Queen Emma of Hawaii facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emma
Oil on canvas by William F. Cogswell, 1890
Queen consort of the Hawaiian Islands
Tenure	June 19, 1856 – November 30, 1863
Born	(1836-01-02)January 2, 1836 Honolulu, Oahu
Died	April 25, 1885(1885-04-25) (aged 49) Honolulu, Oahu
Burial	(1885-05-17)May 17, 1885 Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum
Spouse	Kamehameha IV
Issue	Albert Edward Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa a Kamehameha
Full name Emalani Kalanikaumakaʻamano Kaleleonālani Naʻea (Hawaiian) Emma Alexandrina Francis Agnes Lowder Byde Rooke Young Kaleleokalani (Anglican)
House	Kamehameha
Father	High Chief George Naʻea Thomas Rooke (hānai)
Mother	High Chiefess Fanny Kekelaokalani Young High Chiefess Grace Kamaʻikuʻi Young Rooke (hānai)
Religion	Church of Hawaii
Signature

Emma Kalanikaumakaʻamano Kaleleonālani Naʻea Rooke (born January 2, 1836 – died April 25, 1885) was a beloved queen of Hawaii. She was married to King Kamehameha IV and served as queen from 1856 until his death in 1863. Queen Emma was known for her kindness and her efforts to improve the lives of the Hawaiian people. She later ran for the throne but was not elected.

What Was Queen Emma's Full Name?

Queen Emma had several names that changed over time. After her son passed away, she was called "Kaleleokalani." This means "flight of the heavenly one." When her husband also died, her name changed to "Kaleleonālani." This means "flight of the heavenly ones."

She was also given a Christian name when she was baptized. This name was Emma Alexandrina Francis Agnes Lowder Byde Rooke Young Kaleleokalani. People in the 19th century also honored her in a Hawaiian song. The song "Wahine Holo Lio" means "horseback riding lady." This shows how good she was at riding horses.

Queen Emma's Childhood and Family

Emma was born on January 2, 1836, in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was often called Emalani, which means "royal Emma." Her father was High Chief George Naʻea. Her mother was High Chiefess Fanny Kekelaokalani Young.

Emma was adopted by her aunt and uncle. This was done through a Hawaiian tradition called hānai. Her adoptive parents were Chiefess Grace Kamaʻikuʻi Young Rooke and Dr. Thomas C. B. Rooke. They did not have children of their own.

Emma grew up in her adoptive parents' home, the Rooke House. It was a large English-style house in Honolulu. She went to the Royal School, which was started by American missionaries. Other Hawaiian royals also attended this school.

After the school closed, Dr. Rooke hired a special teacher for Emma. She was an English governess named Sarah Rhodes von Pfister. Dr. Rooke also had a large library. He encouraged Emma to read many books. By the time she was 20, Emma was a very talented young woman. She was known for her singing, piano playing, and dancing. She was also a skilled horse rider.

Emma and her hānai parents.

Queen Emma's Marriage and Reign

Emma became engaged to Alexander Liholiho, who was the king of Hawaii. Some people were not happy about this. They said Emma's European background made her unfit to be queen. But the king was very angry about these comments.

On June 19, 1856, Emma married Alexander Liholiho. He had become King Kamehameha IV a year earlier. The king could speak both Hawaiian and English fluently. People from many different countries living in Hawaii held parties to celebrate their marriage.

Two years later, on May 20, 1858, Queen Emma gave birth to a son. His name was Prince Albert Edward Kamehameha. Everyone called him "Baby." His birth was celebrated for days.

Emma and Kamehameha IV

How Did Queen Emma Help Her People?

Queen Emma cared deeply about her people. She worked to improve palace affairs. She also expanded the palace library. She was known for her efforts to help others. Her adoptive father was a doctor, and this inspired her.

She encouraged her husband to build a public hospital. This hospital would help Native Hawaiians. Many Hawaiians were getting sick from diseases brought by foreigners, like smallpox. In 1859, Emma helped establish Queen's Hospital. She visited patients there almost every day when she was in Honolulu. Today, it is called the Queen's Medical Center.

Queen Emma also founded St. Andrew's Priory school for girls. She knew that young women in Hawaii needed good education. She wanted Hawaiian girls to get the same quality of education as boys.

Sadly, Prince Albert became ill in August 1862. He passed away on August 27, 1862. His death was a great sadness for Emma and the king. Her husband, King Kamehameha IV, died a year later. Queen Emma never had any more children.

