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Abigail Maheha

Abigail Maheha(July 10, 1832 – February 13, 1861) was a Hawaiian chiefess (aliʻi) of theKingdom of Hawaii.At a young age, she was chosen to attend theChiefs' Children's School(later renamed the Royal School) taught by the American missionaryAmos Starr Cookeand his wife,Juliette Montague Cooke,alongside her half-sisterJane Loeauand fourteen of her royal cousins.

Abigail Maheha
Born(1832-07-10)July 10, 1832
DiedFebruary 13, 1861(1861-02-13)(aged 28)
Hale Aliʻi,Honolulu,Oahu
SpouseKeaupuni
Kiaʻaina Wahineaea
IssueKeanolani
FatherNamaile
MotherKuini Liliha

Early life and education

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The Cooke Memorial Tablet atKawaiahaʻo Churchcommemorating the sixteen royal children and their teachers

Maheha was the daughter of High Chief Namaile and High ChiefessKuini Liliha.Her mother was the royal governor ofOʻahuduring the regency ofQueen Kaʻahumanu.She was descended fromKahekili II,Moi of Maui,and High ChiefHoapili.[1][2][3]

She was adopted orhānaiedby her aunt, PrincessKekauʻōnohi.[1][4][5]Herhānaimother was a granddaughter ofKamehameha the Greatwho united theHawaiian Islandsinto one kingdom and was also the youngest consort of the deceasedKamehameha IIand served as Governor ofKauaʻi.[6]

She was among those chosen by KingKamehameha IIIeligible for throne of theKingdom of Hawaiito attend theChiefs' Children's School,also known as the Royal School.[7][8][9]She was taught by American missionaries Amos Starr Cooke and his wife Juliette Montague Cooke. In the classroom students were divided by their age and length of time at the school. She was a member of the senior level class with her half-sisterJane Loeau.[10][11]During their Sunday procession to church it was customary for boys and girls to walk side by side; Abigail walked beside Alexander Liholiho, the futureKing Kamehameha IV.[12][13]

American merchantGorham D. Gilmanvisited the Royal School in 1848, after both Jane and Abigail had left the school. He commented on the two sisters' education, declining family rank and inability to support themselves:

The two female pupils who have left were two sisters—who had been educated at the school and remained in it until they were married. These two are of an ancient family wh[ich] was formerly of rank and importance among the other high families—but adversity and losses have taken from them the most of their lands and influence—they however are acknowledged by the Court as of rank but have not the means of supporting it. The two misses were pleasant agreeable young ladies—of good capability—and who made considerable advances in their studies particularly the elder wh[o] was a Compan[ion] of Miss B.s [Bernice Pauahi] and who like her played & sang as well and painted and drew very prettily—and gave evidence that their teachers had not been remiss in the discharge of their duties to them but done all they could to fit them for life.[14]

Marriages

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Maheha became pregnant while at Royal School. Her instructions ended on January 18, 1847, and she left the school on February 4. She was married off to commoner Keaupuni on February 3, 1847, in Honolulu.[15][16][17] Maheha gave birth to a daughterKeanolani(sometimes written as Keano; 1847–1902), onKauaʻi,five months after the marriage. The child was not Keaupuni's as it was later acknowledged by a witness named Mele during the divorce case.[18]According to later tradition was the illegitimate daughter of Maheha with her classmate Lot Kapuāiwa, who later became KingKamehameha Vfrom 1864 to 1872.[19][20][21]Keanolani was raised by PrincessRuth Keʻelikōlani,the half-sister of Kamehameha V. When she died in 1902, Keanolani's parentage was scrutinized by the English language press.[21]King Kamehameha V died December 11, 1872, without acknowledging Keanolani or naming an heir to the throne.[22][23]

In 1855, Keaupuni was involved in the Hawaii Supreme Court caseKeaupuni 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.[24] They eventually divorced.[25] She married Kiaʻaina Wahineaea on July 17, 1857, on Kauaʻi. Her first name was spelled "Apigaila" on the marriage record.[26]

She died in Hale Aliʻi,Honolulu,on February 13, 1861.[27][28]

References

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  1. ^abCooke & Cooke 1937,p. vi.
  2. ^Dibble 1843,p. 330;Wyllie 1845,p. 130;"The following is a list of the young chiefs at present in the school of Mr. and Mrs. Cooke".The Friend.Vol. II, no. VIII. Honolulu. August 1, 1844. p. 36.
  3. ^McKinzie 1983,pp. 41–42.
  4. ^Dibble 1843,p. 330.
  5. ^Wyllie 1845,p. 130.
  6. ^Kanahele 1999,p. 26.
  7. ^"Princes and Chiefs eligible to be Rulers".The Polynesian.Vol. 1, no. 9. Honolulu. July 20, 1844. p. 1.
  8. ^Van Dyke 2008,p. 364.
  9. ^Kaomea 2014,p. 125.
  10. ^Kanahele 1999,pp. 30–34.
  11. ^Menton 1981,pp. 17–21.
  12. ^Liliuokalani 1898,pp. 1–9.
  13. ^Krout 1908,pp. 44–45.
  14. ^Gilman 1970,pp. 126–127.
  15. ^Cooke & Cooke 1937,pp. 279–280.
  16. ^Kanahele 1999,p. 34;Kanahele 2002,pp. 52, 57;McKinzie 1983,p. 42
  17. ^Hawaiʻi State Archives (2006)."Maheha-Keaupuni marriage record".Marriages – Oahu (1832–1910)– via Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library.
  18. ^Kam 2017,pp. 70–72.
  19. ^Kaomea 2014,pp. 139–144.
  20. ^Keawe, J. H. (July 31, 1903)."He Kamehameha Oiaio Oia".Ka Nupepa Kuokoa.Vol. XLI, no. 31. Honolulu. p. 1.RetrievedJuly 15,2018.
  21. ^ab"Keanu Dies On The Sea Shore".The Pacific Commercial Advertiser.Honolulu. July 1, 1902. p. 2.;"Keanu Dies On The Sea Shore".The Hawaiian Gazette.Honolulu. July 1, 1902. p. 4.;"Death Of A Chiefess - Reputed Daughter Of Kamehameha Dead".The Hawaiian Star.Honolulu. June 30, 1902. p. 1.;"Hala ia Pua Alii o Ka Aina - Make O Keanu Ma Kapakai O Waikiki".Ka Nupepa Kuokoa.Vol. XL, no. 27. Honolulu. July 4, 1902. p. 1.
  22. ^Kanahele 1999,pp. 263–267.
  23. ^Van Dyke 2008,p. 93.
  24. ^"Keaupuni vs. Fred. Ogden".The Polynesian.Vol. XI, no. 46. Honolulu. March 24, 1855. p. 2.
  25. ^Hawaiʻi State Archives (2006)."Maheha divorce record".First Circuit Court. Indexes. Divorces: 1851 to 1908.p. 116.RetrievedJune 5,2014– via Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library.
  26. ^Hawaiʻi State Archives (2006)."Maheha, Apigaila – Kiaaina Wahineaea marriage record".Marriages – Kauai (1832–1910).RetrievedJune 5,2014– via Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library.
  27. ^"Make".Ka Hae Hawaii.Vol. 5, no. 46. Honolulu. February 13, 1861. p. 189.
  28. ^Kam 2017,p. 72.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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