Elizabeth Ka'ahumanu (March 17, 1768-June 5, 1832) was wife of King Kamehameha the Great of Hawaii (c.1738-1819). She served as queen regent-prime minister (kahina nui) after her husband's death in 1819.
Queen Ka'ahumanu, along with the son of King Kamehameha, Liholiho (1797-1824), commanded the cessation of the social taboos, idolatry and human sacrifice, known as kapu, that had controlled Hawaii for centuries. Their edict, issued in 1819, went out to all the islands, causing the destruction of numerous idols and temples (heiaus).
The following year, Hiram Bingham (1831-1908) and a group of Protestant missionaries came to Hawaii on the brig, Thaddeus. Queen Ka'ahumanu received Christ and helped spread the Gospel throughout the islands, resulting in "The Great Awakening" of the 1830's and 1840's. Just prior to her death, Queen Ka'ahumanu was presented with the newly completed version of the New Testament in the Hawaiian language. She declared it good (maika), and then spoke her last words to Rev. Bingham:
<I am going where the mansions are ready.> 1768EK001
A supporter of Queen Ka'ahumanu was Queen Ke'opuolani (1778- 1823), the highest ranking wife of King Kamehameha I, and one of the first in Hawaii to be baptized into the Christian faith. She spoke the phrase which became the Motto of the State of Hawaii:
<Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono (The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness.> 1768EK002
King Kamehameha III reiterated his mother's dying words, "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono," as he gave thanks to God at Kawaiaha'o Church for the return of his kingdom in 1843.
Kapiolani (1834-1899), the High Chiefess of Kealekekua Bay, was baptized by the early Christian missionaries, and proceeded to introduce her village of Kaawaloa to Christ. In helping the Hilo missionaries win the people from ancient superstitions and human sacrifice to Pele (the volcano goddess), High Chiefess Kapiolani traveled a hundred miles to the rim of the volcano Kilauea, descended into the crater and defied Pele by eating some of the goddess' sacred ohelo berries. She then praised "the one true God" and proclaimed:
<Jehovah is my God. He kindled these fires. I fear not Pele. All the gods of Hawaii are vain.> 1768EK003
This courageous act of the High Chiefess Kapiolani greatly advanced Christianity in Hawaii, leading many Hawaiians to become missionaries to other islands, such as Rev. Samuel Kauwealoha, who stopped the ritual of cannibalism and planted numerous churches and schools.
Rev. Samuel Kauwealoha is mentioned in the missionary account, In Life in Hawaii, by Titus Coan, 1882, Chapter XIII, The Marquesas Islands Early English and French Missions The Hawaiians Send a Mission to Them My Visit in 1860 The Marquesan Tabu System:
<From Vaitahu we went to Hivaoa or La Dominica. The missionary at this station was the Rev. Samuel Kauwealoha, a native of Hilo, and a member of the Hilo church.
He came out in his boat, boarding us five or six miles from the shore, and gave us a most hearty welcome. We landed on a beautiful beach of white sand, and walked half a mile through a charming grove of tropical trees, along the margin of a crystal brook.
This runs through the whole length of the valley, which is one mile in length and one-fourth of a mile wide, enclosed on three sides with lofty and steep hills, and opening to the sea in front. It is a paradise of natural loveliness, charmed forever with the music of its rippling stream.
We found Mr. Kauwealoha living in a substantial stone house, 25 by 44 feet, with walls ten feet high, a cellar, floor, glazed windows, and thatched roof, and all built by himself. He dived for the coral, burnt it into lime, hewed the blocks of basalt, made the mortar, and did all the work of the carpenter and mason.
Here, amidst the shade of lofty trees, he was living with his devoted wife, teaching the children to read and write, and preaching "Christ our Life" to 149 savages; and here, under the shadow of a towering tree, I spent one of the happiest Sabbaths of my life.
The almost naked and tattooed savages came out and sat quietly in semicircles under the tree, with the bright-eyed little children in front, all seeming to love their teacher, and to welcome the stranger, to whom they listened, Kauwealoha interpreting.
When service was over, they came forward with outstretched hands and glistening eyes and gave me their Kaoha, the same as the Hawaiian Aloha, "love and greeting."
One service was held at sunrise in the house; the next service under the tree, at 10 A.M., when sixty were present. We had also a Sunday-school, where the pupils recited the Lord's prayer and the ten commandments, with some other lessons, in tones and inflections of voice which were soft and melodious.
At 11 A.M. Captain Brown and his mate, Captain Golett, a good Christian man, who had commanded many a ship, came on shore with the crew of the Morning Star, and we had service in English.
At 4 P.M. another service was held with the natives, making four for the day, beside much time spent in conversation with those of the islanders who lingered around and seemed tame and docile.> 1768EK004
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1768EK001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Ka'ahumanu, Queen Regent-Prime Minister of Hawaii. 1832, in her last words to Rev. Hiram Bingham. "Hawaii's heroes of the faith," (Hawaii: University of the Nations Newsletter, Youth With a Mission, 1993), p. 8.
1768EK002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Ka'ahumanu, Queen Regent-Prime Minister of Hawaii. The State Motto of Hawaii, first uttered by Queen Ke'opuolani, wife of King Kamehameha II, as she was baptized into the Christian faith before her death in 1825, and reiterated by King Kamehameha III at Kawaiaha'o Church for the return of his kingdom in 1843. The State of Hawaii, December 30, 1993, issued an Executive Proclamation declaring February 12-22, 1994, as "Christian Heritage Week," signed by Governor John Waihee, in the Capitol City of Honolulu. Courtesy of Bruce Barilla, Christian Heritage Week Ministry (P.O. Box 58, Athens, W.V. 24712; 304-384-7707, 304-384-9044 fax).
1768EK003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Ka'ahumanu, Queen Regent-Prime Minister of Hawaii. High Chiefess Kapiolani's testimony. "Hawaii's heroes of the faith," (Hawaii: University of the Nations Newsletter, Youth With a Mission, 1993), p. 8.
1768EK004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Rev. Samuel Kauwealoha, Life in Hawaii, Titus Coan, 1882, Chapter XIII, The Marquesas Islands Early English and French Missions The Hawaiians Send a Mission to Them My Visit in 1860 The Marquesan Tabu System.