Ke‘elikōlani’s Four-Poster Koa Bed

Nanea Armstrong-Wassel [Ho‘okahua]

BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP HERITAGE CENTER - BEDROOM

Keʻelikōlani’s Four-Poster Koa Bed
made of koa wood; measuring 7' x 6' x 7'8"

This beautiful bed belonged to Princess Ruth Ke‘elikōlani and came from Keōua Hale, her home in Ka‘akopua which she bequeathed to Bernice Pauahi. It is the larger of two beds left to the Kamehameha Schools by Mr. Charles Reed Bishop. The bed was formerly displayed in the Museum Room at the Kamehameha School for Girls’ Library. When renovations were being made to make room for more classrooms, the bed was relocated to Hale Pelekikena (the President’s House), where it stayed until being moved to Kīna‘u Hale Dormitory. In 1988, the bed was brought from Kīna‘u Hale to be housed in the newly constructed Heritage Center.