Born: 19 December 1831, United States
Died: 16 October 1884
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Bernice Pauahi Pākī
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
On this day in 1831, Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop was born in ʻAikupika.
She was a distinguished Hawaiian noblewoman and renowned philanthropist, celebrated for her significant contributions to the Kingdom of Hawaii. She hailed from a lineage deeply rooted in Hawaiian nobility. Her father, Abner Kuhoʻoheiheipahu Pākī, was an aliʻi (noble) from the island of Molokaʻi, tracing his ancestry back to the ruling monarchs of Maui. Meanwhile, her mother, Laura Kōnia, was the daughter of Pauli Kaʻōleiokū, who had a noble heritage linked to the legendary Captain Cook encounter in 1778. Bernice Pauahi Pākī, as she was known, was named after her aunt, Queen Pauahi, and given the Christian name of Bernice.
Pauahi’s life journey was marked by a profound commitment to education and the well-being of her people. Despite initial parental objections, she married businessman and philanthropist Charles Reed Bishop in 1850. Although she was eligible to ascend to the throne of Hawaii, she declined the offer, paving the way for the first elected monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Lunalilo. Pauahi’s legacy lies in her vast estate, encompassing approximately 9% of Hawaii’s land, which she bequeathed to establish the Kamehameha Schools. These institutions, one for boys and one for girls, continue to provide education and support to the Hawaiian community. Charles Reed Bishop honored her memory by founding the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in 1889. Pauahi’s devotion to her Hawaiian heritage and education has left an indelible mark on Hawaii’s cultural and educational landscape.