Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi Crowningburg Kamai

Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi Crowningburg Kamai (c. 1839–1899) was a distinguished Hawaiian high chiefess, or aliʻi, during a pivotal period of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Born around 1839, she was a prominent figure within the Hawaiian aristocracy, closely related to the ruling House of Kamehameha through collateral lines. Her full Hawaiian name, Kekāuluohi, is often interpreted as "the vigorously growing vine" or "the one who is a chief/leader," reflecting her noble lineage and potential influence. The name Auhea, which she also carried, can mean "where?" in questions or "listen" in commands, and was notably adopted by her namesake, the elder Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi, after the passing of Kamehameha I.

Princess Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi Crowningburg was born to High Chief John Harold Kaiheʻekai and High Chiefess Namahana. Her paternal lineage traced back to Hoʻolulu, son of Kameʻeiamoku, one of the royal twins who advised Kamehameha I during his unification of the Hawaiian Islands. Hoʻolulu and his brother Hoapili were entrusted with the sacred duty of concealing Kamehameha I's bones, establishing their family as the traditional kahu, or guardians, of royal burial sites. Her maternal grandmother, Peleuli, was the daughter of High Chief Kalaʻimamahu, Kamehameha I's half-brother. This intricate web of relationships made the younger Auhea a second cousin to King Lunalilo, as her grandmother was the half-sister of the elder Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi, who served as Kuhina Nui (premier) under Kamehameha III from 1839 to 1845.

Auhea's personal life saw two marriages. Her first was to Jesse Crowningburg, a German-American settler in Hawaii, sometime before 1859. Jesse Crowningburg held the position of tax collector for Lahaina and Wailuku on Maui. Together, they had three children: William Charles Keʻeaumoku Crowningburg (who died in 1881), Elizabeth Keomailani Crowningburg (1859–1887), and Lydia Kalola, who tragically passed away in Lahaina at just eight months old in 1859. This marriage eventually ended in divorce. On January 20, 1873, she remarried Paul Kamai, a maternal uncle to Helen Manaiula Lewis Isenberg and Abigail Kuaihelani Campbell. They had one son, Albert Edward Kameeiamoku Kamai, also known as Charles Harold Kameeiamoku-Kaiheekai, who died young.

Her political and social role, while not one of direct governance, was significant due to her high chiefly status and close ties to the royal family. It was alleged that she was betrothed to Lunalilo, but instead eloped with Jesse Crowningburg. Following Lunalilo's brief reign and death, Auhea was considered to have a legitimate claim to the Hawaiian throne. Her descent from a collateral line of the House of Kamehameha meant that her granddaughters were even considered potential claimants to the Crown Lands of Hawaii during the Hawaiian Territorial period. She also played a crucial role in acknowledging the House of Kalākaua, alongside Ruth Keʻelikōlani, helping to quell opposition within the Hawaiian community regarding the new reigning family's genealogy after Kalākaua's election in 1874.

In her later years, Auhea took on the esteemed role of kahu for the Lunalilo Mausoleum, her cousin's personal family tomb located on the grounds of the Kawaiahaʻo Church. This role underscored her family's traditional guardianship over royal burial sites. She lived through a tumultuous period in Hawaiian history, witnessing the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, the subsequent establishment of the Republic of Hawaii in 1894, and finally Hawaii's annexation by the United States in 1898. She passed away in Honolulu on May 16, 1899, at the age of 60. In recognition of her chiefly status, she was interred in the lot outside the vault of Lunalilo's Mausoleum. Her grandson, William Bishop Taylor, is also buried nearby. After her death, her cousin High Chiefess Maria Beckley Kahea succeeded her as kahu of the Lunalilo Mausoleum.

Princess Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi Crowningburg's legacy is primarily rooted in her family's enduring commitment to preserving Hawaiian royal heritage. Her descendants have continued the tradition of serving as kahu of the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ʻAla, a testament to her family's deep connection to the Hawaiian monarchy and its sacred sites. Hoʻolulu Street, near Kapahulu, Honolulu, was named by Auhea herself in honor of her esteemed ancestor, further cementing her family's place in Hawaiian history. Her life spanned a period of immense change for the Hawaiian Kingdom, and her story provides a valuable perspective on the challenges and transformations faced by the aliʻi during the late 19th century. Her lineage, particularly through her great-great-great-grandson Sammy Amalu, a controversial columnist who wrote extensively on Hawaiian royalty, continues to be a subject of historical interest and discussion. Her life, marked by both personal and political connections to the highest echelons of Hawaiian society, exemplifies the resilience and enduring spirit of the aliʻi during a time of profound transition.