Abigail Maheha

Abigail Maheha (July 10, 1832–?) was a Hawaiian chiefess during the Kingdom of Hawaii who attended Chiefs' Children's School also known as Royal School.

Life

Maheha was the daughter of High Chief Namaile[1]:52[2]:292 and High Chiefess Kuini Liliha. Her mother was the royal governor of Oʻahu during the regency of Queen Kaʻahumanu. She was descended from Kahekili II, Moi of Maui, and High Chief Hoapili.

She was adopted or hānaied by her aunt, Princess Kekauʻōnohi.[2]:330 Her hānai mother was a granddaughter of Kamehameha the Great who united the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom and was also the youngest consort of the deceased Kamehameha II and served as Governor of Kauaʻi.

She was among those chosen by King Kamehameha III eligible for throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii to attend the Chiefs' Children's School, also known as the Royal School of Hawaii. Her sister (or half-sister) Jane Loeau who also attended Royal School. She was taught by American missionaries Amos Starr Cooke and his wife Juliette Montague Cooke. During their Sunday procession to church it was customary for boys and girls to walk side by side; Abigail walked beside Alexander Liholiho, the future King Kamehameha IV.[3]

She left the school on January 18, 1847[4] married Keaupuni on February 3, 1847.[5] In 1855, he husband was involved in the Hawaii Supreme Court case Keaupuni vs. Fred. Ogden. The plaintiff sought to recover damages from the defendant for criminal conversation with the plaintiff's wife, Abigail Maheha. The indecisive jury were discharged by the Court after an absence of four hours.[6] They eventually divorced.[7] She married Kiaʻaina Wahineaea on July 17, 1857 on the island of Kauaʻi. Her first name was spelled "Apigaila" on the marriage record.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Pratt, Elizabeth Kekaaniauokalani (2009) [1920]. History of Keoua Kalanikupuapa-i-nui: father of Hawaii kings, and his descendants. T. H., republished by Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-1-104-76661-0.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sheldon Dibble (1843). History of the Sandwich Islands. Lahainaluna: Press of the Mission Seminary.
  3. ↑ Liliʻuokalani (Queen of Hawaii) (July 25, 2007) [1898]. "Chapter 1: A Sketch of my Childhood". Hawaii's story by Hawaii's queen, Liliuokalani. Lee and Shepard, reprinted by Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-0-548-22265-2.
  4. ↑ Amos Starr Cooke and Juliette Montague Cooke (1970). Mary Atherton Richards, ed. The Hawaiian Chiefs' Children's School: a record compiled from the diary and letters of Amos Starr Cooke and Juliette Montague Cooke by their granddaughter. C. E. Tuttle Co. p. 279.
  5. ↑ "Marriages: Oahu (1832-1910)". state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  6. ↑ "Keaupuni vs. Fred. Ogden". The Polynesian. March 24, 1855. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
  7. ↑ "Divorces: First circuit page 116 Maheha Abigail v Keaupuni (k)". state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  8. ↑ "Marriages: Kauai (1826-1910)". state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved 2010-01-22.