Ka'ahumanu in 1794 by Herb Kane    More about theArtist

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Ka'ahumanu in 1794-090
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Ka'ahumanu in 1794 Artist's Collection The favorite wife of Kamehamena, she was born in Hana, Maui, and raised in Kona, Hawai'i. Regarded by all as beautiful and spirited, Ka'ahumanu grew to six feet in height and at full maturity became prestigiously portly. Her father, Ke'eaumoku, was the ruling chief of the Kona district, and a principal ally of Kamehameha. Indeed, it is doubtful that the rising young chief would have survived without his father-in-law's support. Their marriage was not tranquil. She was impetuous and assertive; he, possessive and jealous. But in old age he found her to be the most trustworthy of anyone in his court. After his death in 1819, his son Liholiho became Kamehameha II, but Ka'ahumanu dominated the government as regent. When Hawaiians crewing on foreign ships returned with tales of populous continents and powerful nations, it became clear that the kingdom must win recognition as a sovereign nation, or be devoured by some foreign power. This motivated a desperate rush to become Europeanized as quickly as possible, which logically included accepting the European god. But abandoning the state religion brought civil war. Dissenting chiefs led by Kekuaokalani made a circuit of the island, assembling an army. Near Keauho Bay, Kona they were defeated in a bloody battle. The old religion went out in ablaze of musket fire. When missionaries arrived, she resisted them, refusing baptism until she had studied their ways for several years. Once a convert, however, she greatly aided their mission. To consolidate semi-independent Kauai with the Monarchy of Hawai'i, she sailed there, invited King Kaumuali'i aboard, then sailed off, leaving the island without a ruler. She made him a prisoner with the tender chains of matrimony, but brutally suppressed a revolt on Kauai. After Liholiho died of measles in London, Ka'ahumanu continued to rule until her death in 1832. This painting is an attempt to reconstruct her appearance in the 1790s by removing the features of age seen in drawings done in her later years. Click here for a view of an image of Ka'ahumanu published c. 1830. Page 41 Ancient Hawaii Page 129 Voyagers More information about the subject of this image. --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Keywords: hair coloring, style FRAME YOUR PRINT?... related items, available frames:^~Want more info. about the image?