Kamehameha III (ca. 1814-1854), king of the Hawaiian Islands for 30 years, reigned longer than any Hawaiian ruler. He gave his people a constitution and reformed the land laws.

Kamehameha III, son of Kamehameha I, was born at Keauhou, Hawaii. He became king in 1825 after his brother, Kamehameha II, died in England. Kaahumanu, who had been the favorite wife of Kamehameha I, served as regent until her death in 1832. She had become a devout Protestant, and after her death Kamehameha III was torn between Hawaiian ways and the ways of the Protestant missionaries from New England. After a few years of rebellious dissipation, he became one of Hawaii's great kings. In 1837 he took Kalama as his queen. Their two children died in infancy.

During the reign of Kamehameha III, Protestantism became practically a state religion. Repression of Catholics led in 1839 to troubles with France, which regarded itself as protector...