Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop was a strong, intelligent, benevolent, Hawaiian woman who performed her kuleana (responsibility) as royalty to perpetuate her culture and serve her people.

On December 19, 1831 Pauahi Pakī was born in Honolulu to parents Abner Pakī and Laura Konia Pakī. Pauahi was the great-granddaughter of Kamehameha The Great, the ruler who united all of the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. Pauahi grew up with strong Hawaiian values, and a western and Hawaiian education. She thrived in school and was gifted in many ways. She was known for her generosity and kindness.

At 18 years old Pauahi married Charles Reed Bishop. Bishop was an American businessman who made Hawaii his home. He became a pillar in the Hawaiian government, known for his success as a businessman, banker and philanthropist.

Pauahi and Charles shared a love for travel, museums and art. They did not have any children of their own and made it a point to look out for the native Hawaiian youth. As the last royal of the Kamehameha bloodline, Bernice Pauahi inherited nine percent of Hawaii’s total acreage making her the largest landowner in the Hawaiian Kingdom.

At the time of Pauahi’s birth the Native Hawaiian population lived near 124,000. In 1883, a year before her death, the population had dropped nearly 80,000. Pauahi lived through the rapid decline of population, and with the drop in people came the loss of Hawaiian tradition, culture and language. As a learned woman herself, Pauahi believed that her people would benefit from education. She left her entire land inheritance to found Kamehameha Schools.

After her death in 1884, Charles Reed ensured that his wife’s wish was fulfilled. Along with some of his own funds generously donated, Charles oversaw the construction of Kamehameha’s facilities. Both Pauahi and Charles were sure to guide their trustees in the direction that would uphold Pauahi’s vision to perpetuate her culture and build a future for her people.

As of June 2014, Pauahi Bishop’s estate and other assets are valued at about eleven billion dollars. Pauahi’s contribution now supports Kamehameha Schools, a statewide system providing education to more than 48,000 students a year.

Known for her giving nature and sweet spirit, Pauahi ensured that countless generations of native Hawaiians would have the opportunity to share in her love of education. We’re so grateful to live in a paradise full of that same aloha, we truly are #blessedwelivehawaii.