuit Priests, which would later lead into diplomatic troubles with France.
During the early years of Kamehameha III, he was seen to be indifferent to his duties as king and spend his time pursuing leisure instead of ruling, according to the missionaries. She felt she had to take full duty of a monarch, but soon became disheartened and at length came to Mrs. Judd, the wife of Gerrit P. Judd
Gerrit P. Judd
Gerrit Parmele Judd was an American physician and missionary to the Kingdom of Hawaii who later became a trusted advisor and cabinet minister to King Kamehameha III.- Life :...
, and said: "I am in sore straits and heavy hearted, and I have come to tell you my thought. I am quite discouraged and cannot bear this burden any longer. I wish to throw away my rank and title and responsibility together, bring my family here, and live with you; or, we will take our families and go away together." Mrs. Judd referred her to the story of Esther
Esther
Esther , born Hadassah, is the eponymous heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther.According to the Bible, she was a Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus...
, and pointed out to her that she must be strong and accept the responsibility of Regent of the nation for the sake of her people.
Kīnau and Kamehameha III argued over government policies. Kīnau favored the policies recommended by the missionaries and was not as tolerant of other religions as her predecessor, Kaahumanu. She strengthened the land tenure of the Crown Lands by written and official proclamation. Kamehameha III resented the lessened power of the king who no longer had sole power to give and take land at will. He wanted the old ways for his people. Eventually they resolved their differences and formed a new government. Now there was a King, a Kuhina Nui, and a Counsel of Chiefs.
Her two sons from her third husband who had survived to adulthood ascended as kings of Hawaii: the younger Alexander Liholiho as Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha IV, born Alexander Iolani Liholiho Keawenui , reigned as the fourth king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 11, 1855 to November 30, 1863.-Early life:...
and then Lot Kapuāiwa as Kamehameha V
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
. Her only daughter Victoria Kamāmalu became Kuhina Nui as Kaahumanu IV
Kaahumanu IV
Victoria Kamāmalu Kaahumanu IV , was Kuhina Nui of Hawaii and its crown princess. Princess Kamāmalu is one of Hawaii's less notable historical figures...
.
Her widower Mataio Kekūanāoa became Kuhina Nui from 1863 until August 24, 1864, the last holder of that position when it was dissolved by the 1864 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
1864 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
The Constitution of 1864 of the Kingdom of Hawaii was a rewrite of the 1852 constitution issued by King Kamehameha III. It dramatically changed the way Hawaii's government worked by increasing the power of the king and changing the way the kingdom's legislature worked...
.
Kaahumanu II died of the mumps
Mumps
Mumps is a viral disease of the human species, caused by the mumps virus. Before the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine, it was a common childhood disease worldwide...
at Honolulu, Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
on April 4, 1839.