Kōnia

Laura Kanaholo Kōnia (c. 1808–1857) was a high chiefess of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was the mother of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the founder of Kamehameha Schools.

Life

She was the youngest daughter of Pauli Kaʻōleiokū by his second wife, High Chiefess Luahine Kahailiopua. Luahine was descended from Keaweikekahialiiokamoku through her mother Kailipakalua.

She married High Chief Abner Kuhoʻoheiheipahu Pākī at Honolulu, Oʻahu. Their marriage was one of the first western Christian ceremonies in the Hawaiian Islands. They married at the recently built Kawaiahaʻo Church on December 5, 1828.

Kōnia and Pākī lived at Lahaina when that was the capital, and the King and the Premier Auhea had their residence there. The king finally transferred the seat of government to Honolulu, Pākī and Konia accompanying him. By 1840, King Kamehameha III had a written Hawaiian Constitution and established a legislature. She and her husband were both among members of the House of Nobles from 1840 to 1851.

On December 19, 1831 in Honolulu Kōnia and Pākī had a daughter, named Bernice Pauahi Pākī after Kōnia's half sister, Kalanipauahi, who was saved as an infant from a fire. She let her daughter be adopted (the Hawaiian hānai tradition) to Kuhina-nui Kaʻahumanu II, Elizabeth Kīnaʻu.