Poomaikelani
Encyclopedia
Virginia Kapooloku Poomaikelani (1839–1895) was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
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 married to King David Kalākaua
and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
She was the granddaughter of Kaumualii
, the last king of the island of Kauai
before being ceded to the unified Hawaiian Islands
governed by Kamehameha I
. She was also the stepdaughter of Queen Regent Kaahumanu.
She was elder sister of Victoria Kekaulike and younger sister of Queen Kapiolani
. Some sources give her different first names; for example Esther, Abigail or even Victoria. The situation was the three sisters rarely used their Christian names.
C
Poomaikelani served as one of Queen Emma
's trusted ladies-in-waiting for many years, but left Emma's employment to join her brother-in-law's court.
Her sister's husband became the king of Hawaii in 1874 and she was granted the title of Princess
and style of Her Royal Highness, in 1883 during Kalākaua's coronation. She married Hiram Kahanwai in 1874, a cousin of King Kalakaua and a former steward of Queen Emma. She was made Governor of Hawaiii island in 1884 by her brother-in-law and was paid an annual salary of 3500 dollars per year. She also served as President of the Board of Health in 1887.
She was Guardian of the Royal Tombs at the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
from October 15, 1888 until her death. Kalākaua appointed her as president of the Board of Genealogy of Hawaiian Chiefs. Poomaikelani was kahili bearer during Kalākaua's official coronation.
, October 22, 1895, aged 56, two years after her cousin Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown. She was interred in the Kalākaua Crypt at the Royal Mausoleum.
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
She was born at Piihonua, Hilo, Hawaii IslandHawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
on April 7, 1839, the second daughter of Princess Kinoike Kekaulike of Kauai and High Chief Kūhiō Kalanianaole of Hilo
Kuhio Kalanianaole
Kūhiō Kalanianaole was a Hawaiian high chief of Hilo and father of Queen Kapiolani.He was born c. 1814 to Alii Elelule Laakeaelelulu and his wife Poomaikelani, daughter of Alii Kanekoa, of Waimea, by his first wife, Kalani-kau-lelei-awi, daughter of Kepoomahoe...
.
She was sister to Queen Kapiolani
Queen Kapiolani
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.-Life:...
who married to King David Kalākaua
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 of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
She was the granddaughter of 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...
, the last king of the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
before being ceded to the unified 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...
governed 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...
. She was also the stepdaughter of Queen Regent Kaahumanu.
She was elder sister of Victoria Kekaulike and younger sister of Queen Kapiolani
Queen Kapiolani
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.-Life:...
. Some sources give her different first names; for example Esther, Abigail or even Victoria. The situation was the three sisters rarely used their Christian names.
C
Poomaikelani served as one 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....
's trusted ladies-in-waiting for many years, but left Emma's employment to join her brother-in-law's court.
Her sister's husband became the king of Hawaii in 1874 and she was granted the title of Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
and style of Her Royal Highness, in 1883 during Kalākaua's coronation. She married Hiram Kahanwai in 1874, a cousin of King Kalakaua and a former steward of Queen Emma. She was made Governor of Hawaiii island in 1884 by her brother-in-law and was paid an annual salary of 3500 dollars per year. She also served as President of the Board of Health in 1887.
She was Guardian of the Royal Tombs at the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
The Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, known as Mauna Ala in the Hawaiian language, is the final resting place of Hawaii's two prominent royal families: the Kamehameha Dynasty and the Kalākaua Dynasty.-Description:...
from October 15, 1888 until her death. Kalākaua appointed her as president of the Board of Genealogy of Hawaiian Chiefs. Poomaikelani was kahili bearer during Kalākaua's official coronation.
Death
She died at Kalihi Valley, OahuOahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, October 22, 1895, aged 56, two years after her cousin Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown. She was interred in the Kalākaua Crypt at the Royal Mausoleum.