| Poʻomaikelani | |
|---|---|
| Princess of Hawaii | |
| Spouse | Hiram Kahanawai |
| Full name | |
| Virginia Kapoʻoloku Poʻomaikelani | |
| Father | Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole |
| Mother | Kekaulike Kinoiki |
| Born | April 7, 1839 Hilo, Hawaiʻi |
| Died | October 22, 1895 (aged 56) Kalihi Valley, Oahu |
| Burial | Mauna Ala Royal Mausoleum |
Virginia Kapoʻoloku Poʻomaikelani (1839–1895) was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
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She was born at Piihonua, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island on April 7, 1839, the second daughter of Princess Kinoike Kekaulike of Kauai and High Chief Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole of Hilo.[1] She was sister to Queen Kapiʻolani who married to King David Kalākaua and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.[2] She was the granddaughter of Kaumualiʻi, the last king of the island of Kauaʻi before being ceded to the unified Hawaiian Islands governed by Kamehameha I. She was also the stepdaughter of Queen Regent Kaʻahumanu.
She was elder sister of Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike and younger sister of Queen Kapiʻolani. Some sources give her different first names; for example Esther, Abigail or even Victoria. The situation was the three sisters rarely used their Christian names. C Poʻomaikelani served as one of Queen Emma's trusted ladies-in-waiting for many years, but left Emma's employment to join her brother-in-law's court.[3]
Her sister's husband became the king of Hawaii in 1874 and she was granted the title of Princess and style of Her Royal Highness, in 1883 during Kalākaua's coronation. She married Hiram Kahanwai in 1874, a cousin of King Kalākaua and a former steward of Queen Emma. She was made Governor of Hawaiiʻi island in 1884 by her brother-in-law and was paid an annual salary of 3500 dollars per year.[4] She also served as President of the Board of Health in 1887.[5]
She was Guardian of the Royal Tombs at the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii from October 15, 1888 until her death. Kalākaua appointed her as president of the Board of Genealogy of Hawaiian Chiefs. Poʻomaikelani was kahili bearer during Kalākaua's official coronation.[6]
She died at Kalihi Valley, Oahu, October 22, 1895, aged 56, two years after her cousin Queen Liliʻuokalani was overthrown. She was interred in the Kalākaua Crypt at the Royal Mausoleum.[7]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Princess Victoria Kekaulike |
Governor of Hawaiiʻi island 1884–1886 |
Succeeded by Ululani Baker |
