Kamehameha
(Feb. 9, 1834-Nov. 30, 1863) and Emma (Jan. 2, 1836-Apr. 25, 1885), King and Queen of Hawaii. Kamehameha IV became the King of Hawaii on Jan. 11, 1855. On June 19, 1856, he married Emma Rooke and she became queen. In 1860 they asked the Bishop of Oxford to send missionaries to Hawaii to establish the Anglican Church. On Oct. 11, 1862, Bishop Thomas N. Staley and two priests arrived in Hawaii. The king and queen were confirmed on Nov. 28, 1862. Their son and only child was born on May 20, 1858, but died on Aug. 27, 1862. This tragic death broke the king's heart, and he died shortly thereafter. Queen Emma declined to continue to rule and devoted herself to good works. It was under these two sovereigns that Anglicanism was established in Hawaii. They are commemorated in the Episcopal calendar of the church year on Nov. 28.
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.