Kuini Liliha (circa 1802-August 25, 1839) was a chiefess in the ancient Hawaiian tradition and served the Kingdom of Hawaii as royal governor of Oahu. She assumed administration of the island from 1829 to 1831 after the tragic death of her husband Boki, an advisor and friend to Kamehameha II. She was called "Beloved Chiefess" by her people as an expression of their love for Kuini Liliha's compassion.

United Kingdom

Boki and Kuini Liliha were principal members of the entourage that accompanied Kamehameha II and the Queen Consort on an 1824 diplomatic tour of the United Kingdom, visiting King George III. The entire delegation contracted the measles one after the other, a disease foreign to Native Hawaiians. The Queen Consort Kamehamalu and several chiefs had died that summer in London. Also a victim of the disease, Kamehameha II became so distraught that he died in Kuini Liliha's arms.

Boki and Kuini Liliha recovered and survived the outbreak of measles and took charge of what was leftover of the delegation and managed to secure agreements of friendship from the British government. The Kingdom of Hawaii also became a protectorate of the British military under those agreements. Boki and Kuini Liliha returned to Oahu with the bodies of Kamehameha II, Kamehamalu and several island chiefs.

Royal Governor

As royal governor, Boki had incurred large debts and found a need to travel to the New Hebrides to harvest sandalwood to offset deficits. Before leaving on his expedition, Boki entrusted administration of Oahu to his wife. Among Kuini Liliha's new responsibilities was to become the sole trustee of the properties of Kamehameha III, who became king as a child. Kuini Liliha also became Kamehameha III's legal guardian, despite opposition from Kaahumanu who was ruling Hawaii as queen regent. Kaahumanu had developed a rivalry with Kuini Liliha.

Boki and his entourage of chiefs were lost at sea and pronounced dead, leaving Kuini Liliha permanently in administration royal governor.

Catholicism

Kuini Liliha became embroiled in the dispute over freedom of religion in the kingdom. Kaahumanu had become influenced by the Protestant missionaries in Honolulu and was baptized into the Congregational church. Heeding the advice of her Congregationalist ministers, Kaahumanu influenced Kamehameha III to ban the Roman Catholic Church from the islands.

The priests and lay brothers of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary were forcibly deported from the kingdom. Native Hawaiians who had converted were persecuted. Some were beaten and imprisoned. Kaahumanu had discovered that Boki and Kuini Liliha were one of the first chiefs to convert to the suppressed Hawaii Catholic Church and angered the queen regent. Kaahumanu had wanted all the chiefs to accept Protestantism in order that the Native Hawaiians would all follow. Kuini Liliha's steadfastness in her Catholicism influenced Native Hawaiian Catholics to persevere even in suppression. Kaahumanu stripped Kuini Liliha of her power.

Only after the intervention of the French government and Captain Cyrille-Pierre-Théodore Laplace and Kamehameha III's proclamation of the Edict of Toleration did Native Hawaiians like Kuini Liliha have the right of membership in the Hawaii Catholic Church.