MARIA BECKLEY KAHEA, HIGH CHIEFESS OF HAWAII, DEAD

Mrs. Maria Beckley Kahea, a high chiefess under the old Hawaiian system of nobility, died last evening at the Sanatorium, following an operation for cancer of the stomach which was more serious than anticipated. Mrs. Kahea was descended from a line of illustrious ancestors whose influence in the beginning of the Kamehameha dynasty brought them close to the throne of the Napoleon of the Pacific.

Mrs. Kahea was the daughter of High Chiefess Kahinu and of William Beckley, the latter being the son of Capt. George Beckley, a foreigner who not only was the first military commander of the old Honolulu fort at the foot of what is now Fort street, but was one of Kamehameha's advisers. The Chiefess Kahinu was the daughter of Prince Hoolulu, brother of Prince Hoopili and son of Kameeiamoku, twin brother of Kamanawa, whos effigies are to be seen upon the Hawaiian coat-of-arms.

Hoopili and Hoolulu, around whom much Hawaiian history centers are the two princes who watched at Kailua, Hawaii, near where the remains of Kamehameha the Great was buried, until the guards and mourners became negligent of their duty, when they surreptitiously possessed themselves of the bones and carried them away at night. Hoopili left in a canoe and skirted the shore, landing at the present boundary line of North and South Kohala, where he was joined by Hoolulu, who made the journey along the shore, and tradition says that en route he met a Hawaiian whom he slew in order that no knowledge be given that either of the princes had been seen going anywhere that night. According to the stories handed down from generation to generation in the Beckley family, Hoolulu bound the bundle of Kamehameha's bones to himself, dived deep into the water beneath a cliff, and swam through a submarine opening which opened into a chamber, and in this tomb the remains of the great Kamehameha were laid away. The secret of the tomb has been handed down from one generation to the next, and it is said that, at present day, but one person living knows the burial place and he is a member of the Beckley family. The remains of Edward, a younger brother of Mrs. Kahea, are said to have been buried in an opposite entrance to the same cave.

Kameeiamoku and Kamanawa were supposed to be uncles of Kamehameha. When a small boy they took him in charge and taught him the art of war. Both were powerful men, even in those days of powerful men. Kamehameha grew to be a giant in stature and strength, and the prophecy of the two princes, that Kamehameha would be the highest of all in Hawaii, was borne out.

The deceased was a sister of Hon. Fred K. Beckley, who was the monarchial governor of the island of Kauai under King Kalakaua at the time of his death. His son is Fred W. Beckley, one time Speaker of the House of Representatives and at present Hawaiian interpreter in the Circuit Court. Another brother is George C. Beckley, capitalist and for years the pursuer of the Inter-Island steamer Kinau. Mrs. Kahea has for several years been the keeper of the Royal Mausoleum and grounds in Nuuanu valley. The remains of many of the Kamehameha dynasty repose there in a tomb, and those of the Kalakaua dynasty in the imposing mausoleum structure. Her name Kahaawelani signifies "carrying the heavenly one," because of the fact that her grandfather carried Kamehameha's bones to their secret resting place. She was one of the ladies of Queen Kapiolani's court.

Surviving Mrs. Kahea, who was about sixty-four years of age, are her husband and five living children, who include Mrs. Carl Maertens and Leonidas Beckley, and her brother, George C. Beckley.

The funeral will take place at 4 o'clock this afternoon from the Roman Catholic cathedral, the interment to be in the Nuuanu cemetery.

[Honolulu Advertiser, Mon. 12 Jul 1909, pp. 1 and 4]