Kalakua Kaheiheimaile
Encyclopedia
Kalākua Kaheiheimālie, later known as Hoapili Wahine (c. 1778–1842) was a member of Hawaiian royalty who was one of the Queen consorts at the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii
. She was mother of another Queen consort, and grandmother of two future kings. Some sources call her Kaheiheimāile rather than Kaheiheimālie. "Mālie" means serene while the "maile
" is the vine Alyxia olivaeformis. The first spelling seems to be more older and dominant.
) family of Maui
. Her father was Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi
, a noble from Hawaii Island
. Her mother was Namahanai Kaleleokalani, the former consort of her half-brother the late king of Maui, Kamehameha Nui. From her mother she was a member of the royal house of Maui. Her siblings included Hawaii island Governor John Adams Kuakini
, Queen Kaahumanu, Maui Governor George Cox Kahekili Keeaumoku II, and Lydia Namahana Piia
. Her father became an advisor and friend to Kamehameha I
, eventually becoming royal governor of Maui. He arranged for her sister Kaahumanu to marry the king when she was thirteen; she woud be the most powerful leader of the kingdom for several decades.
First Kaheiheimālie married Prince Kalaimamahu, Chief Priest of Io and Kāne
. He was a brother of Kamehameha I. They divorced around 1795 and she married her former brother-in-law King Kamehameha I in a ceremony known as Hoao-Wohi.
She was part of the court of Kamehameha I that met George Vancouver
during his expedition in 1794
and agreed to the first treaty with Great Britain
.
She had two sons and two daughters by her second marriage to Kamehameha I. Her first son Prince Liholiho-i-Kaiwi-o-Kamehameha was born about 1795 and died as an infant, and second son Prince Kamehameha Kapauaiwa was born about 1801 and died as an infant. Her daughter Kamāmalu
(c. 1802–1824) married Liholiho and became Queen consort when Liholiho became King Kamehameha II. Her youngest daughter Kīnau (c. 1805–1839) succeed her aunt Kaahumanu, Kalākua's sister, as Kuhina Nui
, co-ruling Hawaii with Kamehameha II. Her daughter from her first marriage with Kalaimamahu was Kekāuluohi (c. 1794–1845) who succeeded Kīnaʻuas the third Kuhina Nui, styled as Kaahumanu III.
Through her daughters Kīnaʻu and Kekāuluohi she was grandmother of three more kings: Kamehameha IV
, Kamehameha V
, and Lunalilo
.
She married for the third time at Honolulu, October 19, 1823, to Ulumāheihei Hoapili
who was the Governor of Maui. She became a late convert to Christianity
and took the name "Miriam" along with her oldest daughter. She was described as physically being "...tall and gigantic" like her siblings.
She was known as Hoapili-wahine or "Mrs. Hoapili". She served as Governor of Maui 1840-1842 after her husband's death, and was a founding member of the House of Nobles
in 1841. She died on Maui
, January 16, 1842 and was buried at Moku'ula. Her remains were later moved to the nearby Wainee Cemetery
beside her last husband Hoapili.
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...
. She was mother of another Queen consort, and grandmother of two future kings. Some sources call her Kaheiheimāile rather than Kaheiheimālie. "Mālie" means serene while the "maile
Maile
Alyxia oliviformis, known as Maile in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that is native to Hawaii. It grows as either a twining liana, scandent shrub, or small erect shrub, and is one of the few vines that are endemic to the islands. The scientific...
" is the vine Alyxia olivaeformis. The first spelling seems to be more older and dominant.
Life
She was born c. 1778 into a noble (ali'iAli'i
Alii is a word in the Polynesian language denoting chiefly status in ancient Hawaii and the Samoa Islands. A similar word with the same concept is found in other Polynesian societies. In the Cook Islands, an ariki is a high chief and the House of Ariki is a parliamentary house...
) family 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,...
. Her father was Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi
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...
, a noble from Hawaii Island
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. Her mother was Namahanai Kaleleokalani, the former consort of her half-brother the late king of Maui, Kamehameha Nui. From her mother she was a member of the royal house of Maui. Her siblings included Hawaii island Governor John Adams Kuakini
John Adams Kuakini
John Adams Kiiapalaoku Kuakini was an important adviser to Kamehameha I in the early stages of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was responsible for much building and other changes in the Kona District during this era.-Family life:...
, Queen Kaahumanu, Maui Governor George Cox Kahekili Keeaumoku II, and Lydia Namahana Piia
Namahana Piia
Lydia Namahana Piia was a wife of King Kamehameha I of Hawaii. She was the daughter of Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi, and her sister Kaʻahumanu was also Kamehameha's wife. Kamehameha and Kaʻahumanu later arranged Piia to marry Gideon Peleioholani Laanui, who was ten years her junior...
. Her father became an advisor and friend to 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...
, eventually becoming royal governor of Maui. He arranged for her sister Kaahumanu to marry the king when she was thirteen; she woud be the most powerful leader of the kingdom for several decades.
First Kaheiheimālie married Prince Kalaimamahu, Chief Priest of Io and Kāne
Kāne
In Hawaiian mythology, Kāne is considered the highest of the four major Hawaiian deities, along with Kanaloa, Kū, and Lono. He represented the god of procreation and was worshipped as ancestor of chiefs and commoners. Kāne is the creator and gives life associated with dawn, sun and sky...
. He was a brother of Kamehameha I. They divorced around 1795 and she married her former brother-in-law King Kamehameha I in a ceremony known as Hoao-Wohi.
She was part of the court of Kamehameha I that met George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
during his expedition in 1794
Vancouver Expedition
The Vancouver Expedition was a four-and-a-half-year voyage of exploration and diplomacy, commanded by Captain George Vancouver. The expedition circumnavigated the globe, touched five continents and changed the course of history for the indigenous nations and several European empires and their...
and agreed to the first treaty with Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
She had two sons and two daughters by her second marriage to Kamehameha I. Her first son Prince Liholiho-i-Kaiwi-o-Kamehameha was born about 1795 and died as an infant, and second son Prince Kamehameha Kapauaiwa was born about 1801 and died as an infant. Her daughter 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...
(c. 1802–1824) married Liholiho and became Queen consort when Liholiho became King Kamehameha II. Her youngest daughter Kīnau (c. 1805–1839) succeed her aunt Kaahumanu, Kalākua's sister, as 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 :...
, co-ruling Hawaii with Kamehameha II. Her daughter from her first marriage with Kalaimamahu was Kekāuluohi (c. 1794–1845) who succeeded Kīnaʻuas the third Kuhina Nui, styled as Kaahumanu III.
Through her daughters Kīnaʻu and Kekāuluohi she was grandmother of three more kings: 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:...
, 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...
, and Lunalilo
Lunalilo
Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...
.
She married for the third time at Honolulu, October 19, 1823, to Ulumāheihei Hoapili
Hoapili
Ulumāheihei Hoapili was a member of the nobility during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was a trusted military and political advisor to King Kamehameha I, known as "Kamehameha the Great"...
who was the Governor of Maui. She became a late convert to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and took the name "Miriam" along with her oldest daughter. She was described as physically being "...tall and gigantic" like her siblings.
She was known as Hoapili-wahine or "Mrs. Hoapili". She served as Governor of Maui 1840-1842 after her husband's death, and was a founding member of 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...
in 1841. She died on 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,...
, January 16, 1842 and was buried at Moku'ula. Her remains were later moved to the nearby Wainee Cemetery
Waiola Church
Waiola Church is the site of a historic mission established in 1823 on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Originally called Wainee Church till 1953, the cemetery is the final resting place for early members of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii....
beside her last husband Hoapili.