The favorite wife of Kamehameha I, she was born in
Hana, Maui, and raised in Kona, Hawai'i. regarded by all as beautiful and
spirited, Ka'ahumanu grew to six feet in height and at full maturity became
prestigiously portly.
Her father, Ke'eaumoku, was the ruling chief of
the Kona district, and a principal ally of Kamehameha. Indeed, it is doubtful
that the rising young chief would have survived without his father-in-law's
support.
Their marriage was not tranquil. She was impetuous and
assertive; he, possessive and jealous. But in old age he found here to be the
most trustworthy of anyone in his court. After his death in 1819, his son
Liholiho became Kamehameha II, but Ka'ahumanu dominated the government as
regent.
After Liholiho died of measles in London, Ka'ahumanu continued
to rule until her death in 1832.
This painting is an attempt to
reconstruct her appearance in the 1790's by removing the features of age seen
in drawings done in her later years.
Page 41 Ancient
Hawaii
Page 129 Voyagers
Link to on-line publication of Ancient Hawai'i
