Kalama | |||||
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Queen Consort of the Hawaiian Islands | |||||
Tenure | February 14, 1837 – December 15, 1854 | ||||
Born |
Ka'elepulu near Kailua, Hawaii, |
March 17, 1817||||
Died | September 20, 1870 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii |
(aged 53)||||
Burial | October 8, 1870 Mauna Ala |
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Spouse | Kamehameha III | ||||
Issue |
Keaweaweʻulaokalani I Keaweaweʻulaokalani II |
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House | House of Kamehameha | ||||
Father | High Chief Naihekukui | ||||
Mother | High Chiefess Iʻahuʻula |
Full name | |
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Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili |
Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili (1817–September 20, 1870) was a Queen consort of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III. Her second name is Hazelelponi in Hawaiian.
She was the only child of Kona chief Naihekukui, who was commander of the native Hawaiian fleet at Honolulu. Her mother was Chiefess Iʻahuʻula, the younger sister of Charles Kanaʻina. Kanaʻina would become hānai (Hawaiian form of adoption) parent of the child.
Kalama means "The Torch" in the Hawaiian language.
The young Kamehameha III, the boy king at the time, was needing a suitable royal bride. Many of the traditional chiefs wanted a union between the king and his sister Nāhienaena, like it had been customary to in the Hawaiian court since the beginning of time, but the missionaries and Christian chiefs, who held the most political power, opposed this suggestion, calling it incest.
Kamanele, the daughter of Governor John Adams Kuakini, was proposed as the most suitable in age, rank, and education. The young king fell in love with Kalama in 1832. This angered his sister Kīnaʻu and many of the high chiefs. Kamehameha III married her on February 14, 1837. This was only a few months after Nahienaena's death.
Kalama and Kamehameha III had two children who died in their infancy. Both were named Keaweaweulaokalani, after their father.
She and Kamehameha III would later hānai (adopt) their nephew Alexander Liholiho, who later became Kamehameha IV. She also adopted Kaʻiminaʻauao, the daughter of Analea Keohokālole and Caesar Kapaʻakea as her own. She even adopted her husband's son Albert Kukaʻilimoku Kunuiakea by Jane Lahilahi Young.