Bernice Pauahi Bishop 17 - Black and White Portrait Photograph

Bernice Pauahi Bishop (1831–1884) was a Hawaiian princess and philanthropist. She was the great-granddaughter of Kamehameha I, the first king of Hawaii, and the last direct descendant of the Kamehameha dynasty. In 1883, Bishop founded the Kamehameha Schools, a private school system in Hawaii dedicated to the education of Native Hawaiian children. She established the schools with the intention of preserving Hawaiian language, culture, and traditions, which were under threat due to colonization and Westernization. The schools also aimed to provide Native Hawaiian students with the skills and education necessary to succeed in modern society. After Bishop's death in 1884, her estate was used to fund the Kamehameha Schools and other charitable endeavors, including the establishment of the Bishop Museum, a museum dedicated to the preservation and study of Hawaiian culture and natural history. Today, the Kamehameha Schools are among the largest private schools in the United States and continue to serve Native Hawaiian students.