Nahienaena
Encyclopedia
Harriet or Harrieta Keōpūolani Nāhienaena (1815–1836) was a high ranking princess
during the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii
and the conversion of its royalty to Christianity
.
nā ahi ena ena means "the red-hot raging fires".
Her father was Kamehameha I
, known as Kamehameha the Great, conqueror of the Hawaiian islands
. Her mother was Kalanikauikaalaneo Kai Keōpūolani
the Queen consort with the most respected family background. She was born in 1815 at Keauhou Bay
, South Kona, island of Hawaii
. Her two older brothers, hiapo (first born) Liholiho
, and Kauikeaouli
were to become Kings Kamehameha II and III. This sacred muli loa (last born) child was trained for the immense kuleana (privilege and responsibility) that would accompany someone of such high birth.
_-_-_nahiennaena,_1825.jpg)
In 1825, the ship returned with the bodies of King Kamehameha II
and the Queen who had died on a trip to London
. Ship's artist Robert Dampier
painted a portrait of the ten-year-old princess, dressed in a red feather cloak
for the state funeral.
She was in love with her brother Kamehameha III. The old chiefs strongly encouraged their marriage but the missionaries were totally against it, calling it incest
and therefore a sin. The practice of marriage between siblings in the royal family was considered a way of keeping the bloodlines pure in ancient Hawaii
; her maternal grandparents were half sister and brother.
She was betrothed to William Pitt Leleiohoku I, the son of William Pitt Kalanimoku Prime Minister of Hawaii. Kamehameha III tried to delay the wedding by insisting Leleiohoku be educated first. They were married November 25, 1835 by William Richards
at Wainee Church
.
In September 1836 she gave birth to a child; Kamehameha III announced that the child would be the heir to the throne because he believed the child to be his, but the child lived for only a few hours. Nāhienaena never recovered physically or emotionally from childbirth. British physician Thomas Charles Byde Rooke, the husband of High Chiefess Grace Kamaikui
, was unable to determine the cause of the illness. He called upon Dr. Ruschenberger, a visiting surgeon, to assist him. She died on , near Hale Uluhe, the home of her brother, Kamehameha III. After nearly five weeks of intense grieving, her body was brought in procession to Kawaiahao Church for services. The procession was led by traditional warriors and kāhuna laau lapaau (healers). On April 12, 1837 her body was brought aboard the ship Don Qixote (purchased and renamed Kai Keōpūolani by her brother), to the ancient sacred resting place called Mokuula in Lāhainā, Maui
to be buried near her mother Keōpūolani.
Her death had a sobering affect on her brother, King Kamehameha III. He turned out to be the longest reigning monarch of the Kingdom. Dealing with the changes taking place in his nation would take the rest of his life.
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
during the founding 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 the conversion of its royalty 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...
.
Life
In the Hawaiian languageHawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
nā ahi ena ena means "the red-hot raging fires".
Her father was 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...
, known as Kamehameha the Great, conqueror of the Hawaiian islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. Her mother was Kalanikauikaalaneo Kai Keōpūolani
Keopuolani
Kalanikauikaalaneo Kai Keōpūolani-Ahu-i-Kekai-Makuahine-a-Kama-Kalani-Kau-i-Kealaneo was a queen consort of Hawaii and the highest ranking wife of King Kamehameha I.-Early life:...
the Queen consort with the most respected family background. She was born in 1815 at Keauhou Bay
Keauhou Bay
Keauhou Bay is a historic area in the Kona District of the Big Island of Hawaii.The name comes from ke au hou which means "the new era" in the Hawaiian Language.-Kamehameha III's Birthplace:...
, South Kona, island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. Her two older brothers, hiapo (first born) 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...
, and Kauikeaouli
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...
were to become Kings Kamehameha II and III. This sacred muli loa (last born) child was trained for the immense kuleana (privilege and responsibility) that would accompany someone of such high birth.
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 the Queen who had died on a trip 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...
. Ship's artist Robert Dampier
Robert Dampier
Robert Dampier was a British artist and clergyman.-Life:Dampier was born in 1799 at the village of Codford St Peter in Wiltshire, England He was baptised on the 20th of Dec. 1799 . He was one of 13 children of Codford St Peter's rector Reverend John Dampier and his wife Jane...
painted a portrait of the ten-year-old princess, dressed in a red feather cloak
Feather cloak
Featherwork cloaks have been used by several cultures.-Hawaii:Elaborate feather cloaks called [[ʻahuʻula]] were created by early Hawaiians for the alii .Feathers were also used in women's skirts called pāū....
for the state funeral.
She was in love with her brother Kamehameha III. The old chiefs strongly encouraged their marriage but the missionaries were totally against it, calling it incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
and therefore a sin. The practice of marriage between siblings in the royal family was considered a way of keeping the bloodlines pure in ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
; her maternal grandparents were half sister and brother.
She was betrothed to William Pitt Leleiohoku I, the son of William Pitt Kalanimoku Prime Minister of Hawaii. Kamehameha III tried to delay the wedding by insisting Leleiohoku be educated first. They were married November 25, 1835 by William Richards
William Richards (Hawaii)
William Richards was a missionary and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Family life:William Richards was born in Plainfield, Massachusetts on August 22, 1793. His father was James Richards and mother was Lydia Shaw. He was schooled under Moses Hallock in Plainfield, attended Williams College...
at Wainee Church
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....
.
In September 1836 she gave birth to a child; Kamehameha III announced that the child would be the heir to the throne because he believed the child to be his, but the child lived for only a few hours. Nāhienaena never recovered physically or emotionally from childbirth. British physician Thomas Charles Byde Rooke, the husband of High Chiefess Grace Kamaikui
Grace Kamaikui
Grace Kamaikui Young Rooke was a Hawaiian high chiefess who was daughter of the chief military advisor during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and adoptive mother of a future Queen consort.-Early Life and Marriage:...
, was unable to determine the cause of the illness. He called upon Dr. Ruschenberger, a visiting surgeon, to assist him. She died on , near Hale Uluhe, the home of her brother, Kamehameha III. After nearly five weeks of intense grieving, her body was brought in procession to Kawaiahao Church for services. The procession was led by traditional warriors and kāhuna laau lapaau (healers). On April 12, 1837 her body was brought aboard the ship Don Qixote (purchased and renamed Kai Keōpūolani by her brother), to the ancient sacred resting place called Mokuula in Lāhainā, 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,...
to be buried near her mother Keōpūolani.
Her death had a sobering affect on her brother, King Kamehameha III. He turned out to be the longest reigning monarch of the Kingdom. Dealing with the changes taking place in his nation would take the rest of his life.