Kapiolani
Encyclopedia
Queen Kapiolani formally Esther Kapiolani or Esther Kapiolani Napelakapuokakae, was married to King David Kalākaua
and reigned as Queen Consort
of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
to High Chief Kuhio Kalaniana'ole of Hilo and Kinoiki Kekaulike, the niaupio daughter of King Kaumualii
, last King of an independent Kaua'i before its amicable cession to Kamehameha the Great. She was also the step-granddaughter of Queen Regent Kaahumanu by virtue of Kaahumanu's marriage to Kaumualii.
She was named Esther Kapiʻolani, after her great-aunt High Chiefess Kapiolani
, who defied the goddess Pele in the name of Christianity, and the Biblical queen Esther
. Some called her incorrectly as Julia. "Julia" was derived from Kapiʻolani's personal motto, "Kulia I Ka Nuʻu"; "Strive for the Highest". Because of this many books show that her first name to be Julia.
Kapiolani's first marriage was to High Chief Benjamin Namakehaokalani or sometimes called Bennet Namakeha. He was 35 years older than Kapiolani. He was uncle of Queen Emma
on her father George Naea's side. This made her the widowed aunt of Queen Emma. Kapiolani was the caretaker of Haku O Hawaii, Prince Albert Kamehameha
. Queen Emma blamed Kapiolani for the child's death as he was under Kapiolani's care at the time.
Kapiolani married Kalākaua in a quiet ceremony due to respect for the passing of Kamehameha IV. She and Kalākaua were childless so she and her sister Poomaikelani
hanaied (adopted) their sister Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike
's three sons. Kapiolani took David
and Jonah
and Poomaikelani took Edward. David established the House of Kawananakoa which would eventually succeed the House of Kalākaua.
In 1887, Queen Kapiolani traveled to London
to attend Queen Victoria's 50th Jubilee celebration. Princess Liliuokalani, King Kalākaua's sister, traveled with Kapiolani. The Hawaiian Royal family were treated as dignitaries, and were seated with the British Royal family in the front of Westminster Abbey
.
Queen Kapiolani established the Kapiolani Maternity Home
, where Hawaiian mothers could receive care, as well as their newborn babies. It survives today as the Kapiolani Medical Center. Kapiolani Park in Waikīkī was named after the Queen by her husband Kalākaua. One of her noted compositions to Hawaiian music was a love song she wrote for her husband, Ka Ipo Lei Manu. Kalākaua died in San Francisco
before he could hear the musical composition from his Queen.
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
and reigned as Queen Consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of the Kingdom of Hawaii
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...
.
Life
Kapiolani was born December 31, 1834 in Hilo on Hawaii IslandHawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
to High Chief Kuhio Kalaniana'ole of Hilo and Kinoiki Kekaulike, the niaupio daughter of King Kaumualii
Kaumualii
Kaumualii was the last independent Alii Aimoku of Kauai and Niihau before becoming a vassal of Kamehameha I of the unified Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810...
, last King of an independent Kaua'i before its amicable cession to Kamehameha the Great. She was also the step-granddaughter of Queen Regent Kaahumanu by virtue of Kaahumanu's marriage to Kaumualii.
She was named Esther Kapiʻolani, after her great-aunt High Chiefess Kapiolani
Chiefess Kapiolani
High Chiefess Kapiolani was an important member of the Hawaiian nobility at the time of the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the arrival of Christian missionaries...
, who defied the goddess Pele in the name of Christianity, and the Biblical queen 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...
. Some called her incorrectly as Julia. "Julia" was derived from Kapiʻolani's personal motto, "Kulia I Ka Nuʻu"; "Strive for the Highest". Because of this many books show that her first name to be Julia.
Kapiolani's first marriage was to High Chief Benjamin Namakehaokalani or sometimes called Bennet Namakeha. He was 35 years older than Kapiolani. He was uncle of Queen Emma
Queen Emma of Hawaii
Queen Consort Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonālani Naea Rooke of Hawaii was queen consort of King Kamehameha IV from 1856 to his death in 1863. She ran for ruling monarch against King David Kalākaua but was defeated....
on her father George Naea's side. This made her the widowed aunt of Queen Emma. Kapiolani was the caretaker of Haku O Hawaii, Prince Albert Kamehameha
Albert Kamehameha
Prince Albert Kamehameha, formally Albert Edward Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa a Kamehameha , was the only son of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, who during his short life was the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
. Queen Emma blamed Kapiolani for the child's death as he was under Kapiolani's care at the time.
Kapiolani married Kalākaua in a quiet ceremony due to respect for the passing of Kamehameha IV. She and Kalākaua were childless so she and her sister Poomaikelani
Poomaikelani
Virginia Kapooloku Poomaikelani was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:She was born at Piihonua, Hilo, Hawaii Island on April 7, 1839, the second daughter of Princess Kinoike Kekaulike of Kauai and High Chief Kūhiō Kalanianaole of Hilo.She was sister to Queen Kapiolani who...
hanaied (adopted) their sister Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike
Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike
Victoria Kūhiō Kinoiki Kekaulike II was a Princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:She was born on May 12, 1843, the youngest daughter of her father High Chief Kūhiō Kalanianaole of Hilo, and her mother Princess Kinoiki Kekaulike I from Kauai island...
's three sons. Kapiolani took David
David Kawananakoa
Prince David Laamea Kahalepouli Kinoiki Kawānanakoa Piikoi , was the patriarch of the House of Kawānanakoa. He was in the line of succession to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii around the time of the kingdom's overthrow.-Life:...
and Jonah
Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole
Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole Piikoi was a prince of the reigning House of Kalākaua when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by international businessmen in 1893...
and Poomaikelani took Edward. David established the House of Kawananakoa which would eventually succeed the House of Kalākaua.
In 1887, Queen Kapiolani traveled to 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...
to attend Queen Victoria's 50th Jubilee celebration. Princess Liliuokalani, King Kalākaua's sister, traveled with Kapiolani. The Hawaiian Royal family were treated as dignitaries, and were seated with the British Royal family in the front of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.
Queen Kapiolani established the Kapiolani Maternity Home
Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children is part of Hawaii Pacific Health's network of hospitals. It is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, within the residential inner city district of Makiki...
, where Hawaiian mothers could receive care, as well as their newborn babies. It survives today as the Kapiolani Medical Center. Kapiolani Park in Waikīkī was named after the Queen by her husband Kalākaua. One of her noted compositions to Hawaiian music was a love song she wrote for her husband, Ka Ipo Lei Manu. Kalākaua died in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
before he could hear the musical composition from his Queen.