Lunalilo Mausoleum facts for kids
The Lunalilo Mausoleum is a special tomb where Hawaii's sixth king, Lunalilo, and his father, Charles Kanaʻina, are buried. It's located on the grounds of the Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu. It's also known as Lunalilo's Tomb.
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The Story of Lunalilo's Tomb
King Lunalilo became king of Hawaii in 1873. Sadly, he ruled for only about a year before he passed away from a sickness called tuberculosis on February 3, 1874.
Before he died, King Lunalilo asked to be buried at Kawaiahaʻo Church. Most Hawaiian kings and queens are buried at the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ʻAla in Nuʻuanu Valley. But Lunalilo wanted to be closer to the regular people of Hawaii. Some historians also think he chose this spot because of a disagreement with the Kamehameha family. His mother, Kekāuluohi, wasn't included in the list of royals to be buried at the Royal Mausoleum, and Lunalilo had her remains buried at sea.
Building the Mausoleum
After his state funeral in 1874, King Lunalilo's remains were first placed temporarily at the Royal Mausoleum. This was while his own tomb, the Lunalilo Mausoleum, was being built. His father, Charles Kanaʻina, who lived longer than his son, gave the instructions for building the tomb.
An Englishman from Australia named Robert Lishman designed and watched over the construction. On November 23, 1875, Lunalilo's remains were moved from the Royal Mausoleum to his almost finished tomb at Kawaiahaʻo Church.
The "21-Gun Salute" Story
Lunalilo's father asked King Kalākaua for a second funeral for his son. He also requested a 21-gun salute, which is a special honor given to important people. King Kalākaua agreed to the second funeral but said no to the gun salute.
During the procession to the new tomb, something amazing happened. Eyewitnesses said a sudden storm appeared. Then, twenty-one quick claps of thunder echoed across Honolulu. People called this event the "21-gun salute" from nature.
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The tomb was finished in 1876. King Lunalilo's father, Charles Kanaʻina, was buried there after he passed away in 1877.
Caretakers of the Tomb
A cousin of Lunalilo, Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi Crowningburg, was the kahu (caretaker) for the mausoleum. She looked after it until she died in 1899. Because of her important family status, she was buried in the area just outside the tomb. Her grandson, William Bishop Taylor, who was also a kahu for the Royal Mausoleum, was later buried in the same spot.
Inside the Mausoleum
Inside the Lunalilo Mausoleum, you can see two caskets made of koa wood. These are the caskets of King Lunalilo and his father. They rest on red-carpeted floors. Three kāhili, which are feathered staffs that show royalty, are placed near the caskets. They are protected inside Italian marble cases.
In 1917, some items were stolen from the tomb. A silver crown and a silver plate with Lunalilo's life story written on it were taken. The people responsible were later caught and arrested.
Who is Buried Here?
- Lunalilo (1835–1874), the sixth king of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
- Charles Kanaʻina (1801–1877), King Lunalilo's father.
- Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi Crowningburg (1839–1899), a cousin of Lunalilo and the mausoleum's caretaker. She is buried outside the tomb.
- William Edward Bishop Kaiheʻekai Taylor (1882–1956), Crowningburg's grandson. He is also buried outside the tomb.
