Emma, Queen of Hawaii 1836-1855

Emma Kalanikaumakaʻamano Kaleleonālani Naʻea Rooke (January 2, 1836 – April 25, 1885) was queen of Hawaii as the wife of King Kamehameha IV from 1856 to his death in 1863. She was later a candidate for the throne but King Kalākaua was elected instead.

After her son's death and before her husband's death, she was referred to as "Kaleleokalani", or "flight of the heavenly one". After her husband also died, it was changed into the plural form as "Kaleleonālani", or the "flight of the heavenly ones". She was baptized into the Anglican faith on October 21, 1862 as "Emma Alexandrina Francis Agnes Lowder Byde Rooke Young Kaleleokalani.[3]

Queen Emma was also honoured in the 19th century mele "Wahine Holo Lio" (horseback riding lady) referring to her renowned horsemanship.[4]

Emma was born on January 2, 1836,[5] in Honolulu and was often called Emalani ("royal Emma"). Her father was High Chief George Naʻea and her mother was High Chiefess Fanny Kekelaokalani Young. She was adopted under the Hawaiian tradition of hānai by her childless maternal aunt, chiefess Grace Kamaʻikuʻi Young Rooke, and her husband, Dr. Thomas C. B. Rooke.[6]

Emma's father Naʻea was the son of High Chief Kamaunu and High Chiefess Kukaeleiki.[7] Kukaeleiki was daughter of Kalauawa, a Kauaʻi noble, and she was a cousin of Queen Keōpūolani, the most sacred wife of Kamehameha I. Among Naʻea's more notable ancestors were Kalanawaʻa, a high chief of Oʻahu, and High Chiefess Kuaenaokalani, who held the sacred kapu rank of Kekapupoʻohoʻolewaikala (so sacred that she could not be exposed to the sun except at dawn).[8]

On her mother's side, Emma was the granddaughter of John Young, Kamehameha I's British-born military advisor known as High Chief Olohana, and Princess Kaʻōanaʻeha Kuamoʻo.[9][10] Her maternal grandmother, Kaʻōanaʻeha, was generally called the niece of Kamehameha I. Chiefess Kaʻōanaʻeha's father is disputed; some say she was the daughter of Prince Keliʻimaikaʻi, the only full brother of Kamehameha; others state Kaʻōanaʻeha's father was High Chief Kalaipaihala.[11][12] This confusion is due to the fact that High Chiefess Kalikoʻokalani, the mother of Kaʻōanaʻeha, married both to Keliʻimaikaʻi and to Kalaipaihala. Through High Chief Kalaipaihala, she could be descended from Kalaniʻopuʻu, King of Hawaii before Kīwalaʻō and Kamehameha. King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani criticized Queen Emma's claim of descent from Kamehameha's brother, supporting the latter theory of descent. Liliʻuokalani claimed that Keliʻimaikaʻi had no children, and that Kiilaweau, Keliʻimaikaʻi's first wife, was a man.[13] This was to strengthen their claim to the throne, since their great-grandfather was Kamehameha I's first cousin. But even through the second theory Queen Emma would still have been descendant of Kamehameha I's first cousin since Kalaniʻopuʻu was the uncle of Kamehameha I.[14] It can be noted that one historian of the time, Samuel Kamakau, supported Queen Emma's descent from Keliʻimaikaʻi and the genealogy stated by Liliuokalani have been contested in her own lifetime.[15]

Emma grew up in her adoptive parents' English mansion, the Rooke House, in Honolulu. Emma was educated at the Royal School, which was established by American missionaries. Other Hawaiian royals attending the school included Emma's half-sister Mary Paʻaʻāina. Like her classmates Bernice Pauahi Bishop, David Kalākaua and Lydia Liliʻuokalani, Emma was cross-cultural — both Hawaiian and Euro-American in her habits. When the school closed, Dr. Rooke hired an English governess, Sarah Rhodes von Pfister, to tutor the young Emma. He also encouraged reading from his extensive library. As a writer, he influenced Emma's interest in reading and books. By the time she was 20, she was an accomplished young woman. She was 5' 2" and slender, with large black eyes. Her musical talents as a vocalist, pianist and dancer were well known. She was also a skilled equestrian.

<objectXMLWrap>
<container xmlns="">
<filename>/data/source/findingAids/ahub/f_18061.xml</filename>
<ead_entity en_type="origination">Emma, Queen of Hawaii</ead_entity>
</container>
</objectXMLWrap>

Princess Emma Naea Rooke
1836-1885

High Chiefess Emma Kalanikaumakaʻamano Kaleleonālani Naʻea Rooke was born on January 2, 1836. Her father was George Naea and her mother was High Chiefess Fanny Kekelaokalani Young, she was adopted by her aunt High Chiefess Grace Kamaʻikuʻi Young and husband, Mr. Thomas Charles Byde Rooke.

A royal member of the Kamehameha dynasty, through her great grandfather, Kealiʻimaikai, a brother of King Kamehameha the Great. High Chiefess Emma was selected by Kamehameha III to be eligible for the Hawaiian throne and was sent to be groomed at the Chiefs' Children's School, where she lived and was educated with her cousin and future husband, Prince Alexander Liholiho (King Kamehameha IV) whom she married on June 19, 1856.

On May 20, 1858 Emma gave birth to her only child, a son, Prince Albert Edward Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kamehameha. Queen Victoria of England was his godmother, for which he was given the name Albert Edward after her husband. Unfortunately, the young prince died at the age of four and a year later, her husband, King Kamehameha IV died in 1863.

Queen Emma, who was dedicated to health care and education, with her husband, King Kamehameha IV, were the founders of The Queen's Medical Center, St. Andrews Priory, ʻIolani School and St. Andrews Cathedral.

When the throne was left vacant after the death of King Lunalilo on February 3 1874, Emma proclaimed herself as candidate for the throne as she was a member of the royal house and was officially made eligible to be a ruler. The other proclaimed candidate was High Chief David Kalākaua who was also a member of the royal house and was eligible to rule as well. Unfortunately the legislature voted 39 to 6 in favor of Kalākaua, the election resulted in an uproar of Queen Emma's supporters, comprised by the majority of the Hawaiian people. The Marines from American and British vessels were called to restore civil order and eventually Queen Emma acknowledged Kalākaua as the new king.

The Dowager Queen Emma In 1883, suffered the first of several small strokes and died two years later on April 25, 1885 at the age of 49, she left the bulk of her estate to the trust of the Queen's Hospital as well as some scholarships.