Ululani Lewai Baker

Ululani Lewai Baker

Ululani Lewai Peleiōhōlani Baker (1858–1902) was a Hawaiian high chiefess and the last Governess of the island of Hawaii from 1886 to 1888. During her tenure, she was given the honorific Her Excellency, the Governess of Hawaii.[1]

Life

Ululani was born 1858. Her parents were High Chief Noah Peleiōhōlani and Kamanu. Considered of high rank, her father's family descended from the high chiefs of Maui. She married John Timoteo Baker, who famously served as one of the model of the Kamehameha Statues.[2][3] They had no children.[4]

During the reign of King Kalākaua, Ululani was appointed as Governess of the island of Hawaii to succeed Princess Poomaikelani, sister of Queen Kapiolani. The appointment was chiefly influenced by the regard to her rank. She served in this position from October 15, 1886 to August 23, 1888 and reportedly "ruled her subjects well". Her husband was appointed high sheriff of the island.[1][2][4] Ululani did not hold the post for long. Island governors traditionally had the power to appoint police officers, manage governmental lands, supervise tax collectors and collect revenues for the Crown. However, by the time of Ululani's tenure, the titular positions were mainly given to royal favorites and high ranking persons. The positions had been a source of corruption and was regarded a waste of governmental money.[5]

After the Bayonet Constitution of 1887, the legislature debated abolishing the titles. Because of her gender, Ululani was viewed as unqualified to appoint the police forces for the island, and in 1887 this duty was transferred to the island sheriffs appointed by the Marshal of the Kingdom. Her authority to appoint chief magistrates were also taken away. When she attempted to appoint J. G. Hoapili as her chief magistrate, she found that that power had been given to the chief justice. In 1888, the royal island governorships were officially abolished by the Hawaiian legislature. Minister of the Interiors Lorrin A. Thurston brought the news of these changes to Ululani. She along with her contemporary Lanihau (Governess of Kauai) became the last female governors of the Hawaiian monarchy. Prior to Kalākaua's death, the legislature passed another act restoring the island governorships. However, section 5 of the act stated "No female shall be eligible to the office of Governor". Under this act, Queen Liliuokalani, the sister and successor of Kalākaua, restored the position during the twilight of the monarchy but only appointed males governors. Her husband was appointed to her former position, but he was removed after the overthrow in 1893.[2][5][6]

Her husband entered the cattle ranching business after the end of the monarchy and the couple resided on the island of Hawaii. After a long illness, Ululani died, on October 5, 1902, at her husband's Mahiki Ranch, near Waimea, Hāmākua. The cause of death was tuberculosis. She was fifty-five at the time of her death.[4] She was buried at the Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo, Hawaii.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "By Authority". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu. October 19, 1886. p. 3.; "Ululani office record". state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Karpiel, Frank (1999). "Notes & Queries – The Hale Naua Society". The Hawaiian Journal of History. Honolulu: Hawaiian Historical Society. 33: 290. hdl:10524/509. OCLC 60626541.
  3. ↑ Kekoolani, Dean. "Ululani (Ululani II, Ululani Liwai, Ululani Lewai)". Kekoolani Genealogy of the Descendants of the Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Death of Ululani". Evening Bulletin. October 7, 1902. p. 1.; "Died". The Hawaiian Star. October 8, 1902. p. 9.; "Last Governess of Hawaii: Death of Mrs. John T. Baker Announced to Have Taken Place". The Independent. October 8, 1902. p. 3. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Newbury, Colin (2001). "Patronage and Bureaucracy in the Hawaiian Kingdom, 1840–1893". Pacific Studies. Laie, HI: Brigham Young University, Hawaii Campus. 24 (1–2): 5, 8, 11, 14–20, 29–30, 38. OCLC 607265842.; An Act To Abolish The Office Of Governor. Laws of His Majesty Kalakaua, King of the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu: Gazette Publishing Company. August 23, 1888. p. 101.; An Act To Establish A Governor On Each Of The Islands Of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai. Laws of His Majesty Kalakaua, King of the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu: Gazette Publishing Company. November 14, 1890. pp. 159–160.
  6. ↑ "Governor of Hawaii" (PDF). official archives. state of Hawaii. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2009.; Cahoon, Ben (ed.). "Hawaiian Governments 1795-1900". worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Ululani Lewai Peleiōhōlani Baker". Find a Grave. Retrieved November 15, 2016.

Further reading

Government offices
Preceded by
Poomaikelani		 Governor of Hawaii Island
1886–1888 		Vacant
Title next held by
John Timoteo Baker
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