Our Ali'i Heritage

Emma Kaleleonalani (January 2, 1836-April 24, 1885) was the daughter of George Nae'a and Fanny Kekelaokalani Young. She was hanaied (adopted) to her maternal aunt, Grace Kama'iku'i Young Rooke, and her husband, Dr. T.C.B. Rooke. Dr. Rooke treated Hawaiians at his dispensary, which may have influenced the young Emma. On June 19, 1856, Emma married Kamehameha IV. The dedicated couple worked for the establishment of The Queen's Hospital, named in honor of Emma. Upon her death, Emma left the bulk of her estate in trust for her hospital.

Alexander Liholiho 'Iolani (February 9, 1834-November 30, 1863) was the grandson of King Kamehameha I, son of High Chiefess Kina'u and High Chief Kekuanao'a. He ascended the throne in January 1855, following the death of his uncle, Kamehameha III the previous month. Compelled by the decline of the native population from waves of foreign diseases, Kamehameha IV sought support from the Legislature and, with the Queen, personally solicited funds for the endeavor. By 1859, over $13,000 had been raised by the couple. The cornerstone for the present site of The Queen's Hospital was laid on July 17, 1860.

Kamehameha I (1758?-1819) was the celebrated warrior who was born in North Kohala, on the present-day Big Island of Hawai'i. Through a series of battles (and, in the case of the island of Kaua'i, negotiation with High Chief Kaumuali'i, ruler of that island), Kamehameha united the eight islands of Hawai'i into a kingdom over which he reigned as king. He was the father of Kamehameha II (Liholiho 'Iolani) and Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli), and grandfather of Kamehameha IV (Alexander Liholiho) and Kamehameha V (Lot Kapuaiwa).

Ka'ahumanu was a powerful chiefess born in Hana, on Maui, and she was the favored wife of Kamehameha I. She served as Kuhina Nui (a position which shared the powers of the king) and co-ruler with Kamehameha II. With him, she led the breaking of ancient kapu (holy, sacred laws which forbade certain actions and activities), most notably the 'ainoa (free-eating, that is, women and men eating meals together). Later, she was one of the first Hawaiians to embrace Christianity, and took the lead in promoting Protestantism among Hawaiians.

David Kalakaua (1836-1891) was a descendent of ali'i (nobles) of Hawai'i Island, and candidate for the crown at the death of Kamehameha V in 1872. However, he lost the throne to William Charles Lunalilo, first elected king of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Two years later, at the death of Lunalilo, Kalakaua successfully ran against Dowager Queen Emma, and reigned as king until his death in 1891. Kalakaua, a very educated and charismatic man, became known as the "Merry Monarch." He was the first monarch to circle the globe, he built 'Iolani Palace in 1882, and restored pride in traditional Hawaiian culture, through encouraging the rebirth of Hawaiian hula (dance) and mele (song).

Kapi'olani(1834-1899) was the granddaughter of Chief Kaumuali'i, last king of Kauai, and in 1863 married David Kalakaua. She was crowned Queen in 1883, on the ninth anniversary of her husband's accession to the Hawaiian throne. Concerned about the decline of the population of native Hawaiians, Queen Kapi'olani established and helped support the Kapi'olani Maternity Home and Kapi'olani Home for Leper Girls.

Lili'uokalani (1838-1917) (Lydia Kamaka'eha) was the sister and heiress-apparent to Kalakaua, after the death of their brother, Leleiohoku. Upon Kalakaua's death in January 1891, Lili'uokalani was proclaimed Queen. Her attempts to restore power to the Hawaiian crown led to the overthrow of the monarchy, and she was deposed on January 17, 1893. The Queen was charged with taking part in the counter-revolution of 1895, arrested, tried for treason, and placed under house arrest in 'Iolani Palace. She spent the rest of her life trying to persuade the American government to restore the Hawaiian monarchy, but to no avail.

Bernice Pauahi Bishop (1831-1884) was the great-granddaughter of Kamehameha I, and daughter of Chief Paki and High Chiefess Konia, and hanai daughter to High Cheifess Kina'u. As such, she was the last of the Kamehameha dynasty and in line for the Hawaiian throne. Upon the death of her cousin, Ruth Ke'elikolani, Pauahi inherited the bulk of the Kamehameha lands, which she in turn left for the establishment and support of the Kamehameha Schools. Pauahi's husband, financier Charles Reed Bishop, became a naturalized citizen of the Kingdom of Hawaii three years after his arrival in 1846. He left much of his fortune to found the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum as a memorial to her and to the Hawaiian people.

Ka'iulani (1875-1899) (Victoria Kawekiu Ka'iulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiuahilapalapala) was the daughter of Miriam Likelike and Governor Archibald Cleghorn, and the niece of Kalakaua and Liliu'okalani. When Liliu'okalani ascended the throne, she named Ka'iulani heiress-apparent. After the overthrow of the monarchy, Ka'iulani traveled to Washington, D.C. to argue for the restoration of the throne. The highest-born ali'i (noble) of her generation, Ka'iulani died at the young age of twenty-three.

Julene Halvary Mechler received her art training at the Flint Institute of Art and the John Huntington Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. After a number of years in the field of advertising illustration, she returned to sculpture. These porcelain figurines were designed, produced, and hand-painted by Julene Halvary Mechler in the early 1970s, and are part of a limited edition set. They were given to Queen's Medical Center by the family of a patient.

Julene Mechler passed away on October 30, 2005.