The story of Queen Emma...

This is my post from our online class He Inoa 'Ala:

I enjoyed learning about Queen Emma. Wasn't she beautiful?! I also read somewhere that she was somewhat quiet and reserved, kind of a loner as a student at the Chiefs' School in Honolulu. I read that she didn't have too many friends from the Royal School days, however she enjoyed a close friendship with Princess Victoria Kamāmalu that lasted a lifetime. Interesting that her summer palace (a gift from her late uncle John Young 11) even had a name - Hanaiākamalama. How beautiful. Does this translates to "care for the adopted"?

The more I read about Queen Emma (1836 – 1885), the more empathy I felt for her.
I did some research on the Hawaiian Historical Society's website and found this information:
Queen Kapi‘olani (1834–1899) formally Esther Julia Kapi‘olani, was married to King David Kalākaua. Born December 31, 1834 in Hilo, she was the granddaughter of Kaumuali‘i, the last king of the island of Kaua‘i before the unification of the islands under Kamehameha I, and the stepdaughter of Queen Ka‘ahumanu. Her first marriage was to High Chief Benjamin Namakehaokalani, son of Keali‘imaika‘i, brother of Kamehameha I, and was 35 years older than Kapi‘olani. He was uncle of Queen Emma. This made Queen Kapi‘olani the widowed aunt of Queen Emma. Kapi‘olani hānai'd Prince Albert, baby of Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. Queen Emma blamed Kapi‘olani for the child's death as he was under Kapi‘olani's care when he got sick. After the death of her child, Queen Emma would never appear at a public function that Kapi‘olani was in attendance of.

We all know that the child prince was well cared for and loved dearly, that he fell ill. It was nobody's fault when he passed away, however, it must have been so very difficult for Queen Emma to have lost her young son Prince Albert at only four years of age. This is whwn she changed her name to Kaleleokalani – which means “flight of the heavenly one”. And then she lost her husband only a year later. Queen Emma must have been heartbroken - so much sadness. I felt a hint of that very sadness myself, when I visited the Bishop museum in January and toured the royal room. I sat there amongst the belongings of our late royalty and sobbed uncontrollably. So many beloved, here one moment and gone the next, died.

It seems so unfair. Queen Emma and Kamehameha IV - Liholiho - had only been married a total of 6 or 7 years before he passed. Liholiho was only 29 when he died! I cannot imagine losing a son, and then the love of my life. This is why she changed her name to pluralize her loss - Kaleleonālani “Flight of the heavenly ones,” a name she used for the rest of her life. Not even three years later, in 1866 Queen Emma's dear friend Princess Victoria Kamāmalu dies at the age of 28, and a few months later, her adopted mother Grace Kama‘iku‘i Rooke, daughter of John Young and Ka‘o‘ana‘eha also dies at the age of 57. I read that Queen Emma lived to the age of 49 when she passed away in 1885 at her summer home. She was laid to rest with her husband and son at Mauna ‘Ala Moseleum.

In the 1800s, so many diseases were coming to the islands from visitors and our people had no immunity to these. Thousands of Hawaiians perished. This is why King Kamehameha IV and his wife Queen Emma were so passionate about starting a hospital to care for people who contracted illnesses. They worked tirelessly to raise funds, since the government had no money set aside for this kind of public service. We are blessed with this lovely hospital - Queens Hospital - the fruits of their labor, a hospital named after Queen Emma. It is interesting that Queen Kapi'olani did much charitable work herself, and in fact, raised money to lay the corner stone of her own women and children's clinic - which is today the Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children.