Princess Kalani Ahumanu i Kaliko o Iwi Kauhipua o Kīnaʻu

Princess Kalani Ahumanu i Kaliko o Iwi Kauhipua o Kīnaʻu, also known as Elizabeth Kīnaʻu, was a pivotal figure in the early 19th-century Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Born around 1805 in Waikiki, Oʻahu, she was the daughter of Kamehameha I, the unifier of the Hawaiian Islands, and Kalākua Kaheiheimālie. Her name, Kīnaʻu, carries several meanings in Hawaiian, including "stain, blemish, defect, minor flaw or imperfection, mistake, blunder," as well as referring to a species of fish (kawakawa) and a small eel. While the exact intent behind her naming is not explicitly stated in historical records, the multiple interpretations highlight the richness of the Hawaiian language. She was given in *hānai* (a traditional Hawaiian custom of informal adoption) to her stepmother Peleuli and Peleuli's second husband, Kawelookalani, her father's half-brother. Peleuli named her Kīnaʻu after her own son, Kahōʻanokū Kīnaʻu, and subsequently took her back to the island of Hawaiʻi when Kamehameha I moved his capital to Kailua-Kona.

Kīnaʻu's life was deeply intertwined with the political landscape of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Her first marriage was to her half-brother Liholiho, who ascended to the throne as King Kamehameha II in 1819. Following his death in London in 1824, she became a Dowager Queen. Her second husband was Kahalaiʻa Luanuʻu, a grandson of Kamehameha I, with whom she had a son who tragically died in the whooping cough epidemic of 1826. Her most significant marriage, however, was to Mataio Kekūanaōʻa in 1827. This union initially caused friction with Queen Kaʻahumanu, who desired Kīnaʻu to marry Kamehameha III to continue the royal line. Despite this, Kīnaʻu and Kekūanaōʻa had five children who would play crucial roles in Hawaiian history: David Kamehameha (1828–1835), Moses Kekūāiwa (1829–1848), Lot Kapuāiwa (1830–1872), Alexander Liholiho (1834–1863), and Victoria Kamāmalu (1838–1866). Lot Kapuāiwa and Alexander Liholiho would later reign as Kamehameha V and Kamehameha IV, respectively, while Victoria Kamāmalu would become Kuhina Nui as Kaʻahumanu IV.

On June 5, 1832, Kīnaʻu assumed the powerful office of Kuhina Nui, a position akin to a prime minister or co-regent, and was styled as Kaʻahumanu II, succeeding Queen Kaʻahumanu. She served as regent for her younger brother, Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III), from June 5, 1832, to March 15, 1833, and continued to rule alongside him until her death. Her tenure as Kuhina Nui was marked by significant political and cultural developments. She was instrumental in enforcing Hawaiʻi's first penal code, proclaimed by Kamehameha III in 1835, which aimed to establish a more formalized legal system in the kingdom. Kīnaʻu was a staunch proponent of Protestant Christianity, a faith she adopted, like many other high-ranking chiefs. Her strong religious convictions led her to persecute Catholic missionaries and attempt to expel French Jesuit priests, actions that subsequently resulted in diplomatic tensions with France.

Kīnaʻu's relationship with Kamehameha III was complex, characterized by both cooperation and disagreement. Initially, Kamehameha III, perceived by missionaries as indifferent to his royal duties and more inclined towards leisure, led Kīnaʻu to feel the immense burden of leadership. At one point, she expressed her discouragement to Laura Fish Judd, wife of missionary Gerrit P. Judd, contemplating abandoning her titles and responsibilities. However, Mrs. Judd encouraged her to embrace her role as Regent for the welfare of her people. Kīnaʻu and Kamehameha III often clashed over government policies, particularly regarding religious tolerance and land tenure. Kīnaʻu advocated for policies aligned with missionary teachings and was less tolerant of other religions than her predecessor. She also strengthened the land tenure of the Crown Lands through official proclamation, a move that Kamehameha III initially resented as it diminished the king's traditional power to freely grant and revoke land. Despite their differences, they eventually reconciled and established a new governmental structure comprising the King, the Kuhina Nui, and a Council of Chiefs, laying the groundwork for a more formalized system of governance.

Kīnaʻu's legacy is profound, particularly through her children who continued the Kamehameha dynasty and her significant contributions to the Hawaiian Kingdom's legal and administrative framework. She is remembered as a strong and influential leader who navigated the complex transition of Hawaiʻi from traditional practices to a more Western-influenced system of governance. Her commitment to Protestant Christianity and her efforts to enforce a penal code reflect her dedication to establishing a moral and orderly society. While her actions against Catholic missionaries led to international incidents, they also underscore her firm belief in the path she envisioned for her nation. Her children, Kamehameha IV, Kamehameha V, and Kaʻahumanu IV, carried forward her lineage and influence, shaping the future of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Although specific places or institutions directly named after her are not as widely documented as for some other Aliʻi, her impact is deeply embedded in the historical narrative of Hawaiʻi, particularly in the establishment of a structured government and the promotion of education and Christianity. Her life exemplifies the challenges and transformations faced by the Hawaiian royalty during a period of immense change and foreign influence. She died of mumps in Honolulu, Oʻahu, on April 4, 1839, at the age of 33-34. Her funeral was held at Kawaiahaʻo Church, and her remains were eventually interred in the Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum, alongside other Hawaiian royals. Her enduring influence as Kuhina Nui and as the mother of future monarchs solidified her place as a significant figure in Hawaiian history.