The Life and Endeavors of Queen Kaahumanu

When the people of Hawaii think back on their long history on these islands, many

important names come to mind. One of those being Elizabeth Kaahumanu, first Kuhina Nui,

strong advocate for women’s rights in Hawaii, and pioneer of evangelism throughout the islands.

Her importance to the Hawaiian islands and their history is immeasurable. Everything from the

many important governing positions she held, to her inspirational conversion to Christianity, tell

us of her widespread influence and power.

First things first, there is the story of Kaahumanu’s rule as Kuhina Nui. Before her

husband, Kamehameha I’s death, she ruled by his side over the united Hawaiian islands. When

he died in 1819, Kaahumanu assumed the role of Kuhina Nui for her husband's successor,

Kamehameha II. Though the position was only codified in 1840 when Kamehameha III

established Hawaii’s constitution, Kaahumanu- who died in 1832- is recorded as Hawaii’s first

Kuhina Nui​(Young, 2020)​. She was the most powerful woman of her time; now described as

very intelligent and shrewd​. So influential was her legacy, many following female Kuhina Nui

chose to change their own names to mirror hers(Young, 2020).

Another huge part of Kaahumanu’s legacy was the part she played in lifting the kapu.

This feat is possibly Queen Kaahumanu’s greatest endeavor for women’s rights in Hawaii. In her

time, traditional religious rules restricted women from doing many things alongside their male

counterparts, these rules were called Kapu. After assuming the position of Kuhina Nui, she had a

lot more power in the islands and credibility with the ruling king, Kamehameha II. This

influence made him agreeable to her suggestion of eating publicly with women, essentially

inciting the fall of the kapu system and, subsequently, Hawaii’s religious structure​(“Kaahumanu |

queen of Hawaii | Britannica,” 2021).

 One last example of Kaahumanu’s influence is the story of her relationship with

Christianity. Throughout history, Kaahumanu’s power has been demonstrated time and again

with all that she’s accomplished. It is said that her conversion to Christianity was what allowed

Christianity to become Hawaii’s primary religion. In this, we see the role she played in shaping

Hawaiian culture decades upon decades into the future. From the beginning, when the Protestant

missionaries first arrived in 1820, Kaahumanu offered her support. Her conversion inspired

many Hawaiian commoners to follow suit. Additionally, she spent the remainder of her life

traveling the islands and spreading the Protestants’ message. As previously mentioned, her

earlier role in the abolition of the kapu system may also have contributed to the ease with which

Christianity rose in popularity among the Hawaiian people. This all inevitably led to Christianity

becoming the main religion of the Hawaiian islands and a lasting change in Hawaiian culture.

In conclusion, no matter your opinion of Kaahumanu, none can argue her importance to

Hawaiian culture and history. Her work in women’s rights was revolutionary for her time and

situation. Additionally, her influence as a female leader and contributions to Hawaiian culture

easily earn her name a place among the heroes of Hawaiian history. Queen Kaahumanu was an

intelligent and powerful woman, a true queen of her time. In her shoes, I doubt that many of us

would have the strength to accomplish all that she did.

 Works Cited

Creager, K. (n.d.). ​FROM KAPU TO christianity A study of the abolition of the kapu system and

the introduction of christianity in hawaii​.

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1129&context=mphs

Kaahumanu | queen of Hawaii | Britannica. (2021). In ​Encyclopædia Britannica​.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kaahumanu

Levin, S. S. (1968). THE OVERTHROW OF THE KAPU SYSTEM IN HAWAII. ​The Journal

of the Polynesian Society,​ ​77(​ 4), 402–430. JSTOR.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/20704579?seq=1

Young, P. T. (2020, January 29). ​Kuhina Nui​. Images of Old Hawaiʻi.

http://imagesofoldhawaii.com/kuhina-nui/