How many legal wives did King Kamehameha I have?

Answer 1

It is ironic to ask a question of legality when the Hawaiian Monarchy of a Kingdom was overthrown by illegal system through the force of weapons of mass destruction of military force. Legal terminology is an American Federal Government Dictionary definition premitted by law and lawful, by a American court system. The Hawaiian Kingdom was not and is not under American control. In early times, King's of foreign Nations or Kingdoms where not subject modern laws enacted by governments. They could have as many as a hundred wives. The actual amount of HRH King Kamehameha's wives are unknown, it has been speculated between 20 to 25 wifes. The previous response about legality and the monarchy overthrown has nothing to do with an illegal system and what is currently run. If that poster who replied with that answer understood occupational laws, then they'd realize that the Hawaiian Kingdom laws still applies although the U.S.' laws have been imposed when it is clearly understood internationally that laws of occupation recognize the occupants' laws. However, as far as legal wives go, they were all legal in Hawaiian society. There were about 32 wives or so, but not all of them produced children. The ones commonly known are Kaahumanu and Keopuolani. Keopuolani is known to be his "sacred wife", being that her rank was the highest in the islands at that time among with a couple of other chiefesses and a chief (her father) as well as being the mother of Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III.

Kaahumanu however is well known to be Kamehameha's "favorite wife" and had an integral part in the overthrow of the ancient kapu system immediately after the death of Kamehameha. She was also the Kuhina Nui (Regent & Premiere) of Kamehameha III until he became of age. Kaahumanu had a sister known as Kaheiheimalie and was the mother of Kamamalu who was the wife of Kamehameha II and both died in England, as well as the mother of the chiefess Kinau who also became Kuhina Nui during Kamehameha III's time, who was her half brother. Kinau became the mother of Kamehameha IV and Kamehameha V.

I'd suggest if asking anything on Hawaiian history or culture, better to ask a knowledgeable Hawaiian skilled in both rather than rely on people replying as you see above. Mamoahina

Answer 2

He had five wives.

Answer 3

It was 5,000,000