The Kuhina Nui

by Issac Woo

Kina'u, the daughter of King Kamehameha I, was one of the primary wives of Liholiho, Kamehameha II. Kina'u was one of King Kamehameha the great' children. She was also the kuhina nui for Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III.

Kina'u was born in 1805 at Waikiki. her mother and father were Kamehameha I and Kaheiheimalie. They lived on O'ahu until 1812, but then her father moved his court to Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kina'u's older brother was Kamehameha Iwi and her sister was Kamamalu (Queen Kamamalu). She had two half brothers, Kauikeaouli and Liholiho.

Kina'u had two husbands other than Liholiho. After Liholiho's death her second husband was Kahalaia. They both had one son who died from a whooping cough epidemic. Kina'u's third husband was Kekuanaoa. They both had five children together, Kina'u and her husband also adopted Bernice Pauahi, who was the great-grand-daughter of Kamehameha I.

As the Kuhina nui, Kina'u tried to outlaw alcohol because she gave her son (Kamehameha IV- Alexander Liholiho) to Kauikeaouli, who was an alcoholic. Kina'u tried to out law alcohol but couldn't because Kauikeaouli got money from alcohol making factory. Kina'u died from complications of mumps near Iolani Palace on O'ahu in 1909.