Kaumualii was the last king of the island Kauai before being united with the Hawaiian Islands under King Kamehameha.  After Kaumaulii’s death in 1824, his son attempted to reestablish Kauai’s independence, but was unsuccessful.  Esther Kapiolani was born to King Kaumualli’s eldest daughter in 1834 in Hilo.

Esther Kapiolani married David Kalakaua in 1863, who was the postmaster general for the Kingdom of Hawaii.  She was 29 years of age to his 27 years of age.  Kapiolani was also a poet and songwriter, often composing mele, a form of Hawaiian music.

In 1872, King Kamehameha died without a successor to the throne.  Under the Kingdom of Hawaii’s constitution, the legislature would appoint a new king if there was no successor.  There were two high ranking chiefs being considered for King – one was David Kalakaua.  However, his opponent, William Lunalilo, won the majority votes and Kalakaua conceded.  When King Lunalilo, died a year after being appointed, David Kalakaua was elected to replace him.  In 1874, at the age of 40 years, Esther Kapiolani became Queen Consort of Hawaii.

Queen Kapiolani took her role quite seriously and made the welfare of the people her responsibility, often traveling throughout the kingdom.  In May 1887, Queen Kapiolani made news by stopping in Washington on her way to Queen Victoria’s Jubilee.  She and her entourage received a regal welcome at the Arlington Hotel.  Queen Kapiolani also visited with President and Mrs. Cleveland while in Washington. 

For nearly 17 years, Esther Kapiolani served as Queen to her husband.  Their bond was strong and he gifted her with a premier park in Waikiki named in her honor – Kapiolani Park.  Despite the fact that Esther Kapiolani and David Kalakaua never had children, Kapiolani had a soft spot in her heart for Hawaiian mothers.  In 1890, she established the Kapiolani Maternity Hospital to improve the outcome of birth for mothers and their babies.  The hospital’s motto was the Queen’s legacy – Kulia I Ka Nuu – Strive for the Highest.

When the King’s health started to fail, he was advised to travel to San Francisco, in the United States for treatment.  In 1891, at the age of 54, King Kalakaua passed away.  Because he and Kapiolani had no children, his sister Liliuokalani succeeded him to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii.  However, the monarchy was overthrown in 1893 and Hawaii was annexed into the United States in 1898.

Esther Kapiolani, former Queen Consort of Hawaii, passed away in 1899, at the age of 64 years.  Her legacy lives on today in the maternity hospital that she founded over 115 years ago – the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.  The medical center still abides by the Queen’s motto of Strive for the Highest as part of their organizational mission statement.

In addition, the island’s largest and oldest public park still bears the Queen’s name – Kapiolani Regional Park – and is home to the Waikiki Shell, the Honolulu Zoo, and the Honolulu Cricket Club.