Queen Kapiolani

Infobox Hawaiian Royalty
name =Kapiokinaolani
title =Queen Consort of the Hawaiian Islands


imgw =260
reign =12 Feb 1874 — 20 Jan 1891
predecessor =
successor =
spouse =Prince Bennett Namekeha
King David Kalākaua
issue =
full name =Esther Julia Kapiokinaolani or Esther Julia Kapiokinaolani Napelakapuokakaokinae
titles ="HM" The Queen
"HRH" The Queen Dowager
royal house =House of Kalākaua
Royal House of Kauaokinai
royal anthem =
father =High Chief Kuhio Kalanianaokinaole of Hilo
mother =Princess Kekaulike Kinoiki of Kauaokinai
date of birth =birth date|1834|12|31|df=y
place of birth =Hilo, Hawaiokinai
date of death =death date and age|1899|6|24|1834|12|31|df=yes
place of death =Pualeilani, Waikīkī
place of burial =Mauna Ala Royal Mausoleum|

Kapiokinaolani, Queen Consort of Hawaiokinai (1834–1899) formally Esther Julia Kapiokinaolani or Esther Julia Kapiokinaolani Napelakapuokakaokinae, was married to King David Kalākaua and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaiokinai.

She was the granddaughter of Kaumualiokinai, the last king of the island of Kauaokinai before being ceded to the unified Hawaiian Islands governed by Kamehameha the Great. She was also the step-daughter of Queen Regent Kaokinaahumanu. Her first marriage was to High Chief Benjamin Namakehaokalani or sometimes called Bennet Namakeha. He was a son of Kealiokinaimaikaokinai, brother of Kamehameha the Great. He was 35 years older than Kapiokinaolani. He was uncle of Queen Emma on her father George Naea's side. This made her the widowed aunt of Queen Emma. Aliokinai Kapiokinaolani was the caretaker of Haku O Hawaiokinai, Prince Albert, baby of Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. At the death of four year old Prince Albert, Aliokinai Kapiokinaolani writes of her great grief and self-blame over the baby's death to Queen Emma. Queen Emma tells Aliokinai Kapiokinaolani that the child was as Kapiokinaolani's own, there could be no blame for one who loved the Prince so well.

Aliokinai Kapiokinaolani married Kalākaua in a quiet ceremony due to respect for the passing of Kamehameha IV. Kalākaua was not as high ranked Alii as Kapiokinaolani was.

She and Kalākaua were childless so she and her sister Pookinaomaikelani hanaied (adopted) their sister Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike's three sons. Kapiokinaolani took David and Jonah and Poomaikelani took Edward. David established the House of Kawananakoa which would eventually succeed the House of Kalākaua.

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

Queen Kapiokinaolani established the Kapiokinaolani Maternity Home, where Hawaiian mothers could receive care, as well as their newborn babies. It survives today as the Kapiokinaolani Medical Center. Kapi'olani Park in Waikiki was named after the Queen by her husband, Mo'i (King) Kalākaua. One of her noted compositions to Hawaiian music was a love song she wrote for the Mo'i, her husband, "Ka Ipo Lei Manu". The Mo'i died in San Francisco before he could hear this composition of love, to him, from his Queen.

After missionaries arrived in Hawaiokinai, 1820-30-40, a law was passed, all Hawaiian people must have an English first name. Kapiokinaolani had the name Julia as her first name. In Hawaiian, Julia is "Kulia"; therefore, the beginning of her personal motto, "Kulia I Ka Nuu"; "Strive for the Highest".

After the death of her beloved husband, Mo'i Kalākaua, Queen Kapiokinaolani retired to her home in Waikīkī and passed away shortly after her husband.

External links

* [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/150/sesq1kapiolani Honolulu Advertiser Queen Kapiolani]
* [http://www.hawaiitravelnewsletter.com/monarchy/queen-kapiolani.htm Queen Kapiolani of Hawaii]