Vaekehu

Vaekehu (1823–1901) was the last Queen of Nuka Hiva, who reigned alongside King Temoana until his death in 1863. She converted to Catholicism in 1853, and spent time with her husband converting the rest of the Island. During her later life, she was visited by many European travellers, including Robert Louis Stevenson.

Early life Vaekehu was the youngest of two daughters of Paetini, who was a descendant of the prominent Chiefly house on Nuka Hiva. Paetini's husband was the High Chief of the Taioha'e on the islands, but she also had several secondary husbands. Vaekehu was married to a Hapa'a chief and had a daughter, who died in childhood as did her husband around the same time. Her elder sister married Temoana, and after her death, due to local custom, Vaekehu and Temoana were married. She adopted her niece and nephew, although both died before her. As with other local customs, Vaekehu was extensively tattooed, which was written about and drawn by many European visitors. Vaekehu described the pain she suffered while being tattooed, telling Albert Davin that she wished to be killed at the time to stop the pain.

Marriage to Temoana

Temoana and Vaekehu were considered to be the King and Queen of Nuka Hiva by the French Empire. They received support from the French, despite Temoana's increasing erratic behaviour caused by excessive alcohol consumption. After an Italian named Motto managed to have the King arrested for plotting against the French, Vaekehu was among those who managed to have him released. Vaekehu retreated to the mission compound and devoted herself to religion. She continued to receive European visitors, who spoke of her growing family with several adopted members. These included Robert Louis Stevenson, Pierre Loti and Karl von den Steinen. Although they spoke of her great dignity, they also said that she would enjoy telling stories, claiming to have eaten her first husband. She spent her time with Catholic nuns, and refused to engage with the traditions of the old religion of the island referring to them as pagan in nature.

Nine years after his death, she held a feast day for Temoana, which combined the Island traditions with a more sobre Catholic mass. She long thought that she was about to die, having received her last rights in 1872. She had already organised a coffin for herself by the time Stevenson visited her, and died in June 1901. She was placed in a mausoleum next to Temoana near the Catholic mission. She was known as the last Queen of the island.