Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 5, 1 May 2016 — Hauʻoli La Hanau, Queen Kaʻahumanu!!! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hauʻoli La Hanau, Queen Kaʻahumanu!!!

he sisters of Ahahui Ka'ahumanu celebrated the 248th birthday of

Queen Ka'ahumanu on March 17, 2016! Yes, this is the same day

we celebrated the return ot the sacred 'ahu'ula and mahiole of Kalani'opu'u. This is not eoineidence as our Queen Ka'ahumanu rejoiceth also! ! I will now share with you a story about our wonderful, wise and favorite wife of King Kamehameha, Queen Ka'ahumanu and how she strengthened the bond between kanaka and 'āina many

years ago. In early 1825, Pohukaina (translated as Pohu-ka-aina, 'the land is quiet and ealm'), the mausoleum building was approved and constructed under Kuhina Nui (former Queen Ka'ahumanu) and other high chiefs, as King Kamehameha II (Liholiho) had described upon his return from Westminster Abbey. The mausoleum was a Western style structure made of whitewashed coral blocks with a thatched roof and had no windows. Liholiho and Queen Kamamalu were buried there on August 23, 1825. Nearly 10 years later, in 1832, Ka'ahumanu died. . ,her death took plaee at ten minutes past 3 o'eloek on the morning of June 5th. She passed after being ill for three weeks in whieh she exhibited her unabated attachment to her Christian teachers and reliance of Jesus Christ, her Savior (Hiram Bingham, 1832 Hawaii State Archives). Queen Ka'ahumanu's service was performed by Mr. Bingham in Hawaiian. He also addressed the foreigners present in English. After the close of the services, the

procession was again formed and walked to Pohukaina, where her body was deposited

in the underground crypt with the remains of other members of the Royal family (The Friend, June 1932, Hawai'i State Archives). In 1840, Richard Charlton, the lst British Counsel to our islands, made a elaim for several parcels of land in Honolulu whieh he said was leased to him in 1825. But, at the time he claimed the lease was made, only Ka'ahumanu and the king could make such leases/grants. The land was Ka'ahumanu's in the first plaee! And Kalanimoku did not

give it away (Hawai'i State Archives). This dispute dragged on for years! This and other grievances were reported by Charlton to Queen Victoria. This then led to the landing of George Paulet on February 11, 1843. Charlton wrote a letter to King Kamehameha III, "I have the honor to notify you that Her Britannic Majesty's ship Carysfort, will be prepared to make an immediate attach upon this town at 4pm tomorrow." Fearing that Paulet

would seize the archives and other records, Gerrit P. Judd took the fromthe govemment house, and secretly placed them in the royal tomb at Pohukaina. By candlelight, using the coffin of Queen Ka'ahumanu for a table, Judd prepared appeal after appeal to London and Washington to FREE Hawai'i from the illegal rule of Paulet. After 5 months of rule under the British Commission set up by Lord George Paulet, Queen Victoria, upon learning of these activities, IMMEDIATELY sent an envoy to the islands to RESTORE SOVEREIGNTY to its rightful rulers. Finally, Admiral Richard Thomas declared the end of the Provisional Cession and recognized King Kamehameha III as the King of the Hawaiian Islands, and the Islands to be INDEPENDENT and SOVEREIGN...the Hawaiian flag was raised. This event was referred to as Ka La Ho'iko'i Ea! (State Archives) E Ola Mau O Ahahui Ka'ahumanu! Me ke aloha pumehana, Trustee Leina'ala ■

Leina'ala Ahu lsa, Ph.D.

TrustEE, At-largE

TrusTee Lei Ahu lsa sits wilh fellow members of 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu at Ka'ahumanu Elementary School. - Photo: Courtesy