Nahienaena

Princess Nāhiokinaenaokinaena (Harrieta Keōpūolani Nāhiokinaenaokinaena; "c." 1815 – December 30 1836) was a Hawaiian princess. In Hawaiian, her name means "the raging fires".

This sacred "muli loa" (last born) child of Paiea Kūnuiakea Kamehameha (Kamehameha I) and Kalanikauikaokinaalaneo Kai Keōpūolani was brought into this life with all of the immense "kuleana" (privilege and responsibility) that would accompany someone of such high birth. She was born at Keauhou, South Kona, Moku o Keawe (Hawaii Island). Her two older brothers, "hiapo" (first born) Liholiho, and Kauikeaouli were to become Kings Kamehameha II and III. [Kamakau S.M. Ke Aupuni Mōʻī. Kamehameha Schools Press 2001]

She was in love with her brother Kauikeaouli. This divine marriage and the children arising from it "would mingle sacred blood and establish the eternal kingdom." The old chiefs strongly encouraged their marriage but the missionaries were totally against it, calling incest a sin. The practice of incest between siblings in the royal family wasn't uncommon in old Hawaii; her maternal grandparents were half sister and brothers. She would later marry William Pitt Leleiohoku I, the son of William Pitt Kalanimoku Prime Minister of Hawaii. They had no children.

The last years of her life were ones of illness and dejection. In September 1836 she gave birth to a child; Kamehameha had announced that the child would be the heir to the throne because he believed the child to be his, but the child lived for no more than a few hours. It was probably fathered by her brother. Nahi'ena'ena never recovered physically or emotionally from childbirth and illness overtook her. Dr. Thomas Rooke, the husband of High Chiefess Grace Kamaikui, was the physician and being unable to determine the cause of the illness, he called upon Dr. Ruschenberger, a visiting surgeon, to assist him. Yet she died on December 30, 1836, near Hale Uluhe, the home of her brother, Kauikeaouli. After nearly five weeks of intense grieving, her body was brought in procession to Kawaiahaokinao Church for services. The procession was led by traditional warriors and kāhuna laokinaau lapaokinaau (healers) [Ke Kumu. February 15, 1837. Honolulu] . On April 12, 1837 her body was brought aboard the ship "Don Qixote" (purchased and renamed "Kai Keōpūolani" by her brother), to the ancient sacred resting place of Moku`ula in Lāhainā, Māui to be buried near their mother Keōpūolani.

Her death, causing a great stillness to fill the Kingdom, is reported to have had a sobering affect on her brother, the King. He turned from dissolute ways to concern for welfare of his kingdom.

Marjorie Jane Putnam Sinclair wrote "Nahienaena, Sacred Daughter of Hawaii", based on the tragic life of the princess.

Notes

ee also

* Nahienaena's Pau

External links

*
* [http://hotspotshawaii.com/nalostuff/May96/Nahienaena.html Life of Nahi'ena'ena]