Kalanipauahi
Encyclopedia
Kalani Pauahi was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii
in the House of Kamehameha
.
Her mother was Keouawahine, daughter of Kauhiwawaeono of Maui by his wife, chiefess Loe-wahine, who in turn was daughter of Kameeiamoku. Her father was Pauli Kaōleiokū (1767–1818), Kamehameha I
's son by his aunt, Kanekapolei. He was recognized by his father and his son and two daughters were declared Royal Princes and Princesses by their grandfather, including Pauahi and her half-sister Laura Kōnia
.
The name Pauahi originated in an incident which occurred in her childhood. By an accidental explosion of gunpowder she narrowly escaped being burned to death. Five men were killed in the catastrophe, her mother house was burned to the ground, and she was badly injured. In commemorating her escape she was given the name, which is compose of two Hawaiian words, pau, "finished", or "completed" and ahi, "fire", which, translated, means, "the fire is out". She is often referred to as Kalanipauahi or Kalani Pauahi so as not to mistaken her for her niece and namesake Bernice Pauahi Bishop
.
She married her uncle Kamehameha II
as one of his five consorts. Kamehameha II was a younger son of Kamehameha I so Pauahi was only seven years younger than her uncle. During the accession of Kamehameha II, Pauahi commemorated the fire incident of her childhood by descending from the couch in which she had been borne in the procession, and setting it on fire with all the elaborate decorations. Her attendants imitating her example and cast clothing, both traditional tapa cloth
, and costly foreign cloth, into the flames.
Her first husband Kamehameha II died in London in 1824 and she became Queen dowager like all his other wives at a very young age. She remarried to Prince Kahalaia Luanuu. Her second husband was Governor of Kauai island
, a nephew of king Kamehameha I, being the only son of the king's brother Kalaimamahu and his wife Kahakuhaakoi Wahinepio
. She soon divorced Kahalaia and remarried on November 28, 1825 her third husband, Mataio Kekūanāoa. Her daughter Ruth Keelikōlani
was born June 17, 1826, after she had been married to Kekūanāoa for only seven months. Her daughter's unorthodox birth was a reason Keelikōlani was regarded somewhat outside the legitimate Hawaiian nobility. Her daughter's claim to royal heritage was because she herself was a member of the House of Kamehameha
, and Hawaiian culture valued royal blood in a mother perhaps more than that of a father. Pauahi died giving birth to Keelikōlani, although the cause was said to have been a flu type of illness which killed many people in 1826.
She was 22–24 years-old.
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...
in the House of Kamehameha
House of Kamehameha
The House of Kamehameha , or the Kamehameha Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the unification of the islands by Kamehameha I in 1810 and the death of Kamehameha V in 1872...
.
Life
Pauahi was born circa 1804.Her mother was Keouawahine, daughter of Kauhiwawaeono of Maui by his wife, chiefess Loe-wahine, who in turn was daughter of Kameeiamoku. Her father was Pauli Kaōleiokū (1767–1818), Kamehameha I
Kamehameha 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...
's son by his aunt, Kanekapolei. He was recognized by his father and his son and two daughters were declared Royal Princes and Princesses by their grandfather, including Pauahi and her half-sister Laura Kōnia
Konia
Konia may refer to:* Kōnia a Hawaiian princess* Konia , a cichlid genus containing the Dikume and the Konye * Konia, Guinea* Konia, Paphos, a village in Cyprus* Konia Water, leaders in Water from Air technology...
.
The name Pauahi originated in an incident which occurred in her childhood. By an accidental explosion of gunpowder she narrowly escaped being burned to death. Five men were killed in the catastrophe, her mother house was burned to the ground, and she was badly injured. In commemorating her escape she was given the name, which is compose of two Hawaiian words, pau, "finished", or "completed" and ahi, "fire", which, translated, means, "the fire is out". She is often referred to as Kalanipauahi or Kalani Pauahi so as not to mistaken her for her niece and namesake Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop , born Bernice Pauahi Pākī, was a Hawaiian princess, philanthropist, alii, and direct descendant of the royal House of Kamehameha. She was the great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha I and last surviving heir...
.
She married her uncle 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...
as one of his five consorts. Kamehameha II was a younger son of Kamehameha I so Pauahi was only seven years younger than her uncle. During the accession of Kamehameha II, Pauahi commemorated the fire incident of her childhood by descending from the couch in which she had been borne in the procession, and setting it on fire with all the elaborate decorations. Her attendants imitating her example and cast clothing, both traditional tapa cloth
Tapa cloth
Tapa cloth is a bark cloth made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, primarily in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, but as far afield as Niue, Cook Islands, Futuna, Solomon Islands, Java, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Hawaii...
, and costly foreign cloth, into the flames.
Her first husband Kamehameha II died in London in 1824 and she became Queen dowager like all his other wives at a very young age. She remarried to Prince Kahalaia Luanuu. Her second husband was Governor of Kauai island
Governors of Kauai
The Governor of Kauai was the royal governor or viceroy of the island of Kauai and island of Niihau during the Kingdom of Hawaii. The Governor of Kauai was usually a Hawaiian chief or prince and could even be a woman. The Governor had authority over the islands of Kauai and Niihau, and it was up to...
, a nephew of king Kamehameha I, being the only son of the king's brother Kalaimamahu and his wife Kahakuhaakoi Wahinepio
Wahinepio
Kahakuhaakoi Wahinepio , was a Hawaiian chiefess and member of the royal family during the Kingdom of Hawaii. Wahinepio means captive women in Hawaiian....
. She soon divorced Kahalaia and remarried on November 28, 1825 her third husband, Mataio Kekūanāoa. Her daughter Ruth Keelikōlani
Keelikolani
Princess Ruth Luka Keanolani Kauanahoahoa Keelikōlani , was a member of the Kamehameha family, the founding dynasty of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She served as Royal Governor of the Island of Hawaii. As primary heir to the Kamehameha family, Ruth became a landholder of what would become the Bernice...
was born June 17, 1826, after she had been married to Kekūanāoa for only seven months. Her daughter's unorthodox birth was a reason Keelikōlani was regarded somewhat outside the legitimate Hawaiian nobility. Her daughter's claim to royal heritage was because she herself was a member of the House of Kamehameha
House of Kamehameha
The House of Kamehameha , or the Kamehameha Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the unification of the islands by Kamehameha I in 1810 and the death of Kamehameha V in 1872...
, and Hawaiian culture valued royal blood in a mother perhaps more than that of a father. Pauahi died giving birth to Keelikōlani, although the cause was said to have been a flu type of illness which killed many people in 1826.
She was 22–24 years-old.