Kaoanaeha
Encyclopedia
Kaōanaeha Mele or Mary Kuamoo Kaōanaeha (c.1780–1850) was a Hawaiian high chiefess during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
the daughter of High Chiefess Kalikookalani. Genealogists disagree over who was Kaoanaeha's father due to her mother's two marriages. Most say she was the daughter of High Chief Keliimaikai
(The Good Chief) who was the only full-blood brother of Kamehameha I
, being the son of Keoua
and Kekuiapoiwa II
. Some say her father was High Chief Kaleipaihala-Kalanikuimamao son of Kalaniopuu, King of Hawaii and uncle of Kamehameha. King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani supports the later due to their conflict with Kaoanaeha's granddaughter Emma Naea who ran for Queen Regnant
in the Royal Election of 1874. Keliimaikai accepted her as daughter and most say he was her true father. She was the only person allowed to see him at his deathbed.
sticks with tapa-covered balls on the ends were set up before her house and pahu heiau or kapu drums were beaten heralding her birth. Further confirmation of her high status was when her father Keliimaikai died in 1810, she was reportedly the only person allowed to enter his premises.
One romantictised version of her meeting with English sailor John Young
is similar to the story of Pocahontas
and John Smith
:
A problem with this story is that She married John Young as his second wife in 1805. Young married Namokuelua prior to her, and more than 18 years lapsed between Young's arrival and Kaōanaeha's marriage.
She defied the Christianity of her husband, and was similar to Princess Ruth Keelikōlani
in turning down Western ways. For example, after Young died in 1835 she took as her new name Mele Kuamoo, after the battle of Kuamoo
where her brother Kekuaokalani, defender of the kapu
system, was killed leading the rebel forces against those of Kamehameha II
in 1819.
on January 22, 1850. She was buried the next day on the palace grounds by the Royal Tomb, without any high ceremony. Some wondered why a chiefess of her status would be buried so quietly. The official Polynesian did not make much of her death either, devoting just a few lines to her obituary. One reason for the lack of respect indicated that she was "out of favor in the royal circle of Honolulu" partly because she preferred the traditional Hawaiian values, including the ancient religion, and had resisted Christianity and Westernization.
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
.
Parentage
She was born circa 1780the daughter of High Chiefess Kalikookalani. Genealogists disagree over who was Kaoanaeha's father due to her mother's two marriages. Most say she was the daughter of High Chief Keliimaikai
Keliimaikai
Kalanimālokuloku-i-Kepookalani Keliimaikai was a High Chief and the most popular brother of Kamehameha the Great, who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was generally credited as an ancestor of Queen Emma of Hawaii, the consort of Kamehameha IV, a candidate for the Royal Election of 1872. His name...
(The Good Chief) who was the only full-blood brother of Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
, being the son of Keoua
Keoua
Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Ahilapalapa, sometimes called Keōua Nui , was an Ancient Hawaiian noble and the father of Kamehameha I, the first King of united Hawaii...
and Kekuiapoiwa II
Kekuiapoiwa II
Kekuiapoiwa II was a Hawaiian chiefess and the mother of the king Kamehameha I.- Biography :She was named after her aunt Kekuiapoiwa Nui , the wife of King Kekaulike of Maui....
. Some say her father was High Chief Kaleipaihala-Kalanikuimamao son of Kalaniopuu, King of Hawaii and uncle of Kamehameha. King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani supports the later due to their conflict with Kaoanaeha's granddaughter Emma Naea who ran for Queen Regnant
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
in the Royal Election of 1874. Keliimaikai accepted her as daughter and most say he was her true father. She was the only person allowed to see him at his deathbed.
Royal status
Because of her royal status, when she was born pulo'ulo'u or kapuKapu
Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
sticks with tapa-covered balls on the ends were set up before her house and pahu heiau or kapu drums were beaten heralding her birth. Further confirmation of her high status was when her father Keliimaikai died in 1810, she was reportedly the only person allowed to enter his premises.
One romantictised version of her meeting with English sailor John Young
John Young (Hawaii)
John Young was a British subject who became an important military advisor to Kamehameha I during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was left behind by Simon Metcalfe, captain of the American ship Eleanora, and along with a Welshmen Isaac Davis became a friend and advisor to Kamehameha...
is similar to the story of Pocahontas
Pocahontas
Pocahontas was a Virginia Indian notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the head of a network of tributary tribal nations in Tidewater Virginia...
and John Smith
John Smith of Jamestown
Captain John Smith Admiral of New England was an English soldier, explorer, and author. He was knighted for his services to Sigismund Bathory, Prince of Transylvania and friend Mózes Székely...
:
Young and DavisIsaac Davis (Hawaii)Isaac Davis was a Welsh advisor to Kamehameha I and helped form the Kingdom of Hawaii. He arrived in Hawaii in 1790 as the sole survivor of the massacre of the crew of The Fair American. He along with John Young became friends and advisors to Kamehameha...
would have been killed had not Kaoanaeha, a high lady, fallen in love with Young and by her intercession with the King saved the lives of both sailors. Kaoanaeha was the most beautiful woman on the island of Owhyhee (Hawaii) and was the admiration of all the sailors who visited Karakakooa Bay . She was the only daughter of Keliimaiki, the favorite brother of the great King, Kamehameha I. John Young and Kaoanaeha were soon married. King Kamehameha appreciated the superior talents of the white men and made them high chiefs..
A problem with this story is that She married John Young as his second wife in 1805. Young married Namokuelua prior to her, and more than 18 years lapsed between Young's arrival and Kaōanaeha's marriage.
She defied the Christianity of her husband, and was similar to Princess Ruth Keelikōlani
Keelikolani
Princess Ruth Luka Keanolani Kauanahoahoa Keelikōlani , was a member of the Kamehameha family, the founding dynasty of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She served as Royal Governor of the Island of Hawaii. As primary heir to the Kamehameha family, Ruth became a landholder of what would become the Bernice...
in turning down Western ways. For example, after Young died in 1835 she took as her new name Mele Kuamoo, after the battle of Kuamoo
Kuamoo Burials
The Kuamoo Burials is an historic Hawaiian burial site for warriors killed during a major battle in 1819...
where her brother Kekuaokalani, defender of the kapu
Kapu
Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
system, was killed leading the rebel forces against those of Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
in 1819.
Death
In the last days of her life, she wished to stay in Kawaihae. She had been reluctant to go to Honolulu and probably knew that she would not return just as fifteen years before, her husband did not return. At sixty-two and too ill to be cured, she died in Rooke HouseRooke House
Thomas Charles Byde Rooke was an English physician who married into the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He built a mansion called the Rooke House in Honolulu that became popular with political and social leaders of the Kingdom.-Life:...
on January 22, 1850. She was buried the next day on the palace grounds by the Royal Tomb, without any high ceremony. Some wondered why a chiefess of her status would be buried so quietly. The official Polynesian did not make much of her death either, devoting just a few lines to her obituary. One reason for the lack of respect indicated that she was "out of favor in the royal circle of Honolulu" partly because she preferred the traditional Hawaiian values, including the ancient religion, and had resisted Christianity and Westernization.