Virginia Kapooloku Poomaikelani

Virginia Kapoʻoloku Poʻomaikelani formally Her Royal Highness The Princess Virginai Kapooloku Poomaikelani, was sister to Queen Kapiolani who married to King David Kalākaua and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.[1]

She was born at Piihonua, Hilo, Hawaii, 7 April 1839, the second daughter of Princess Kinoike Kekaulike of Kauai and Alii Kuhio Kalaniana'ole of Hilo. She was the granddaughter of Kaumualiʻi, the last king of the island of Kauaʻi before being ceded to the unified Hawaiian Islands governed by Kamehameha the Great. She was also the stepdaughter of Queen Regent Kaʻahumanu.

She was elder sister of Victoria Kekaulike and younger sister of Esther Kapiolani. Sometimes the name and descendant of these three get mixed up. For example Esther Kekaulike and Abigail Poomaikelani are some of the names that are not real.

Po'omaikelani served as one of Queen Emma's trusted ladies-in-waiting for many years and left Emma's employment to join her brother-in-law's court.

Her sister's husband became the king of Hawaii in 1874 and she was granted the title of Princess and style of Her Royal Highness, in 1883 during Kalakaua's coronation. She married in 1874, Hiram Kahanwai, a cousin of King Kalakaua and a former steward of Queen Emma. She was made Governess of Kauai by her brother-in-law and was paid a annual salary of 3500 dollars per year. She was also Guardian of the Royal Tombs at Mauna Ala from October 15, 1888 to her death. Kalakaua appointed her as president of the Board of Genealogy of Hawaiian Chiefs. Princess Poomaikelani was kahili bearer during Kalakaua's official coronation. She died at Kalihi Valley, Oahu, 22 October 1895, two years after her cousin Liliuokalani had been overthrown. She was interred in the Kalakaua Crypt, at the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii.