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Bernice Pauahi Bishop - Lili'u's hanai, or foster who married the American banker Charles R. Bishop and inherited the largest share of the Kamehameha dynasty's royal lands from Princess Ruth, making her the islands' largest landholder.
Bernice Pauahi Paki was born December 19, 1831 at Aikupika (Egypt), the family home, the site mauka of the intersection of King and Bishop streets. Her father was High Chief Abner Paki, descended from Kiwala
o, the Maui alii and the Kamehameha dynasty of Hawaii. Her mother was High Chiefess Laura Konia, the granddaughter of Kamehameha I. She was hanai to Kina
u, the eldest daughter of Kamehameha I and her husband, Kekuanaoa, the governor of Oahu when she was 1-week-old. At age 7, her hanai mother died of mumps and she was returned to her natural parents. Described as the best educated of the Hawaiian royal women, she was a gifted and well rounded student. In 1847, she met Charles Reed Bishop, from Glen Falls, New York. They fell in love and were married in 1850, when the princess was 18 years old. Violently opposed to this union, Pauahi's parents, Paki and Konia, did not attend the wedding, hoping instead, that the princess would marry Lot Kapuaiwa, Kamehameha V. In time, as the marriage proved to be very happy, Pauahi's parents accepted their son-in-law. Lot, Kamehameha V and Pauahi remained fast friends. On his deathbed, Lot sent for Pauahi wishing to name her as sucessor to the throne. She refused, and Lot Kamehameha died without naming an heir.
In 1883, Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop bequeathed her entire estate for the establishment of a school to educate Hawaiian children. Today, her endowment supports the largest independent pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school in the United States. Born December 19, 1831 in Honolulu, Hawaii to High Chiefs Abner Paki and Laura Konia, Pauahi Paki was the great-granddaughter of Kamehameha I, the warrior chief who united all the islands of Hawai
i under his rule in 1810.
Educated by American Protestant missionaries, Pauahi Paki married a young American named Charles Reed Bishop from Glens Falls, New York. He was a widely respected and successful businessman who through banking, real estate, and other investments, became one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom.
1831 |
December 19, 1831
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Oʻahu, Hawaii
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1884 |
October 16, 1884
Age 52
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Keōua Hale, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI, United States
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2261 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI, 96817, United States
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