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Biography of Founder King Kamehameha IV queensmedicalcenter.net |
This article is about the fifth King of Hawaii. For other kings of the same name, see King Kamehameha. For other meanings of "Kamehameha", see Kamehameha (disambiguation).
Kamehameha V (1830–1872), born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi from 1863 to 1872. He was born and died on his 42nd birthday 11 December 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great chief of the olden type, like his grandfather Kamehameha I.[1] His full Hawaiian name prior to his succession was Lota Liholiho Kapuāiwa Kalanimakua Kalanikapuapaikalaninui Ali`iolani Kalani-a-Kekūanaō‘a.[1][2]
[edit] Early lifeHe was born Lot Kapuaiwa December 11, 1830 to Elisabeta Kīnau and her husband Mataio Kekuanaoʻa. Kapuaiwa means mysterious kapu or sacred one protected by supernatural powers. His siblings include David Kamehameha, Moses Kekuaiwa, Alexander Liholiho, and Victoria Kamamalu. He was hanaied (adopted) by the Princess Nahienaena but she died in 1836 and so, High Chief Ulumaheihei Hoapili and Queen Kalakua Kaheiheimalie his grandmother. He was educated at the Royal School like his cousins and siblings. He was betrothed to Bernice Pauahi at birth but fell deeply in love with his cousin, Abigail Maheha at the Royal School. He was only 5 years old when he was caught sleeping with Abigail She became pregnant with his child when he was 15 and she 13. On February 4, 1846 when she was 6 months pregnant, she was removed from the Royal School, separated from Lot Kapuaiwa and forced to marry Keaupuni a commoner from Koloa Kauai, the gardener of her adopted mother Miriam Kekauonohi. These events could have led the young Prince to his renounce marriage for the rest of his life, including that to his adopted sister Bernice Pauahi Paki. She eventually married Charles R. Bishop. Lot and Bernice remained friends for the rest of his life. Rumors has it that he ask's Bernice to take the Throne. As Lot laid bedstricken, he answered those that came to visit him while preparations for his birthday celebration was underway: "The Good Lord cannot take me today, today is my birthday". He was steadfest, (onipa'a) he believed till the end that he would recover, meaning he never proposed the Throne to Bernice! What is true is that a rumor of such could be of great help in conniving everyone to believe that Bernice should inherit thru Princess Ruth the Bulk of the Kamehameha Lands. Today, the 300 plus descendents of Lot Kapuaiwa Kamehameha and Abigail Maheha thru their only daughter Keanolani, are the only Direct Lineal Descendents of the Kamehameha Dynasty, for Lot was the last of the Kamehameha's to sit upon the Throne, therefore making his Branch the Lineal Branch. All other branches are either collateral or issued of a branch that was not the last of the Kamehameha's to rule . About 150 of then still live on the island of Kauai with about 100 of them in or around the Town of Hanapepe. [edit] CareerFrom 1852 to 1855 he served on the Privy Council, and from 1852 to 1862 in the House of Nobles. he was minister of Onterior from 1857 to 1863, chief justice from 1857 to 1858, and held other offices.[3] [edit] A new constitutionIn May 1864 he called for a constitutional convention. On July 7, 1864 he proposed a new constitution rather than amendmending the old constitution. The convention ran smoothly until the 62nd article. It limited voters to being residents who passed a literacy test and possessed property or had income qualifications. On August 20, 1864, he signed the new constitution and took an oath to protect it. The constitution was based on the original draft but 20 articles were deleted. When he appointed Charles de Varigny to the king's cabinet, Americans in Hawaiʻi were convinced that he had adopted an anti-American policy. In reality, his foreign policy remained the same. [edit] AlcoholIn 1865 a bill was brought before the legislature permitting the sale of liquor in Hawaii. Kamehameha V surprised the supporters of the bill, saying "I will never sign the death warrant of my people." Alcoholism was one of the many causes of the already declining population of the native Hawaiians. [edit] Growth in travel to HawaiʻiGrowth in travel to the islands increased during Kamehameha's reign. Mark Twain came in March 1866 aboard the Ajax. He stayed for four months under his real name, writing letters back to the Sacramento Union describing the islands. Twain remarked: "There was no trivial royal nonsense about him... He dressed plainly, poked about Honolulu, night or day, on his old horse, unattended; he was popular, greatly respected, and even beloved." Queen Victoria sent her second son Alfred Ernest Albert on a state visit in 1869. With these people were envoys, politicians and merchants, creating the need