Princess Kekauonohi, Kaua‘i’s fourth governor

Princess Kekauonohi (1805-1851) of Maui, a granddaughter of Kamehameha I, as well as a wife of his son, Kamehameha II, and later, the wife of Kealiiahonui, a son of Kaua‘i’s last king, Kaumuali‘i, was the fourth governor of Kaua‘i from 1842 until 1844.

She was also governor of Maui, Moloka‘i and Lana‘i from 1823 to 1826, and a member of the House of Nobles and the Privy Council of Hawai‘i.

Kaua‘i’s first governor during 1824 was Kahalaia, a chief known for his cruelty, who was replaced by Kaikioewa, the governor of Kaua‘i from 1825 to 1839.

Kaikioewa’s capital was Waimea, and the residence he built there in 1826 still stands. It now serves as the parsonage of the pastor of the Waimea United Church of Christ.

In 1835, Gov. Kaikioewa was instrumental in the birth of sugar on Kaua‘i when he and Kamehameha III leased 980 acres of land at Koloa to Hooper, Ladd and Brinsmade, who then founded Ladd & Company, Hawai‘i’s first successful sugar plantation.

Kaikioewa also established the town of Lihu‘e sometime between 1835 and 1838 for the purpose of growing sugar cane.

When he died in 1839, his wife, Keaweamahi, became governor. In 1842, Keaweamahi was replaced by Kekauonohi.

During his visit to Hawai‘i in 1846, British Admiral Henry Byam Martin described Kekauonohi as follows:  “She sailed into the room with all the pomp and majesty of Q. Elizabeth. Her dress — evidently got up for the occasion — was a very transparent muslin shirt — through which those parts of her person, which in most countries are covered, were very visible. A green crape shawl — and a band of red and yellow (the royal colours) round her head — completed her costume.”

When Kekauonohi died it was noted that she was “the last of the old stock of chiefs — one of the best of them — good natured, benevolent, liberal and generous.”