Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands
- Corporate body
- 1839-1893
Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands
1858-1859. Waimea, Hawaii. Cowboy working for brother John L. King
Lot Kamehameha succeeded as King Kamehameha V on the death of his brother, Kamehameha IV. With the belief that a sovereign’s power should be absolute, not unlike that practiced by his grandfather, King Kamehameha I, Kamehameha V by his own prerogative proclaimed the Constitution of 1864 which strengthened the king’s powers. During his rule the hospital at Kalaupapa, Moloka‘i was established to deal with the leprosy epidemic. Kamehameha V is also credited with preserving the hula tradition which was in disfavor at the time due to moralistic attitudes.
Kamehameha IV Alexander Liholiho
Alexander Liholiho was born on February 2, 1834 on the island of Oahu to High Chief Mataio Kekuanaoa and Princess Elizabeth Kinau. He was the grandson of Kamehameha Paiea. He was educated at the Chiefs' Childrens School (later renamed Royal School) and at age 14, left to study law. As a toddler, he was adopted by Kamehameha III and declared heir to the throne.
On March 22, 1852, he was appointed to the Privy Council by Kamehameha III and served in the House of Nobles from 1852 to 1854.
Kamehameha III died on December 15, 1854. On January 15, 1855, Alexander Liholiho officially took the oath of Office and became Kamehameha IV, ruling until his death on November 30, 1863. In 1856, he married Emma Rooke as his Queen. Emma was the granddaughter of John Young.
On December 15, 1854, he became King Kamehameha IV and ruled until his death on November 30, 1863.
Kauikeaouli was born ~1813 to High Chiefess Keōpuōlani and Kamehameha Paiea on Hawai‘i Island. Kauikeaouli succeeded as Mō‘ī (King) Kamehameha III upon the death of his brother, Kamehameha II. During his rule, the Hawaiian kingdom’s first Constitution was granted in 1840, the laws codified and the government reorganized into Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches. It was also at this time that the system of fee simple land ownership was established in Hawai‘i. Kamehameha III and his wife, Queen Kalama, adopted his nephew Alexander Liholiho as his successor.