Queen Keʻalohilani

**Keʻalohilani** (Martha Elizabeth Marie Keʻalohilani; born 19 April 1934) is the Queen of Hawaii. She acceded to the throne upon the death of her father, Kalawaiʻa II, on 8 November 1960. With six decades on the throne, she is the longest-reigning monarch in Hawaiian history.

Keʻalohilani was born at ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu as the eldest daughter of Prince John and his wife Sarah Rood. Born as the second-in-line to the Hawaiian throne, she became first-in-line and heir presumptive in 1952, aged 18, following the death of her grandfather Kalawaiʻa I and accession of her father. While Hawaii practiced a system of male-preference primogeniture, Keʻalohilani would have been displaced in the line of succession by the birth of a younger male sibling, but she retained her position when her father produced only three daughters.

After completing her education with private tutors in 1952, Keʻalohilani received a bachelor's degree in Hawaiian studies from the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1956. Keʻalohilani married Hawaiian professor Alexander Kameāloha in 1957, after having been in a relationship for one year. They had three children together: Francis (born 1958), Angelina (born 1964), and Frederick (born 1965). Keʻalohilani acceded to the throne in 1960, following the death of her father. As queen, she has ruled as a constitutional monarch.

## Early life

Keʻalohilani was born on 19 April 1934 at ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu with the birth name *Martha Elizabeth Marie Keʻalohilani ʻŌpūnui*. Her parents are Kalawaiʻa II and Queen Kapiʻolani, then known as Prince John and Princess Sarah, respectively. Her father was the eldest son of Kalawaiʻa I, while her mother came from a line of prominent Native Hawaiians with connections to the monarchy. Like other Hawaiian royals, Keʻalohilani was raised bilingually in English and Hawaiian.

Keʻalohilani spent her early life residing in Maluhia House on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace. When she was three years old, her younger sister Princess Lucy was born, and her youngest sister Princess Mildred was born two years afterwards.

## Youth and education

In her youth, Keʻalohilani went by the name *Martha*, her given first name. She began her formal education in 1940, receiving tutoring by private royal tutors at the royal palace. Her education was primarily conducted in Hawaiian, and she was taught subjects such as reading and writing, Hawaiian history, basic mathematics, and basic sciences. When she reached the high school level in 1948, she began being taught more advanced subjects by her tutors, and the instruction was given in English. Keʻalohilani graduated with a high school diploma in 1952.

On 25 May 1952, Keʻalohilani's grandfather Kalawaiʻa I died unexpectedly of heart failure. Immediately after his death, her father acceded to the throne as king, and Keʻalohilani became the heir presumptive. Upon her father's accession, Keʻalohilani took up a more prevalent role in Hawaiian society, often accompanying her parents to events and greeting her father in greeting dignitaries to Hawaii.

After receiving her high school diploma, Keʻalohilani enrolled in the University of Hawaii, Manoa, her first time attending classes outside of her home. While a university student, Keʻalohilani studied Hawaiian studies, and graduated with her degree in 1956. While at the university, she was a member of the Hawaiian culture club and surf club.

## Reign

### Accession

On 6 November 1960, Keʻalohilani's father Kalawaiʻa II collapsed while the family was having lunch together. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest, and it was later discovered that he suffered from the same heart condition that Keʻalohilani's grandfather suffered from. Immediately following his death, Keʻalohilani was proclaimed queen.

She officially decided to take her Hawaiian name *Keʻalohilani* ("the heavenly brightness") as her royal name. Upon taking the throne, Keʻalohilani became the first Hawaiian queen regnant since the restoration of Hawaiian independence in 1925.

### Constitutional role

As a constitutional monarch, there are numerous rules and regulations that Keʻalohilani must follow as outlined in the Hawaiian constitution. The Queen's main tasks are to represent the Kingdom abroad and to be a unifying figure at home. The Queen performs the latter task by accepting invitations to open exhibitions, attending anniversaries, inaugurating bridges, etc. She receives foreign ambassadors and awards honors and medals.

As an unelected public official, the Queen takes no part in party politics and does not express any political opinions. Although she has the right to vote, she opts not to do so to avoid even the appearance of partisanship. The Queen holds a meeting with the prime minister and the foreign affairs minister every Wednesday, unless she or the prime minister is outside of the country.

After each election, once the government has been formed, it is formally appointed by the Queen. Officially, it is the Queen who is the head of government, and she therefore presides over the Council of State, where the acts of legislation which have been passed by the parliament are signed into law. In practice, however, nearly all of the Queen's formal powers are exercised by the Cabinet of Hawaii. In addition to her roles in her own country, the Queen is also the commander-in-chief of the Royal Hawaiian Armed Forces, although she does not actually undertake an active role in military policy.

## Marriage and family

Keʻalohilani was introduced to local businessman Alexander Kameāloha by her mother in 1956. Their mothers were friends, and Kameāloha came from a line of Hawaiians who were connected to the monarchy. They soon began a relationship, and later became engaged in January 1957, after less than a year of dating. They were married in a royal wedding at ʻIolani Palace on 24 August 1957. Upon their marriage, Kameāloha became styled as *His Royal Highness* Prince Alexander.

Following the wedding, Keʻalohilani and Alexander moved into Maluhia House on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace, the same house in which she was raised. Following the unexpected death of her father on 6 November 1960, and her sudden accession as queen, the family moved into the main royal residence of ʻIolani Palace.

Keʻalohilani and Alexander had three children together:

* Prince *Francis* Alexander John Kalawaiʻa (born 25 December 1958)
* Princess *Angelina* Lucy Rose Māhealani (born 5 June 1964)
* Prince *Frederick* Desmond Samuel ʻApelahama (born 29 November 1965)

## Titles

Upon her birth, Keʻalohilani was styled as *Her Royal Highness* Princess Martha. Upon acceding to the throne as queen in 1960, she became styled as *Her Majesty* Queen Keʻalohilani, taking her Hawaiian fourth name. It is Hawaiian tradition for monarchs to be styled with their Hawaiian names, although most are not given them as their first names.

* **19 April 1934 – 8 November 1960**: *Her Royal Highness* Princess Martha
* **8 November 1960 – present**: *Her Majesty* Queen Keʻalohilani