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King Kamehameha I
A great warrior that united the Hawaiian Islands. He obtained complete authority, vast lands, and he used Western advisors and guns to complete his conquest of all the Islands. -
Period: to
Hawaiian Monarchy
From the start of Hawaiian monarchy to the end. -
Queen Ka’ahumanu
She was the most favored out of all of King Kamehameha's 20 wives. She took over after King Kamehameha's death, and shared reign with Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III. She changed the course of Hawaiian history by motivating Kamehameha II to overturn the kapu system. -
King Kamehameha II
He broke the kapu system of religious laws six months into his reign with motivation from Queen Kaahumanu. He wanted to see the world, so he took his wife, Queen Kamamalu, to London in 1820 where they both died of measles. -
Queen Kamamalu
King Kamehameha II's favorite wife, and also his half sister. She joined a royal procession honoring her husband's accession to the throne, and attended London with her husband where she would later die of measles. -
King Kamehameha III
He reigned for 30 years, which is the longest reigning monarch in all of Hawaii. The Great Mahele, the system of land divsion, marked his reign as well. Under his reign, Hawaii evolved from an absolute monarchy to a Christian constitutional monarchy. His goal as king was to adopt Western ways, while keeping his nation intact. -
Queen Kalama
She outlived both her husband, Kamehameha III, and her nephew, Kamehameha IV, becoming known as the Queen dowager of Hawaii. She was well loved by her people, and she skillfully managed her properties. She owned over 22,000 acres on the windward side of the island of Oahu. -
Princess Ruth (Keanolani)
She refused to convert to Christianity and she also refused to speak any English even though she learned how to speak it. Without her speaking English led others to believe that she might be unintelligent. She missed out on gaining the throne, but she inherited large amounts of Kamehameha lands, which she left most of to her cousin Pauahi. -
Queen Lili’uokalani
She was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. She felt that it was her mission to preserve the islands for their native residents to enjoy. She was forced to give up her throne when Hawaii was annexed to the United States. -
King Kamehameha V
He adopted a new constitution that was less liberal, and he worried about the possibility of being taken over. He attempted to marry a widow, Emma, who refused him, so he died a bachelor without naming someone who would take over in his spot. -
King Kamehameha IV
During his reign, he opposed the movement for the United States' annexation of Hawaii. He married Queen Emma, and they founded The Queen's Hospital, and they were instrumental in the establishment of the Anglican Church in Hawaii. -
Queen Kapi’olani
When her husband went on a world tour in 1881, she stayed at home but served as his personal representative in London at Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887. Since she was so concerned about the preservation of the race, she founded a maternity home, which is now known as Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children. -
Queen Emma
She founded The Queen's Hospital with her husband, King Kamehameha IV, out of concern for the health of their subjects. Her and her husband supported the British very much, and they were very instrumental in enstablishing the Anglican Church in Hawaii. -
King Kalakaua
He was elected king in 1874 after his second bid for the throne, since King Lunalilo died without naming a successor. He was the last reigning king of the Hawaiian Islands. During his reign, he was forced to accept a new constitiution which limited his powers as king. -
Princess Likelike
She was the sister of the last two ruling monarchs, and the mother of Princess Ka'iulani. On her deathbed, she made a prediction that her daughter would never marry, never become queen, and she would leave Hawaii for a very long period of time. She died mysteriously, and the cause for it is still not known.
