IMUA - Ruth Keʻelikolani

Above: Princess Ruth covers Rosie the Riveter, IMUA! WW2 Kanaka Parodies Series available in my etsy shop here.

Princess Ruth (Luka) Keelikolani Keanolani Kanahoahoa was born in 1826 to Kalani Pauahi, previous wife to King Kamehameha II Alexander Liholiho. Though the lineage of her true father had been long disputed due to a short gestation following Kalani Pauahiʻs marriage to Mataio, upon the death of Mataio Kekūanaōʻa, the father who raised her, she was ultimately respected to be his true daughter and heir to his landholdings. This logically made her the half sister to Moses, Lot, Alexander and Victoria Kamāmalu- the children of Mataio Kekūanaōʻa from his later marriage to Kīnaʻu after Ruthʻs mother died during childbirth. Princess Ruth was also reared by Kaʻahumanu to be an heir to the throne of Kamehameha Following Kauikeouli.

Princess Ruth endured several occassions of mistreatment and disrespect despite her rank as an aliʻi wahine. A very few of these occassions include:

1. Upon the death of Mataio Kekūanaōʻa, during the findings for heirship of his lands- Ruth endures the denial of her legitimacy by Mataioʻs brother.

2. The denial of Ruthʻs descent from Kamehameha the Great by rationalizing the Notion that her female ancestor could have been pregnant to several other cheifs, despite the fact that Kamehameha claimed Ruthʻs ancestor, Kaoleiohoku, to be his son from younger years and thus equating to Ruth being a decendant of Kamehamehaʻs true firstborn. This event, of course, was a tactical statement used by Kalākaua to climb the polls so that he would be voted in as King during the new Hawaiian Constitutional Monarchy which he himself formerly fell short of in his own lineage to be considered as a proper candidate.

3. The disproval of her decision by her brother Lot Kamehameha V, to adopt out the child she had with her second husband, Isaac Young Davis. Davis himself was also against the notion. Though Ruth had already suffered the loss of her first children, conceived with her first husband Leleiohoku (and likely the true love of her life), Isaac Young Davis somehow perceived that his child with Ruth were a first and therefore supported the idea that because of the adoption being unwarranted by Davis lead to the death of the child at 6 months of age. Can a woman give birth in peace?

4. The likelihood that Ruthʻs disfigured nose was the result of domestic abuse from her second husband Isaac Young Davis, topped-off by his unfaithfulness.

5. Being unreservedly and shamefully regarded as “ulgy, heathenous, disfigured, fat” by commoners and foreigners alike.

She was also formerly ridiculed for the utmost reason she is celebrated today, which is her love of the Hawaiian Language and her refusal to speak English to accomodate foreigners, though she knew the language well. I believe she was aware of something that the rest of her contemporaries turned a blind eye to, and that is the quick rate of death among Hawaiians, Aliʻi and their former (and previously thriving) Hawaiian Lifestyle. This was a time of quick and efficient western influxation and, though she is treasured today as someone who loved the old ways- the Hawaiians of that time period were greatly drawn to the new Western ways and did not respect or see value in Ruthʻs steadfast adhesion to the culture and language - including the Hawaiian Diet. What foresight she had! She would not live to see her wisdom perpetuated but rather more than 100 years following her death- only now are we realizing what it means to be without our culture and language. What turmoil it brings to the inner person to trade our culture for one that is foreign and ultimately one that drives the undemining of Indigenous empowerment.

Princess Ruth Was a woman larger than life.

She served as Kuhina Nui and the Governess of Hawaii Island and was the half-sister to two reigning monarchs Kamehameha IV and V. She even stopped Lava from Devouring the town of Hilo by praying to and gaining favor with Goddess Tūtū Pele. Though Princess Ruth Keelikolani is deserving of more references in publications, her name is rare to come by and so there is one sole book today that makes my list of relevant titles in regards to her story.

RECOMMENDED READING:

1. The High Cheifess Ruth Keelikolani by Kristin Zambucka - is quite concise and sharply focused on the subject of this post, referencing letters exchanged with her mention, recollections of her way and descriptions of her relationship with those she was closest to.

There is also a DVD that is rare to find available, linked in the image below:

I hope that this post has helped you to gain more awareness of this great woman and that it encourages you to search for deeper understanding within yourself of what it means to stand for what is right, against all odds - and to be true to who you are in the face of rejection even from your very own kin. And if you have ever felt desire to decolonize the source of your own power and inspiration, take note from our heaven-high Keelikōlani Keanolani Kanahoahoa, Princess Ruth.