Charles Reed Bishop: Builder of the State — Friend of Youth — Benefactor of Hawaii

There would be no Kamehameha Schools today without Bishop’s own financial support and the enormous aloha he held for his wife Princess Pauahi, her family, and her people. Above, KS Hawaiʻi haumāna Pomai Evans-Bautista, Kayla Enanoria, Nanea Delostrico, and Ho‘onani McClung honor Bishop at a 2015 Founder's Day service.

Charles Reed Bishop: Builder of the State — Friend of Youth — Benefactor of Hawaii

Jan. 25, 2017

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

Charles and Pauahi were married in 1850. Through their 34 years of marriage and up until his death in 1915, he steadfastly advanced their shared vision of nurturing the well-being of Native Hawaiians.

The Kamehameha School for Boys welcomed its first students on November 4, 1887. The school's iconic Bishop Hall was dedicated in 1891.

Bishop founded the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in 1889 as an enduring memorial to his wife.

Bishop was laid to rest alongside Pauahi in 1915. A stone momument was later placed next to the Kamehameha tomb to honor Bishop. It was inscribed: “Builder of the State—Friend of Youth—Benefactor of Hawaii.”