Kalama
Encyclopedia
Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili, Queen Consort of Hawaii (1817–1870) was Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii
alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III.
. Her father was minor Kona chief Naihekukui
, who was commander of the native Hawaiian fleet at Honolulu. Her mother was Chiefess Iahuula, the younger sister of Charles Kanaina. her uncle Kanaina would become hānai (Hawaiian form of adoption) parent the child. She was a woman of stunning beauty, but considered a maka'ainana (commoner) rather than an ali'i (chief).
, she associated with the royal family. The young Kamehameha III
, the boy king at the time, was needing a suitable royal bride. Many of the traditional chiefs wanted a union between the king and his sister Nahienaena
, like it had been customary to in the Hawaiian court since the beginning of time. But the missionaries and Christian chiefs, who held the most political power, opposed this suggestion, calling it incest. Kamanele, the daughter of Governor John Adams Kuakini
, was proposed as the most suitable in age, rank, and education. The young king fell in love with Kalama. This angered his sister Kīnau and many of the high chiefs. Kamehameha III married her on February 14, 1837. This was only a few months after Nahienaena's death.
died of measles
in England
.
, after their father.
It was said by Kekauluohi
that she secretly caused the death of her two sons. It was because she was a common Hawaiian woman wholly without rank or chiefly blood. She and Kamehameha III would later hānai (adopt) their nephew Alexander Liholiho, who later became Kamehameha IV
. She also adopted Kaiminaauao
daughter of Analea Keohokalole and Caesar Kapaakea as her own. She even adopted her husband's illegitimate son Albert Kuka'ilimoku Kunuiakea by Jane Lahilahi Young.
becoming known as the Queen Dowager
of Hawaii. She met Prince Alfred
on his visit to Hawaii in the reign of Kamehameha V
. She drove out to Waikiki
in her own carriage of state, accompanied by her adopted son, Kunuiakea, and Miriam Likelike. The drivers of these carriages wore the royal feather shoulder capes, and the footmen were clad in like royal fashion. It was considered one of the grandest occasions in the history of those days. She died on September 20, 1870, in Honolulu at the age of 53, only 2 years before the end of the Kamehameha Dynasty's reign over Hawaii. On September 21, US forces placed the American flag at half staff upon the death of Queen Kalama, when the American consul at Honolulu would not assume responsibility for so doing.
She and her husband would spend time in their summer palace
.
Hakaleleponi Gate, an entrance for servants and attendants in Iolani Palace, is named after her.
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...
alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III.
Early life
She was born March 17, 1817; this date is a later invention when her husband declared that their birthdays would be on Saint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
. Her father was minor Kona chief Naihekukui
Naihekukui
Naihe-Kukui Kapihe , known as "Captain Jack" or "Jack the Pilot" to visitors, served as Honolulu harbor master and admiral of the royal fleet in the early Kingdom of Hawaii. His daughter would become a Queen consort.-Life:...
, who was commander of the native Hawaiian fleet at Honolulu. Her mother was Chiefess Iahuula, the younger sister of Charles Kanaina. her uncle Kanaina would become hānai (Hawaiian form of adoption) parent the child. She was a woman of stunning beauty, but considered a maka'ainana (commoner) rather than an ali'i (chief).
Marriage
Due to her uncle's friendship with Kamehameha IIKamehameha 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...
, she associated with the royal family. The young 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...
, the boy king at the time, was needing a suitable royal bride. Many of the traditional chiefs wanted a union between the king and his sister Nahienaena
Nahienaena
Harriet or Harrieta Keōpūolani Nāhienaena was a high ranking princess during the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the conversion of its royalty to Christianity.-Life:...
, like it had been customary to in the Hawaiian court since the beginning of time. But the missionaries and Christian chiefs, who held the most political power, opposed this suggestion, calling it incest. Kamanele, the daughter of 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:...
, was proposed as the most suitable in age, rank, and education. The young king fell in love with Kalama. This angered his sister Kīnau and many of the high chiefs. Kamehameha III married her on February 14, 1837. This was only a few months after Nahienaena's death.
Queen
Though given the title of Queen Consort, she was overshadowed by the great authority wielded by her mother-in-law, Kaahumanu, and sister-in-law, Kīnau, both having the authority of Queen Regent because Kamehameha III had come to power only at the age of ten when his brother Kamehameha IIKamehameha 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...
died of measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Children
Kalama and Kamehameha III had two children who died in their infancy. Both were named KeaweaweulaokalaniKeaweaweulaokalani
Keaweaweulaokalani is a name shared by two short-lived princes and heirs to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Earlier:Keawe Aweula-o-Kalani I, Prince of Hawaii was the eldest son of Kamehameha III and his queen consort Kalama Hakaleleponi-i-Kapakuhaili...
, after their father.
It was said by Kekauluohi
Kaahumanu III
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 , was Kuhina Nui of the Kingdom of Hawaii, a queen consort of both King Kamehameha I and Kamehameha II, and mother of another...
that she secretly caused the death of her two sons. It was because she was a common Hawaiian woman wholly without rank or chiefly blood. She and Kamehameha III would later hānai (adopt) their nephew Alexander Liholiho, who later became 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:...
. She also adopted Kaiminaauao
Kaiminaauao
Kaiminaauao was a Hawaiian princess by adoption to Queen Kalama and King Kamehameha III. She died of the measles at the age of four. She was a member of the House of Kamehameha and the House of Kalākaua ....
daughter of Analea Keohokalole and Caesar Kapaakea as her own. She even adopted her husband's illegitimate son Albert Kuka'ilimoku Kunuiakea by Jane Lahilahi Young.
Later life
She would outlive both her husband Kamehameha III and her nephew Kamehameha IV,becoming known as the Queen Dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
of Hawaii. She met Prince Alfred
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...
on his visit to Hawaii in the reign of 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...
. She drove out to 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....
in her own carriage of state, accompanied by her adopted son, Kunuiakea, and Miriam Likelike. The drivers of these carriages wore the royal feather shoulder capes, and the footmen were clad in like royal fashion. It was considered one of the grandest occasions in the history of those days. She died on September 20, 1870, in Honolulu at the age of 53, only 2 years before the end of the Kamehameha Dynasty's reign over Hawaii. On September 21, US forces placed the American flag at half staff upon the death of Queen Kalama, when the American consul at Honolulu would not assume responsibility for so doing.
She and her husband would spend time in their summer palace
Kaniakapupu
Kaniakapupu is the now dilapidated summer palace of king Kamehameha III and his queen Kalama on Oahu in Hawaii.- History :...
.
Hakaleleponi Gate, an entrance for servants and attendants in Iolani Palace, is named after her.