Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Queen Kaahumanu (Part 4)

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Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands
" Keepers of the Culture "
A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands
As told by the ancients--
Queen Kaahumanu -- Part 4
by Darlene E. Kelley
November 21, 2000

http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374

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As told by the ancients--
Queen Kaahumau -- part 4.

Following the death of Kamehameha, Kaahumanu's responsibility as
kuhina-nui was very great. She had accepted it from Kamehameha. and,
with the advice and assistance of Kalanimoku and the accociated chiefs,
she prepared to carry on the government. At the time of Liholiho's
insallation as King, she finally announced to Liholiho, to the chiefs,
and to the assembled people, that at Kamehameha's command she was to
share equally with the King in the control of the government, with
Kalanimoku as the Primer Minister.

There were no written documents to verify Kamehameha's statement. For
years there arose among the chiefs, influenced by foreigners who desired
to direct policies to their own advantage, doubts a to whether
Kamehameha had not intended  Kalanimoku to be regent. As time passed,
however, Kaahumanu's position an authority became unquestioned. As
kuhina-nui, Kahumanu held a high position in the country. During the
life of Kamehameha no one but he dared enter her presence uncovered.
Imperialistic and dominating though she may have been, the people knew
and respected her rank and obeyed her edits. 

The reins of the government was now in Kaahumanu's hands. With Liholiho,
she held the power of life and death. As Liholiho grew t young manhhood,
he was little interested in government. He took his kingship very
lightly. This worried Kaahumanu, but turning to Kalanimoku, she felt
assured that, together, they could hold Liholiho strictly to account.

The court of Liholiho composed of thirty-five ranking chiefs. They were
men of outstanding strong character among them. This grup of nobles
stood in the background of the people.Several of these men were sons of
the great chiefs of Kona who had persuaded Kamehameha to lead them in
their wars. Theirs was the blood old old Hawaii. They, with other
important chiefs, both men and women, constituted the council of the
court. But Kaahumanu was amxious. Unprincipled foreigners of many
nationalities, irritated by the coming of the missionaries, were making
trouble in many small ways. There was an undercurrent of disturbance in
the Kingdom. International matters were growing more serious. Liholiho
was determined to go to England to ask protection of the British King. 
Kaahumanu and Kalanimoku both felt that the situation must be faced
immediately, and to this end a conference of the chiefs was called.
After a long discussion, it was decided that the King should go to
England without delay.

In 1821, on the ninth of October, Kaahumanu had married Kaumualii, the
King of the island of Kauai. Old journals give this story in the light
of romance, but the marriage was, pointedly, a diplomatic move, weilding
the two kingdoms under one rule. Liholiho and the chiefs all feared
possible Russian influence on Kauai. To further cement the alliance
Kaahumanu later took Kaumualii's son as her consort. Kaahumanu, all her
life, had been attracted by handsome men, and the son, at least, fitted
into this category. One of the missionaries tells about the wedding of
Kaahumanu and King Kaumaulii.

It was on the day that the first wooden house, which had been sent from
Boston for the mission, was finally set up and completed. The members of
the Royal family were invited to inspect it. At the close of the visit,
Kaahumanu and Kaumualii walked away together. It was a beautiful
moonlight evening and the walk across the plains may have stirred
Kaahumanu's motions that she decided to marry Kaumualii that very night.
And so it was arranged. A low platform about eight feet square was made
ready. Friends covered the platform with many mats of fine workmanship.
Upon the mats Kaahumanu and Kaumualii reclined, side by side, and over
them was thrown the royal black tapa. This little ceremony was performed
in the presence of their intimate friends, the missionaries, and members
of the royal court, so proclaiming the marriage.

