Queen Kapiolani

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Kapiʻolani
Queen Consort of the Hawaiian Islands
Tenure	12 February 1874 - 20 January 1891
Spouse	Benjamin Nāmākēhā Kalākaua (as Queen)
Full name
Esther Kapiʻolani or Esther Kapiʻolani Napelakapuokakaʻe
House	House of Kalākaua Royal House of Kauaʻi
Father	Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole
Mother	Kinoiki Kekaulike
Born	December 31, 1834(1834-12-31) Hilo, Hawaiʻi
Died	June 24, 1899(1899-06-24) (aged 64) Waikīkī
Burial	July 2, 1899(1899-07-02)[1] Mauna Ala Royal Mausoleum
Signature

Queen Kapiʻolani (1834–1899) formally Esther Kapiʻolani or Esther Kapiʻolani Napelakapuokakaʻe, was married to King David Kalākaua and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

Life

Kapiʻolani was born December 31, 1834 in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island to High Chief Kuhio Kalaniana'ole of Hilo and Kinoiki Kekaulike, the niaupio daughter of King Kaumualiʻi, last King of an independent Kaua'i before its amicable cession to Kamehameha the Great. She was also the step-granddaughter of Queen Regent Kaʻahumanu by virtue of Kaahumanu's marriage to Kaumualiʻi. She was named Esther Kapiʻolani, after her great-aunt High Chiefess Kapiʻolani, who defied the goddess Pele in the name of Christianity, and the Biblical queen Esther. Some called her incorrectly as Julia. "Julia" was derived from Kapiʻolani's personal motto, "Kulia I Ka Nuʻu"; "Strive for the Highest".^{[citation needed]} Because of this many books show that her first name to be Julia.

Kapiolani's first marriage was to High Chief Benjamin Namakehaokalani or sometimes called Bennet Namakeha. He was 35 years older than Kapiʻolani. He was uncle of Queen Emma on her father George Naea's side. This made her the widowed aunt of Queen Emma. Kapiʻolani was the caretaker of Haku O Hawaiʻi, Prince Albert Kamehameha. Queen Emma blamed Kapiolani for the child's death as he was under Kapiolani's care at the time.

Kapiʻolani married Kalākaua in a quiet ceremony due to respect for the passing of Kamehameha IV. She and Kalākaua were childless so she and her sister Poʻomaikelani hanaied (adopted) their sister Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike's three sons. Kapiʻolani took David and Jonah and Poomaikelani took Edward. David established the House of Kawānanakoa which would eventually succeed the House of Kalākaua.^{[citation needed]}

Queen Kapiʻolani.

In 1887, Queen Kapiʻolani traveled to London to attend Queen Victoria's 50th Jubilee celebration. Princess Liliʻuokalani, King Kalākaua's sister, traveled with Kapiʻolani. The Hawaiian Royal family were treated as dignitaries, and were seated with the British Royal family in the front of Westminster Abbey.

Queen Kapiʻolani established the Kapiʻolani Maternity Home, where Hawaiian mothers could receive care, as well as their newborn babies. It survives today as the Kapiʻolani Medical Center. Kapiʻolani Park in Waikīkī was named after the Queen by her husband Kalākaua. One of her noted compositions to Hawaiian music was a love song she wrote for her husband, Ka Ipo Lei Manu. Kalākaua died in San Francisco before he could hear the musical composition from his Queen.

Death

After the overthrow and her eviction from ʻIolani Palace, Queen Kapiʻolani retired to her home called Pualeilani in Waikīkī, dying there June 24, 1899 at age 64.

See also

Media related to Queen Kapiolani at Wikimedia Commons

• List of Kapiʻolani namesakes

References

External links

• Honolulu Advertiser Queen Kapiolani
• Queen Kapiolani of Hawaii