Kaahumanu III
Encyclopedia
Queen consort Miriam Auhea Kalani Kui Kawakiu o Kekāuluohi Kealiiuhiwaihanau o Kalani Makahonua Ahilapalapa Kai Wikapu o Kaleilei a Kalakua also known as Kaahumanu III (July 27, 1794 –June 7, 1845), was Kuhina Nui
of the Kingdom of Hawaii
, a queen consort of both King Kamehameha I
and Kamehameha II
, and mother of another king.
) and her mother Kalākua Kaheiheimālie of Maui
, who herself was married Kamehameha I.
She was hānai to (adopted by) her grandparents Namahana and Keeaumoku
, who "fondled her as if she were a feather lei from the precious mamo
bird."
Through her mother she was a step-daughter of Kamehameha I, founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii
, and through her father she was a cousin of Kamehameha I. She was also half-sister of Kamāmalu
and Kīnau
.
She was betrothed to a prince of the Tahitian dynasty of Pomare
at birth, but never married him because of the prince's early death.
In 1809 she was chosen along with Manono II by Kamehameha I
"to warm his old age". When Kamehameha I died in 1819 she gave herself the name Auhea (where has he gone) in memory of her first husband. She would later marry her cousin Liholiho
(who took the throne as King Kamehameha II) as one of his five consorts. She had no children from her first two marriages. And in 1821 was given by Kamehameha II to his friend Charles Kanaina on Kauai in marriage.
She became Kuhina Nui
of Hawaii on April, 5, 1839 and she took the name Kaahumanu III, after the two preceding holders of the office. As Kuhina Nui she signed, with the king, all official documents; conducted all executive business affecting the Crown; received and transferred government lands; and served as special Councilor to the king, with exclusive veto power over his decisions. She and Kamehameha III signed the first constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
in 1840.
It provided for an elected representative body, a first step toward the common people gaining political power. She served in the House of Nobles
from its founding. The constitution also codified for the first time the responsibilities and authority of the kuhina nui. She held both positions until her death.
She and Kanaina and gave birth to a son January 31, 1835. When a name for the prince was about to be selected, his mother chanted: "I luna, i luna, i lunalilo, the highest, the highest, the highest of all". Although given the Christian name William Charles, he became King Lunalilo
of Hawaii in 1873. Kekāuluohi died of influenza
at Pohukaina, Honolulu, June 7, 1845.
A girl's dormitory is named for her at Kamehameha Schools
Kapalama Campus.
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 :...
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...
, a queen consort of both King 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...
and 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...
, and mother of another king.
Life
She was born on July 27, 1794, the only daughter of her father Chief Kalaimamahu (half-brother of 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 her mother Kalākua Kaheiheimālie of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, who herself was married Kamehameha I.
She was hānai to (adopted by) her grandparents Namahana and Keeaumoku
Keeaumoku Papaiahiahi
Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi was a Hawaiian high chief and the father of Kaahumanu. He was the principal agent in elevating Kamehameha I to the throne of Hawaii and served in a capacity similar to commander in chief or Prime Minister...
, who "fondled her as if she were a feather lei from the precious mamo
Mamo
A mamo or hoohoo is a bird of the genus Drepanis. These nectarivorous finches were endemic to Hawaii but are now extinct.The Hawaiian name may be related to the name of the ōō , a bird with a similar appearance...
bird."
Through her mother she was a step-daughter of Kamehameha I, founder 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...
, and through her father she was a cousin of Kamehameha I. She was also half-sister of 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...
and Kīnau
Kaahumanu II
Princess Kalani Ahumanu i Kaliko o Iwi Kauhipua o Kīnau, also known as Elizabeth Kīnau was Kuhina Nui of the Kingdom of Hawaii as Kaahumanu II, Queen regent and Dowager Queen.-Life:...
.
She was betrothed to a prince of the Tahitian dynasty of Pomare
Pomare
Pomare is one of the northernmost suburbs of Lower Hutt City in New Zealand. The suburb has the Hutt River on its northern and north-western sides....
at birth, but never married him because of the prince's early death.
In 1809 she was chosen along with Manono II by 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...
"to warm his old age". When Kamehameha I died in 1819 she gave herself the name Auhea (where has he gone) in memory of her first husband. She would later marry her cousin Liholiho
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...
(who took the throne as King Kamehameha II) as one of his five consorts. She had no children from her first two marriages. And in 1821 was given by Kamehameha II to his friend Charles Kanaina on Kauai in marriage.
She became 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 :...
of Hawaii on April, 5, 1839 and she took the name Kaahumanu III, after the two preceding holders of the office. As Kuhina Nui she signed, with the king, all official documents; conducted all executive business affecting the Crown; received and transferred government lands; and served as special Councilor to the king, with exclusive veto power over his decisions. She and Kamehameha III signed the first constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
The 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii titled Ke Kumukānāwai a me nā Kānāwai o ko Hawai’i Pae ‘Āina, Honolulu, 1840 was the first fully written constitution for the Kingdom of Hawaii...
in 1840.
It provided for an elected representative body, a first step toward the common people gaining political power. She served in the House of Nobles
Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
The Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom was the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A royal legislature was first provided by the 1840 Constitution and the 1852 Constitution was the first to use the term "Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom", and the first to subject the monarch to...
from its founding. The constitution also codified for the first time the responsibilities and authority of the kuhina nui. She held both positions until her death.
She and Kanaina and gave birth to a son January 31, 1835. When a name for the prince was about to be selected, his mother chanted: "I luna, i luna, i lunalilo, the highest, the highest, the highest of all". Although given the Christian name William Charles, he became King Lunalilo
Lunalilo
Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...
of Hawaii in 1873. Kekāuluohi died of influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
at Pohukaina, Honolulu, June 7, 1845.
A girl's dormitory is named for her at Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
Kapalama Campus.