Kaahumanu II

Infobox Hawaiian Royalty
name =Elizabeth Kīnaokinau
title =

---

imgw =
reign =5 Jun, 1832 - 4 Apr 1839
as Kuhina Nui
(age in years and days|1832|6|5|1839|4|4)
predecessor =Kaahumanu the Great
successor =Kaahumanu III
spouse =Liholiho, King Kamehameha II
Prince Kahalaia Luanuokinau
Governor Mataio Kekuanaoa of Ookinaahu
issue =David Kamehameha
Prince Moses Kekuaiwa
Lot Kapuaiwa, King Kamehameha V
Alexander Liholiho, King Kamehameha IV
Princess Victoria Kamamalu Kaahumanu IV
full name =Kalani Ahumanu i Kaliko o Iwi Kauhipua o Kīnaokinau, Elizabeth Kīnaokinau Kaokinaahumanu II
titles ="HM" The Queen Consort
"HRH" The Queen Dowager
"HRH" The Princess
"HRH" Kuhina Nui

royal house =House of Kamehameha
father =High Chief Mataio Kekuanaoa
mother =Queen Miriam Kalakua Kaheiheimaile
date of birth =c. 1805
place of birth =Waikiki, O'ahu
date of death =Apr 4, 1839
place of death =Honolulu, O'ahu
place of burial =Mauna Ala Royal Mausoleum|

Princess Kalani Ahumanu i Kaliko o Iwi Kauhipua o Kīnaokinau, also known as Kaokinaahumanu II or Elizabeth Kīnaokinau (circa. 1805 - 4 April, 1839) was Kuhina Nui of Hawaii and its Queen regent and Dowager Queen.

She was born as a daughter of king Kamehameha the Great and his sixth wife lady Aliokinai Kalākua probably in the year 1805 or 1807.

Princess Kinau was firstly married to her half brother Liholiho (1797-1824) who ascended in 1819 as king Kamehameha II. In 1824, quite young, she became Dowager Queen when her husband and brother died in London together with his favorite wife (her sister) Queen Kamamalu.

Her second husband was prince Kahalaia Luanuokinau, a grandson of Kamehameha the Great, who deceased in 1826. To her second husband she bore a son, prince David Kamehameha, in 1825, who however died young.Her third husband was Prince Mataio Kekuanaookinaa (1791-1868), from 1827. Kekuanaookinaa was Governor of Oahu 1834-68.

To him she bore three son Moses, Lot, and Alexander and she bore one daughter Victoria. Everyone of them except Moses live to adulthood and would leave a mark in Hawaiian history.

She became the Kuhina Nui as Kaokinaahumanu II 5 June 1832 when Queen Kaahumanu died. She acted as the Regent for her brother King Kamehameha III, from 5 June 1832 to 17 March 1833. She would rule alongside him as kuhina-nui until her death. She was responsible for enforcing Hawai‘i’s first penal code, proclaimed by the King in 1835. She adopted Protestant Christianity like many of the chiefs and chieftess. She persecuted many of the Catholic missionaries and tried to expel the French Jesuit Priests which would later lead into diplomatic troubles with France.

During the early years of Kauikeaouli, he was indifferent to his duties as king and spend his time pursueing leisure instead of ruling. She had to take full duty of a monarch and she soon became disheartended and at legnth came to Mrs. Judd, the wife of Gerrit P. Judd, and said: "I am in sore straits and heavy hearted, and I have come to tell you my thought. I am quite discouraged and cannot bear this burden any longer. I wish to throw away my rank and title and responsibility together, bring my family here, and live with you;or, we will take our families and go away together." Mrs. Judd referred her to the story of Esther, and pointed out to her that she must be strong and accept the responsibility of Regent of the nation for the sake of her people. [The Memoirs of Hon. Bernice Pauahi Bishop By Mary Hannah Krout, Page 18]

Kinau and Kauikeaouli argued over how best to rule. Kinau favored the missionary ways and was no more tolerant of other religions than Kaahumanu and strengthened the land tenure laws by written and official proclamation. Kauikeaouli resented the lessened power of the king who no longer had sole power or could give and take land at will. He wanted the old ways for his people. Eventually they resolved their differences and formed a new government. Now there was a King, a Kuhina Nui, and a Counsel of Chiefs.

Her two sons ascended as kings of Hawaii as Kamehameha IV and Kamehameha V. Her only daughter Victoria Kamamalu became Kuhina Nui as Kaahumanu IV.

Also her widower, prince Kekuanaookinaa, became Kuhina Nui (1863- 24 August 1864) and was the last holder of that position, it becoming dissolved by the 1864 constitution.

She died at Honolulu, Ookinaahu.

Notes

Resources

* [http://hawaii.gov/dags/archives/centennial/kina-u KĪNA‘U]
###@@@KEY@@@###
###@@@KEY@@@###