(1772–1832), was the wife of King Kamehameha the Great of Hawaii. She served as queen regent-prime minister (kahina nui) after her husband’s death in 1819. Queen Ka’ahumanu, along with her son, King Kamehameha II (Liholiho), commanded the cessation of the social taboos, idolatry and human sacrifice, known as kapu, that had controlled Hawaii for centuries. Their edict, issued in 1819, went out to all the islands, causing the destruction of numerous idols and temples (heiaus).
The following year, Hiram Bingham and a group of Protestant missionaries came to Hawaii on the brig, Thaddeus. Queen Ka’ahumanu received Christ and helped spread the Gospel throughout the islands, resulting in “The Great Awakening” of the 1830’s and 1840’s. Just prior to her death, Queen Ka’ahumanu was presented with the newly completed version of the New Testament in the Hawaiian language. She declared it good (maika), and then spoke her last words to Rev. Bingham:
I am going where the mansions are ready.1671
The High Chiefess Kapiolani of Kealekekua Bay was baptized by the early Christian missionaries, and proceeded to introduce her village of Kaawaloa to Christ. In helping the Hilo missionaries win the people from ancient superstitions and human sacrifice to Pele (the volcano goddess), Kapiolani traveled a hundred miles to the rim of the volcano Kilauea, descended into the crater and defied Pele by eating some of the goddess’ sacred ohelo berries. She then praised “the one true God” and proclaimed:
Jehovah is my God. He kindled these fires. I fear not Pele. All the gods of Hawaii are vain.1672
This courageous act of the High Chiefess Kapiolani greatly advanced Christianity in Hawaii, leading many Hawaiians to become missionaries to other islands, such as Rev. Kauwealoha, who stopped the ritual of cannibalism and planted numerous churches and schools.
The State Motto of Hawaii, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ’aina i ka pono” (The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness), was first uttered by Queen Ke’opuolani, wife of King Kamehameha II, as she was baptized into the Christian faith before her death in 1825. King Kamehameha III reiterated his mother’s dying words, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ’aina i ka pono,” as he gave thanks to God at Kawaiaha’o Church for the return of his kingdom in 1843.1673