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Kandalynn Naidl

Ms. Lindsey : English communication fundamentals

2/28/17

Queen Kaahumanu Biographical Essay

Historically Hawaii Nei was blessed with several strong hawaiian women. One of these

strong women, I have chosen as my hawaiian hero; Queen Kaahumanu. According to Wayne

Higa, Queen Kaahumanu is known as the favorite wife of King Kamehameha and one of the

strongest most influential women in Hawaiian history. Since her birth Kaahumanu was in the

middle of a struggle of power and reign of terror. The following essay will discuss transitions in

her life; birth through death.

Queen Kaahumanu was born of (Wahine) Nmhna-i-Kaleleokalani and (Kane)

Keeaumoku Ppaiahiahi. Queen Kaahumanu was born on March 17, 1768, in a cave named Puu

Kauiki in Hna on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Her mother married the late King of Maui

whilst a battle was being fought between the islands reigning kings. Kaahumanu translates to

feathered mantle, feathers stand for one's hu, or flesh; to have iwi means to have the sacred

bone of life. Queen Kaahumanu grew up on the island of Hawaii, in a district named Kau. Queen

Kaahumanu had 2 sisters and one brother. Her sisters are Kalkua Kaheiheimlie and Namahana

Piia, who was one of King Kamehameha's wives. Her brother Kuakini was one of King

Kamehameha I advisors. She was educated about politics, how to act as royalty, how to surf, and

flirt. (Before the missionaries arrived in 1820, there was no school.) She married 30 year old

King Kamehameha, her third cousin, when she was only 13.
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Queen Kaahumanus adult life was filled with taboos and important decisions involving

terroristic reign. Queen Kaahumanu resided on the island of Hawaii whilst her husband united

the hawaiian islands under one rule. She supported him whilst doing so, for those years were the

best years of their marriage. Captain vancouver arrived in Hawaii in 1793. He brought with him

new tools, weapons, spices, foods, and a different political view. The men had brought with them

hedonistic actions and diseases. Women were eager to reap the fortune and experience their way

of life. When these diseases were spread and taboos broken, no gods came down to punish those

who disregarded the taboos. Queen Kaahumanu had three husbands, Kamehameha I, Kaumualii,

and Kealiiahonui.

King Kamehameha was unable to create unity and or control the islands before his death

in May 1819; for Kauai was still ruled by King Kaumualii. When Queen Kaahumanu took his

place in reign with King Kamehameha II, also known as (AKA) her nephew/ hanai son Liholiho,

they made the crucial decision for the marriage between Kauais king and Hawaiis ruling queen.

After King Kamehamehas death, it was a perfect time for Kaahumanu to marry King

Kaumualii. Once Queen Kaahumanu took rule of the kingdom with Liholiho by her side, she

broke any taboos she didnt agree with that had been in place the last few hundred years. Top

taboos broken; men and women eating separately, men were the only ones who could eat

bananas, coconuts, and pork, all churches were torn down, for there was no longer a set of

Hawaiian gods.

The missionaries arrived in 1820, when they were alerted the people of hawaii had no

religion, they quickly influenced every and all about the christian religion. According to

wikipedia, Kaahumanu publicly announced she supported christianity in April of 1824

(Kaahumanu was 56). Although she was never baptized, she was resumed christian until her
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death on June 5, 1832. According to Wikipedia, Queen Kaahumanu was buried in the royal

Mausoleum at Mauna Ala in Oahu. According to Wayne Higa, Queen Kaahumanu had 2

successors carrying with them the name Kaahumanu. Victoria Kamamalu Kaahumanu was the

first successor to Queen Kaahumanu, due to the lack of evidence on the second successor.

Queen Kaahumanu was a queen full of flavor and of different perspective. She is honored

by Queen Kaahumanu mall in Kahului, Maui, Kaahumanu Church in Wailuku, Maui, and

several other locations throughout Hawaii Nei. She is thought to be a transition from the

traditional way of thinking to a new era of Hawaiian history through embracing the missionaries

way of life, whilst keeping culture alive. She was a true hawaiian warrior from birth to death,

fighting passionately for the people of Hawaii Nei, and herself.

Citations:
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Wayne Higa. (personal communication), Kahu Kaahumanu Church, February 27, 2017.

"Kaahumanu." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Feb. 2017. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ka%CA%BBahumanu

"Queen Kaahumanu." Aloha from Hawaii Travel Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/hawaii/queen-kaahumanu/

The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica. "Kaahumanu." Encyclopdia Britannica.

Encyclopdia Britannica, inc., 06 Jan. 2016. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kaahumanu

"The Woman Who Changed A Kingdom - Hawaiian Queen Ka'ahumanu." The Woman Who

Changed A Kingdom - Hawaiian Queen Ka'ahumanu. N.p., 2006. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

http://www.coffeetimes.com/july98.htm