Jane Loeau Jasper (December 5, 1828–1873) was a Hawaiian chiefess who attended Chiefs' Children's School also known as Royal School.
She was born December 5, 1828, the daughter of High Chief Kalaniulumoku and High Chiefess Kuini Liliha. Her mother was the royal governor of O'ahu and was politically powerful during the regency of Kaahumanu. She was descended from Kahekili II, Moi of Maui, and High Chief Hoapili through her mother. She had a half-sister Abigail Maheha who also attended Royal School. She was adopted or hanaied by Ahukai (Kaukualii).[1]
She was one of the first to attend Chiefs' Children's School. She was chosen by King Kamehameha III to be eligible to sit on the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Taught by Amos Starr Cooke and his wife, Julliete Montague Cooke, to eat, dress and speak like European or American children. At the age of eleven, she was the eldest girl at the school. On Sundays it was customary for boys and girls to walk side by side to church; Jane walked beside Moses Kekūāiwa, the eldest boy at the school and brother of Alexander Liholiho and Lot Kapuaiwa, so there may have been hope for them to be married. In her school days, she was a closed friend of Bernice Pauahi,[2] who was the only girl at the school around her age. She and Bernice often played on the piano, teaching the younger girls how to sing and play the piano and among them was the young Lydia Kamakaeha, who would be Hawaii's last queen and a great composer.
She was known for her good looks and lively ways.[3] When she turned eighteen she left school. On September 2, 1847 she married John Robert Jasper, a young American attorney from Virginia. Their wedding party was held at Chiefs' Children School and was quite a party. Seventy-five were present, including King Kamehameha III, Queen Kalama, chiefs, chiefesses, the privy council, ministers of state, consul, missionaries and other foreigners.[4] Her marriage to John Jasper was not a happy one. Her husband was an alcoholic, and they eventually divorced;[5] this was one of greatest scandals in Honolulu in those days and was a continental source of gossips.[3] She married for the second time to Martin Seger on March 15, 1855, and she married, December 6, 1862, J. L. Kaelemakule. She was known to have had one son, Paki-liilii Kaelemakule by her third husband.[6]
She later moved to Lahaina and withdrew from royal affairs. When she died, Queen Emma is known to have commented on the tastelessness of her obituary.[3]