for hotels. The Hawaiian Hotel was proposed in 1865 but not laid down until 1871. The Hotel is located on the corner of Hotel Street and Richards Street and was formally opened by a ball on 29 February 1872. The hotel changed names to Royal Hawaiian Hotel. During World War I, it was converted into the present Armed Forces YMCA. He appealed to Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany, who sent Henri Berger to organize the Royal Hawaiian Band, a gift of music from the king to his people. [edit] Building projects under Kamehameha V's reignThe Hawaiian Hotel was not the only ambitious building project that Kamehameha V had initiated. He wanted to create a credible and pleasing face for the government for those who visited. The cornerstone of the Aliʻiōlani Hale was laid in 1872 and the building completed in 1874. The original purpose was to replace the contemporary ʻIolani Palace built by Kamehameha III. Its purpose was dropped in favor of a more useful one. Currently, it is the home of the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court and the statue of Kamehameha the Great. Some other building projects included the ʻIolani barracks to house the royal guards, a new prison, the Royal Mausoleum, schoolhouses and warehouses, an insane asylum, a quarantine building to process the flood of immigrants, and other government structures. Because of so many new projects, there was heavy strain on Hawaiʻi's resources and by 31 March 1874, Hawaiʻi's national debt stood at over $355,000. [edit] Choosing an heir to the Hawaiian throne
Maybe a bachelor but definitely a father, Kamehameha V's only heir was a daughter he had with his cousin Abigail Maheha when he was 15 and she 13. They were separated and Abigail was forced to marry the gardener of her adopted Aunt and former governor of Kauai, Miriam Kekauonohi. She later gave birth to their daughter, Keanolani in May 1846 on the island of Kauai in the town of Koloa, where the Keaupuni family still lives in today on land given to them by Miriam Kekauonohi in return for Keaupuni's favor. His sister and only named Heir Apparent to the throne, Crown Princess Victoria Kamamalu died childless in 1866 and through the remainder of his reign, Kamehameha V did not name a successor or disclose the names of his daughter or granddaughter as being the heir. His steadfastness for not marrying or naming a successor was meant to punish those (dead or living) who separated him from his true-love, Abigail Maheha and their daughter Keanolani. This act also helped perpetuate the Lineal Branch of the Kamehameha Dynasty in a Direct and Unbroken Line, through his biological daughter Keanolani and her daughter Hyacinth Keopuolani Kamali, for they were the targets of assassins, both foreign and of Hawaiian origin, who wanted to put an end to the Lineal Branch of the House of Kamehameha . At the death of Kamehameha V on December 11, 1872, they were the only two direct descendents of the Kamehameha Dynasty alive. He died while the preparations for his birthday celebration were underway. He was the last monarch of the House of Kamehameha. According to his Constitution of 1864, Article 24: The Crown is hereby permanently confirmed to His Majesty Kamehameha V, and to the Heirs of His Body Lawfully Begotten, and to their Lawful Descendents in a Direct Line... ʻi The legislature chose to use a later part of that same article to name a new king. The legislature declared an election for the office, won by Kamehameha V's cousin William Charles Lunalilo. Today the surviving descendents of Lot Kapuaiwa Kamehameha and Abigail Maheha are issued through their only daughter Keanolani, and through the marriage of Keanolani with John Olupua Kamali. Keanolani and John Olupua Kamali are the parents of Hyacith Keopuolani Kamali. Hyacinth Keopoulani Kamali marries John Kali. Through their union are born 3 children, the eldest child Alexander Liholiho Kali is born in 1903, the second Robert Kekuiapoiwa Kali is born in 1905. The third child, a girl Olga Kekauonohi Kali is born in 1906. All 3 children were born in Waianapanapa, Maui but raised in hiding in 3 different locations. Alexander, on the island of Niihau, Robert on the island of Kahoolawe, and Olga is raised by Victoria Ward on her Honolulu Estate. Alexander and Robert are reunited on the island of Kauai in the town of Hanapepe in December 1917 after the death of Queen Liliuokalani and raised by their adopted mother and designated caregiver Maluihi Poki. Olga continues to live with Victoria Ward until her death in 1923, at the age of 17. Alexander married his cousin, Christina Kala Vasconcelles and they have 16 children (one is stillborn). Their eldest child is born on Sept. 23, 1924. Robert married Kuulei Young and had 7 children. Olga died with no children. [edit] References
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