Queen Kapi?olani (1834-1899) was married to King Kal?kaua and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawai?i. Her full name was Kapi?olani Napelakapuokaka?e.
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Life
Kapi?olani was born December 31, 1834 in Hilo on Hawai?i Island to High Chief Kuhio Kalaniana?ole of Hilo and High Chiefess Kinoiki Kekaulike of Kaua?i, the daughter of King Kaumuali?i, last King of an independent Kaua?i before its amicable cession to Kamehameha the Great. She was named Kapi?olani, after her great-aunt High Chiefess Kapi?olani, who defied the goddess Pele in the name of Christianity. Her name, Kapi?olani, is composed of three words (ka pi'o lani) and means "The Heavenly Arch" or "The Royal Arch"
Kapiolani's first marriage was to High Chief Bennett N?m?k?h?, who was more than thirty years older than Kapi?olani. He was an uncle of Queen Emma on her father George Na?ea's side. This made her aunt by marriage to Queen Emma, who she served as her highest lady-in-waiting. Kapi?olani was the caretaker of Haku O Hawai?i, Prince Albert Kamehameha. Although it had been said that Queen Emma blamed Kapiolani for the child's death as he was under Kapiolani's care at the time, Queen Emma wrote Kapiolani a very kind reply in March 1863 to her letter, "Dear Kapi'olani, my companion in the caring of my son. You were my son's favorite, your chest must be filled with hurt. You were our third companion... ."
On December 8, 1863, Kapi?olani remarried to Kal?kaua in a quiet ceremony conducted by an Episcopal minister. Their wedding was heavily criticized since it fell during the time of mourning for King Kamehameha IV. She and Kal?kaua were childless so she and her sister Po?omaikelani adopted, in the tradition of h?nai, their sister Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike's three sons. Kapi?olani took David Kaw?nanakoa and Jonah K?hi? Kalaniana?ole and Po?omaikelani adopted Edward Abnel Keli?iahonui. In 1883, Kal?kaua made Kapiolani's nephews princes of Hawaii with the style of Highness in honor of his coronation.
In 1887, Queen Kapi?olani traveled to London to attend Queen Victoria's 50th Jubilee celebration. Crown Princess Lili?uokalani, King Kal?kaua's sister, traveled with Kapi?olani as her interpreter since though Kapi?olani was brought up understanding English, she refused to speak anything but Hawaiian. The Hawaiian Royal family were treated as dignitaries, and were seated with the British Royal family in the front of Westminster Abbey.
Queen Kapi?olani established the Kapi?olani Maternity Home, where Hawaiian mothers could receive care, as well as their newborn babies. It survives today as the Kapi?olani Medical Center. Kapi?olani Park in Waik?k? was named after the Queen by her husband Kal?kaua. One of her noted compositions to Hawaiian music was a love song she wrote for her husband, Ka Ipo Lei Manu. Kal?kaua died in San Francisco before he could hear the musical composition from his Queen.
Death
After the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai`is government and her eviction from ?Iolani Palace, Queen Kapi?olani retired to her private residence Pualeilani in Waik?k?, dying there June 24, 1899 at age sixty-four. She was interred in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii along with her husband and the rest of the House of Kal?kaua.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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