Kamakaeha

Kamakaeha is a Hawaiian given name most notably associated with Lydia Kamakaeha Pākī, who became Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The name Kamakaeha appears in historical records as her birth name, before she assumed the throne under the regnal name Liliuokalani.

Born on September 2, 1838, in Honolulu, Kamakaeha belonged to the Hawaiian aliʻi, or nobility, and received schooling within the royal court. In 1862 she married John Owen Dominis, an American-born courtier who played a prominent role in the Hawaiian monarchy. The couple resided at the ʻIolani Palace and were central figures in the royal household.

Kamakaeha ascended to the throne as Liliuokalani on January 29, 1891, following political changes that intensified debates over the powers of the monarchy. Her reign lasted until the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893, after which she was compelled to abdicate under protest. The provisional government and, later, the United States annexation movement culminated in Hawaii becoming a U.S. territory in 1898. Liliuokalani spent years under various forms of house arrest and public attention before her death on November 11, 1917.

Legacy and usage: Kamakaeha’s life is a focal point in discussions of Hawaiian history, sovereignty, and cultural revival. She is remembered for her efforts to preserve Hawaiian culture and for her role as the last monarch of Hawaiʻi. The name Kamakaeha continues to appear in genealogies and is occasionally used as a given name in Hawaii, reflecting its historical association with Liliuokalani.