Queen Emma's Religious Work

In 1860, Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV asked the Church of England for help. They wanted to establish the Church of Hawaii. When the Anglican bishop Thomas Nettleship Staley arrived, they were both baptized. This happened on October 21, 1862.

Queen Emma and her husband strongly supported the Anglican (Episcopal) church in Hawaii. They helped found St. Andrew's Cathedral. They also raised money for its construction. In 1867, she founded Saint Andrew's Priory School for Girls. She also helped start a boys' school. It was first named for Saint Alban. Later, it became ʻIolani School in honor of her husband.

Laying of the cornerstone of St. Andrew's Cathedral in 1867

The Episcopal Church in Hawaii celebrates the Feast of the Holy Sovereigns every year. This day, November 28, honors King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma.

Queen Emma's Travels to Europe and the United States

From 1865 to 1866, Queen Emma traveled to England and the United States. She went for her health. She also wanted to help the Anglican church in Hawaii grow. She visited London and spent time in France. She also toured parts of Italy and Germany.

During her travels, she met many important people. She met Queen Victoria of England. She also met Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie of France. She met other European royals and church leaders.

In the United States, she had a special welcome at the White House. President Andrew Johnson and First Lady Eliza McCardle Johnson hosted her on August 14, 1866. This was a very important event. It was the first time a queen had an official visit to the U.S. presidential home.

She also met leaders from Native American nations. These included the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Cherokee peoples. After visiting Washington, she saw Niagara Falls and visited Canada. She had to cut her trip short. Her adoptive mother, Grace, passed away in Hawaii on July 26. The U.S. government sent a ship, the USS Vanderbilt, to bring her home.

The Royal Election of 1874

After King Lunalilo died, Queen Emma decided to run for the throne. This was a special election required by the Hawaiian constitution. Her opponent was Kalākaua, who later became king. Queen Emma said that Lunalilo wanted her to be his successor. But he died before he could officially announce it.

The day after Lunalilo died, Kalākaua announced he was a candidate. The next day, Queen Emma did the same. This started a rivalry between Emma's supporters and Kalākaua's supporters.

Queen Emma's supporters were mostly Native Hawaiians. They liked her because her husband was from the Kamehameha Dynasty. She was also more closely related to Hawaii's first king, Kamehameha the Great, than Kalākaua.

Her supporters were called Emmaites or Queenites.

Queen Emma also wanted to reduce Hawaii's reliance on American businesses. She wanted Native Hawaiians to have a stronger voice in their government. While many people supported Emma, the Legislative Assembly made the final choice. They voted for Kalākaua, 39 to 6.

News of Emma's defeat caused a large riot. People who supported Emma were very upset. Thirteen lawmakers who supported Kalākaua were hurt. One of them, J. W. Lonoaea, later died from his injuries. To stop the riot, American and British troops were called in. They were on warships in Honolulu Harbor. The rioters were arrested.

After the election, Queen Emma stepped away from public life. She recognized Kalākaua as the rightful king. However, she never spoke with his wife, Queen Kapiʻolani. People lovingly called her the "Old Queen." King Kalākaua always saved a seat for her at royal events. But she rarely attended.

Queen Emma's Friendship with Queen Victoria

Queen Emma and Queen Victoria of England became close friends. This was despite their kingdoms being very different. Both queens had lost their sons and their husbands. They wrote letters to each other. Emma met Victoria for the first time on September 9, 1865. She later spent a night at Windsor Castle on November 27.

Emma and Queen Victoria silver christening cup

Queen Victoria wrote in her journal about meeting Emma. She said Emma was "dignified" and had "splendid soft eyes." Victoria also mentioned that Emma was sad when they talked about her losing her only child.

Queen Emma's Later Life and Legacy

In 1883, Queen Emma had her first small stroke. She passed away two years later, on April 25, 1885. She was 49 years old.

Her funeral was a grand royal procession. She was buried in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, called Mauna ʻAla. She rests there next to her husband and son.

Funeral procession of Queen Emma, May 17, 1885.

The Queen Emma Foundation was created to support Queen's Hospital. It helps provide money for the hospital through land leases. The area known as Fort Kamehameha was once her beach-front estate. It was later acquired by the U.S. government.

The Emalani festival, Eo e Emalani i Alakaʻi, is held every October. It takes place on the island of Kauaʻi in Koke'e State Park. This festival celebrates a visit Queen Emma made in 1871.

Honours

• Dame Grand Cross of the Most Noble Order of Kamehameha I (April 2, 1879).

Family tree

See also

In Spanish: Emma de Hawái para niños