The Female Monarch

Ka‘ahumanu was Kuhina Nui or Prime Minister for 13 years, from 1819 until 1832. She was the most powerful individual in the Hawaiian Kingdom. Extremely intelligent and politically shrewd, Ka'ahumanu pushed the country towards adapting new laws based on Christianity. 

Ka‘ahumanu implemented the master plan to educate the Hawaiian people. She raised taxes and financed the building of schools.

The Kingdom was divided into 1,103 districts. King Liholiho wanted a school in every district though out the archipelago. By 1831, Ka‘ahumanu financed the construction of 1,103 school houses and furnished them with teachers. She laid the foundation for universal education. 

Hawaii went from near zero literacy in 1820 to 95 percent literate by 1834. In comparison, the United States had about 70 percent literacy.  The Hawaiian Kingdom boasted the highest literacy rate in the world.  

In Hawaii, girls and commoners were educated.  In other countries, girls were often excluded from schools.  In some nations, only children of the elite could afford an education.

The 1840 Hawaii Constitution provided for free public education and required all children to attend school. It wasn't until 1918--78 years later-- did the United States require children to complete elementary school.

Elizabeth Kīna‘u was Prime Minister for 7 years from 1832-1839. She issued the earliest documented public health orders in Hawaii. In her decree, Kīna‘u ordered the Honolulu harbor pilot to question every approaching vessel to ascertain whether there was any smallpox or other pestilent disease on board. If the ship had a disease, the master was ordered to hoist a yellow flag and immediately notify the Hawaiian government. 

Kīna‘u's purpose for her decree was to keep Hawaii free of infections originating from other countries and to protect the people of Hawaii, since Honolulu was already recognized as the cross-road of the Pacific. Three years later, the Prime Minister met an untimely death at the age of 34, from one of the diseases she had tried to prevent. She had wished before her death for the permanent establishment of a government Board of Health -- a Public Health department -- to protect the people against the dreaded diseases of smallpox, cholera, and other European, American, and Asiatic diseases.  

Finally, the Board of Health was created on December 13, 1850 by King Kamehameha III.  This became one of the first official government Boards of Health in the world. Five years later, Louisiana created a state board of health in 1855, to protect the port of New Orleans.  New York City created a Health Department in 1866, and Massachusetts established a Health Board in 1869. In the late 19th century, Germany and England had government health boards and France formed one in 1921.  The United States finally set up a federal agency responsible for the nation's public health in 1939. 

The Department of Health Honolulu headquarters building "Kinau Hale" is named after her. 

Miriam Kekāuluohi became Kuhina Nui "Prime Miniter" in 1839 and held that position for 6 years until her death in 1845. Kekāuluohi signed the first Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom with King Kamehameha III in 1840.

Miriam Kekāuluahi had a keen mind, rapid wit and retentive memory. She was appointed Justice of the Hawaiian Supreme Court in 1840, the first woman in the world to be a Justice.  The United States appointed its first female Supreme Court Justice 141 years later, when President Ronald Regan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor in 1981. 

Kekāuluahi was the first and only Native Hawaiian woman to serve on the Hawaii Supreme Court. Today, it has been 175 years since the Hawaii Supreme Court had a Native Hawaiian woman Justice.  

Miriam Kekāuluahi was brilliant and her memory was impeccable. She had the ability to store a great amount of history in her mind. The Hawaii State Archives building "Kekāuluahi" was named after her. The building is located near Iolani Palace. 

Victoria Kamāmalu became the youngest Prime Minister at 17. Kamāmalu co-governed the country for 8 years from 1855-1863. She was the last female Prime Minister. Her older brothers were the Kings of Hawaii, Alexander Liholiho Kamehameha IV and Lot Kapuāiwa Kamehameha V. Because Kamāmalu was the granddaughter of Kamehameha I, she was educated to be heir to the throne. She died at the age of 27. 

The Princess Victoria Kamāmalu Building located at King and Richards Street is named after her. 

First woman Prime Minister in the 20th century. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

Elected 1960, total of 18 years in office.

During her three terms in office, Bandaranaike led the country away from its British colonial past and into political independence as a republic.

First woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for 11 years, from 1979-1990. 

Nicknamed the "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher spearheaded conservative polices in England.