Honolulu County HI Archives Marriages.....Rooke, Emma - Kamehameha IV, His Majesty June 10, 1856
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Pacific Commercial Advertiser Honolulu, July 2, 1856
MARRIAGE

Of His Majesty Kamehameha IV.

 This event took place on Thursday, the 10th of June, in the Stone Church in 
this city. The day was fine, and the weather characteristic of our climate, 
clear, pleasant and warm, but fanned by the cool and refreshing trades, without 
which life here would have few attractions. The day was observed as a holiday, 
and flags were displayed from the shipping, consular offices and public 
buildings.

 The church in which the ceremonies were performed had been decorated on the 
day previous, and graceful festoons of orange boughs, jessamine and overgreen 
hung from the ceilings, the galleries, and around the columns and pulpit. The 
front of the building, the spire and the arch entrance to the churchyard were 
also decorated with flags and evergreens, while the avenue from the church to 
the palace was strewed with green rushes.

 Long before the hour appointed, every seat in the church was taken up. the 
number inside must have been near 3,000, while as many more natives could not 
obtain admission. At half past eleven o'clock the procession from the palace 
entered the church, led by the bride Miss Emma Rooke, who was accompanied by 
Dr. Rooke, her father, and three bridesmaids, consisting of Her R. H. Victoria, 
Miss Lydia Paki, and Miss Mary Pitman. Immediately following, came His Majesty 
accompanied by his father the Governor of Oahu, and numerous attendants, 
bearing some twenty Kahili's, the ancient insignia of royalty.

 THE CEREMONY. - The marriage was conducted after the beautiful form of the 
church of England, the Rev. Dr. Armstrong officiating, both in the Hawaiian and 
English language. An altar covered with rich figured silk, with gold trimmings 
had been erected for the occasion. The service, through entirely new to all 
engaged in it, was performed with credit to each. The kneeling of the royal 
bridegroom and his bride before the altar and exchanging their vows before the 
audience was so different from the simple custom usually observed here in 
marriage, that it must have left its impression on all. The ceremonies occupied 
about half an hour.

 HIS MAJESTY, who appeared in excellent health, was dressed in uniform, with 
sword, &c. He is now 22 years of age, and in the second year of his reign, it 
being about eighteen months since he ascended the throne.

 THE QUEEN.-Emma Rooke, the present queen of the Hawaiian Islands, is the 
adopted daughter of Dr. T. C. B. Rooke, of this city. She is 20 years of age, 
of chief descent, and has received the best English education to be obtained at 
these Islands. It is not saying too much that she is probably better fitted and 
more suitable for the station to which she has been elevated than any young 
lady in the Kingdom. She will carry to the drawing-rooms of the palace the 
grace and accomplishments of refined and well educated society. On the occasion 
of her marriage she was tastefully dressed in the richest white embroidered 
silk, selected at Stewart's in Broadway, New York, which with an elegantly 
wrought bridal veil and a head dress of white roses and orange flowers, gave to 
her appearance an elegance and beauty to which Parisian art could have added 
but little.

 THE EVENING AT THE PALACE.- Cards had been issued by the Chamberlain, for the 
entertainment at the Palace, to all the foreign residents and strangers in the 
city. The assemblage, however, was not as large as we had expected to see. The 
broad avenues and walks leading to the Palace, were tastefully decorated for 
the occasion with lanterns and transparencies. The grounds enclosed around the 
Palace comprise some thirty or forty acres, densely planted with all kinds of 
trees, making it at all times a beautiful retreat, but more especially so when 
illuminated as on this occasion. The transparencies, of which there may have 
been two hundred, bore on one side K. E. (Kamehameha and Emma,) and on the 
other, various mottoes, a few of which were: Iloko o ke Akua ka pono o ke 
Aupuni. (In God is the strength of the Kingdom.) Ua ku paa ke Aupuni mamuli o 
ka pono. (The Kingdom is established in righteousness.) E mau ka noho Alii ana. 
(Long live the King.) E mau ka welo ana o ka Haw Hawaii. (Long may the Hawaiian 
banner wave,) &c. &c.

 THE PALACE.-Since the death of the late King Kamehameha III, the Palace and 
grounds have undergone a great change. The paper hangings, furniture and 
ornaments are exceedingly tasteful, and give to the interior of the building a 
rich and gorgeous air, of which it was formerly devoid. Its present appearance 
is a credit to the King and the nation, and must elicit the admiration of 
visitors. In the library of His Majesty we noticed a choice collection of some 
of the most popular English authors-historical and political-and if even the 
half of them are read and studied by him, the effect cannot fail to be 
beneficial in his administration. The dwelling occupied by their Majesties, 
which is a separate building from the Palace, has been recently erected, and is 
also elegantly furnished and in keeping with the latter.

 THE PRESENTATION.-At nine o'clock their Majesties entered the reception rooms, 
accompanied by the bridesmaids and grooms. The Queen and the Princess Victoria, 
we noticed, were dressed very similarly, in white satin, covered with silver 
and wrought lace, the former having in addition a profusion of feather 
ornaments. In the presentation the American and French Commissioners took 
precedence, (the British Commissioner being absent,) and after them the naval 
officers, consuls, ladies and gentlemen. About half an hour was occupied in 
presenting, after which their Majesties led in the dance, which was kept up til 
about twelve o'clock.

 THE TABLES - which had been spread under were liberally supplied and under the 
a__ment of Mr. St. John. But the principal at __ here was the bride's cake, 
consisting of a ___ five cakes, the largest about three feet in dimension and 
the topmost about twelve inches surrounding a statue, the whole frosted and 
ornamented in the highest style of the confectionery art, forming __ rarely 
seen in this part of the world. Unf___ however, for the palates of the curious, 
___ tabu- for sight only, not for taste.

 On the following day the palace gr___ thrown open to the native population, 
larg___ of whom visited the King and Queen, and ______ a luau (or native 
feast,) prepared for the ____ was also served up at the residence of Dr. ___. 

 In conclusion we cannot avoid congra____ Majesty on behalf of the public and 
the _____ his auspicious union with one so capable ____ a new order of things 
into the routine of ____. The day is past when the observance of ____toms of 
habits can even maintain a ____ty with the refinements of civilization, and 
____ted to notice the revival of the compuls__ __tion of the military-a relic 
only of ___tism, and which had the appearance of ____wards.

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