King Kaumualii at this time was not a Christian, but he knew of the
acceptance of the Christian faith in the kingdom of Pomare, on the
island of Tahiti, as had also Kaahumanu, Kalanimoku and others. In
explanation, historians tell that Kaumualii was a very intelligent man,
far more advanced in his thinking than were most of his people. The
story of sending his son, George, to America in 1806 that he might
receive an education, giving the Captain of the vessel in which he
sailed money to pay all George's expenses and placed him with those who
would give him instruction [ which trust the captain betrayed.] is
enlightening. George was stranded without money and friends. he later
enlisted in the United States Navy and served through the war of 1812,
in which he was wounded.

There is a preserved copy of a letter sent to King Kaumualii, written
for him in English by some friend. The letter is dated November 27,
1819, and was written from the island o Kauai. The letter never reached
George, since at that time he was on his way home on the Thaddeus in
company with the missionaries, having for a short while attended
Cornwall school. A quotation from his father's letter is of interest
telling him how anxious he was to see him and to urge him to return
home. These were written before the coming of the missionaries in 1820.
And Kaahumanu's mind was ripe for influence.

Two month's after her marriage to Kaunualii, Kaahumanu was taken very
sick. The Rev. Hiram Bingham tells about her illness in his journal.
During her illness Mr.and Mrs, Bingham gave Kaahumanu their constant
attention. Little by little her confidence and friendship grew.
Fortunately, a Russian ship was in port. Commodore Vascilieeff, learning
of the illness of the Queen, sent two physicians to attend her. Her
rapid return to health amazed everyone. The missionaries hoped that,
since Kaahumanu had learned that Russia was a christian country, she
would realize what Christianity would do for her people. Mr Bingham
commented; " Who would not covet the privilege of giving the right
impulse to the mind and heart of one so high in rank, possessing her
mental powers and occupying a position so favorable for for exerting
influence over a nation." But, while Kaahumanu, after her illness, was
much more friendly to the missionaries and expressed her appreciation of
their kindness. Mr Bingham writes that she was still too proud, too
independant, too fond of gaiety, honor, and amusement, to be interested
in their teaching.

The little printing press, under the direction of Mr. Loomis, was doing
valiant service. A small pamphlet had been printed-- a few words,
sentences , and the vowel sounds, in both English and Hawaiian-- which
gave a beginning for study. This was a step forward. Mr. and Mrs.
Bingham went to call on Kaahumanu. They found her, as usual, playing
cards surrounded by her favorite women. The Hawaiians had learned to
play cards from the men on foreign ships long before they knew the
meaning of reading and writng, pen and pencil. Mr. Bingham waited till
there was an opening for conversation, the asked Kaahumanu to examine
the pamphlet, saying it would talk to her. He finally persuaded her to
listen to him pronounce the vowel sounds, and to try to repeat them
after him, one by one. This to Kaahumanu was like a game; something to
try her skill. She suceeded so well that she looked at her friends with
superior pride. Almost immediately she grasped that letters would make
words which she could speak. It amazed and delighted her. From that time
forward, Kaahumanu was a student, She was never again found playing
cards; she was too busy learning to read and write.

Kaahumanu soon realized what the new learning might accomplish, It was
as an illumination in her mind. This experience changed her entire
attitude toward the missionaries. The understanding of why they had come
to the Islands changed her hardness to appreciation, and set on fire her
ambition. She determined to lead her people to the great open spaces of
knowledge where they might learn a way in which they could meet the
outside world on an equal footing. This, surely, was that of which
Kamehameha had dreamed, about which he had talked to her as long as he
lived. She was now in his place, looking forward. The opportunity was
hers. The old taboo was broken and no longer cramped her life. The old
gods had been set aside, and she was determined to eliminate them from
the kingdom. She and Liholiho had opened the door to the future.

The native population was alarmed when Kaahumanu ordered Kamehameha's
old poison god to be brought out and publically burned. When she visited
Hale-o-keawwe, the mausoleum of the Hawaiian Kings at Honaunau on the
island of Hawaii, she had the bones of many chiefs properly buried or
secreted in caves along the ocean shore. Civilization was on its way to
the Sandwich Islands.