Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Ali‘i Letters – Ka‘ahumanu to Kamāmalu (1822)

Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (Mission Houses) collaborated with Awaiaulu Foundation to digitize, transcribe, translate and annotate over 200-letters written by 33-Chiefs. In this letter, sent in late-July 1822, Kaʻahumanu writes to Kamehamalu (Kamāmalu – primary wife of Liholiho, Kamehameha II) to introduce Kaumualiʻi as her new husband, encourage more letter writing and send a gift of goby fish.

In part, it notes, “there you are among the longnecks (referring to the missionary women and their dresses), so send letters here. There are many people, but few letters. I want [you] to send eight hundred Hawaiian letters. We want literacy, it may make us wise. Give our affection to Mr. and Mrs. Bingham and all the longnecks.”

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Entourage

On November 27, 1823, L’Aigle, an English whaling ship, took Kamehameha II (Liholiho), Kamāmalu and their entourage to England to gain firsthand experience in European ways. The king and his chiefs agreed that Liholiho needed a competent interpreter to travel with him and Frenchman John Rives went as interpreter.

Liholiho’s chosen party were Governor Boki and his wife, Liliha, Kapihe, Chief Kekuanaoa, steward Manuia, Naukana (Noukana), Kauluhaimalama, servant Na‘aiweuweu, and James Kanehoa Young. In London, Liholiho and Kamāmalu became ill; Kamāmalu (aged 22) died on July 8, 1824, Kamehameha II (age 27) died six days later, on July 14, 1824. The British Government dispatched HMS Blonde to return them back to Honolulu; they arrived on May 6, 1825.

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Kalākua

Kalākua (also Kaheiheimālie) (c. 1778–1842) was daughter of Keʻeaumoku, a chief from Hawaiʻi Island and Namahana, from the royal family on Maui. She was described as physically being ‘tall and gigantic,’ like her siblings. Her siblings included Queen Kaʻahumanu, Hawaiʻi Island Governor John Adams Kuakini, Maui Governor George Cox Kahekili Keʻeaumoku II and Lydia Namahana Piʻia. She first married Kalaʻimamahu, the younger brother of Kamehameha I. Her first daughter, Kekāuluohi, became Kamehameha’s youngest wife.

Kekāuluohi later married Charles Kanaʻina. By Kanaʻina, had a son William Charles Lunalilo (future king of the Islands.) Kalākua married Kamehameha I and had four children: their two sons died as infants; the oldest daughter, Kamāmalu, became wife of Liholiho (Kamehameha II,) and the youngest daughter, Kīnaʻu, later became Kuhina Nui. Kīnaʻu later married Mataio Kekūanāoʻa; they had several children, including Lot Kapuāiwa (Kamehameha V,) Alexander Liholiho (Kamehameha IV) and Victoria. She later married Hoapili. Kalākua was mother of two Queen consorts and grandmother of three future Kings.

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“Call the little baby Kīna’u.”

When the Gerrit and Laura Judd’s daughter was born, July 5, 1831, Kīna‘u wanted to adopt her – the Judd’s said, “We don’t give away our children.” At the girl’s christening, Kīna’u said, ‘Call the little baby Kīna’u.’ They did, and the Judd family continues the tradition today. The Judd’s child was not the only missionary child named for Hawaiian Chiefs or Chiefesses.

Maria Kapule Whitney was named for Kauai Chiefess Kapule, wife of Kauai’s King Kaumualiʻi. The Ruggles’ daughter was named Sarah Trumbull Kaumuali’i Ruggles. (Some suggest her Hawaiian name was Ka‘amuali‘i.) Lucia Kamāmalu Holman was named after King Kamehameha II’s wife. Elisabeth “Lizzie” Kaʻahumanu Bingham was named for Ka‘ahumanu, Kamehameha I’s favorite wife. Mary Kekāuluohi Clark was named for Kekāuluohi, who later became Kuhina Nui (as Kaʻahumanu III;) Kekāuluohi was mother of King Lunalilo.) Harriet Keōpūolani Williston Richards was named for the mother of King Kamehameha II and III. Douglass Hoapili Baldwin was named for the Governor of Maui.

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“Admiral of the Sandwich Islands”

On November 27, 1823, Kamehameha II (Liholiho) was the first Ali‘i to travel to England.  He was accompanied by Kamāmalu, the queen, Boki and his wife, Liliha, Kekūanāoʻa, Manuia, James Young and Kapihe.  (Alexander) Kapihe (Naihekukui) “was very intelligent, had an excellent memory, and spoke English tolerably. He was remarkably skillful in the game of […]