Kaʻahumanu

Kaahumanu ( born March 17, 1768 Maui, † May 5, 1832, originally Elizabeth Kaahumanu ) was queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Her mother was Namahana, her father, Keeaumoku, he was a royal advisor of Kamehameha I., with whom she was married at the age of 13 years. Kamehameha had several wives, of which his favorite wife, Kaahumanu was, which he compared to a Lehau flower and told her, "she rides the waves like a bird and feel the heartbeat of the people." She was the one who encouraged him to pursue the unification war of Hawaii. The weight of the Queen was 120 kg.

Commitment to women's rights

Kaahumanu was ahead of its time and promoted the rights of Hawaiian women. She fought against the taboos that oppressed Hawaiian women. So she teamed up with Keopuolani, the queen of Kamehameha II, together, they ate together at the table of the young king. So they broke the rules of the local society. The people expected that the gods would punish them for this act, but remained from the feared disaster. Thereupon the people destroyed the temples of the gods, powerless and turned away from their faith.

Reigning Queen

Until her death on May 5, 1832 Kaahumanu insisted that it was the wish of the deceased king, that they should be together with her 22 - year-old son Liholiho, who took the name Kamehameha II, govern. Parliament agreed and created the post of kuhina nui, the Prime Minister. Their power grew, and eventually they reigned under the title of " reigning queen " during the tenures of Kamehameha II and Kauikeaouli that the throne as Kamehameha III. ascended.

Kaumualii of Kauai

When her husband died, feared Kaahumanu that the island of Kauai, which has never been conquered by Kamehameha would end their alliance with the Kingdom. On October 9, 1821 Kaahumanu kidnapped the governor of Kauai, Kaumualii, and forced him to marry her.

Christianization

In April 1824 Kaahumanu made ​​their acceptance of Protestant Christianity publicly and encouraged their subjects to be baptized in this faith. In the same year, it issued the first laws that were based on Christian ethics and values. Kaahumanu was baptized on December 5, 1825 at the place today Kawaiahao Church stands at the.

Missionaries ( Congregational ) Kaahumanu convinced that the Roman Catholic Church should be removed from the island. On July 7, 1827 ordered the first Catholic missionaries to leave. 1830 Kaahumanu signed a law by which it was forbidden to spread the Catholic doctrine, and after each could be identified who broke this law.

Strengthening of the US relations

Kaahumanu, and not her son, the king acted, 1826 the first treaty between Hawaii and the United States of America under the leadership of President John Quincy Adams. The contract included a monetary claim of U.S. dealers in the amount of $ 150,000 to the Hawaiians. This debt settled the Hawaiians with sandalwood of equal value.

This document was also a free trade agreement, after the Americans had the right to control all ports and trade. In addition, Americans were empowered to impeach Hawaiian dishes and were protected by Hawaiian laws.

The end of her reign

1827 Kaahumanu became ill, and her health deteriorated steadily. She died in 1832. Honor your missionaries printed the New Testament in the Hawaiian language. Her funeral was held in the Kawaiahao Church, which they saw as the Westminster Abbey of Hawaii. The funeral service was held by Hiram Bingham I.. First, it was near the Iolani Palace, but was later reburied in the Royal Mausoleum.