Born: 1861 (Lihue, Kauai)
Died: 1929
Biography:
Wilhelmine Kekelaokalaninui Widemann Dowsett (March 28, 1861 – December 10, 1929) was a Native Hawaiian suffragist who played a pivotal role in the fight for women’s voting rights in Hawaii. Born on March 28, 1861, in Lihue, Kauai, she was the daughter of Hermann A. Widemann, a German immigrant and prominent businessman, and his Hawaiian wife Mary Kaumana Pilahiuilani.
Dowsett’s father was a well-respected politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii and served as a cabinet minister to the last queen, Lili’uokalani. This background in politics likely influenced Dowsett’s later involvement in women’s rights activism. While there was some debate about the royal descent of her mother after her passing, it is known that her mother’s grandfather, Kalawa, was a retainer of the ali’i (nobility) of Kauai.
On April 30, 1888, Dowsett married John Jack McKibbin Dowsett, a grandson of British Captain Samuel James Dowsett who settled in Hawaii in 1828. Their wedding at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Honolulu was attended by members of the Hawaiian Royal Family, including King Kalākaua, Queen Kapi’olani, and Princesses Lili’uokalani and Ka’iulani.
Dowsett’s husband played a significant role in her life and supported her activism efforts. He became a successful businessman with interests in banking, fire insurance, and the sugar industry. He also served as a Republican Senator in the Hawaii Territorial Legislature from 1905 to 1907 and held positions on the Board of Agriculture and Forestry and the Board of Prison Inspectors. The couple had three children: Herbert Melville Kuali’i, Frank Llewellyn Lunalilo, and Alice Aileen Kekuiapoiwa Liliha.
As an active participant in the women’s suffrage movement, Dowsett was instrumental in organizing the National Women’s Equal Suffrage Association of Hawaii (WESAH) in 1912. This was the first women’s suffrage club in the Territory of Hawaii. Dowsett served as the president of WESAH and modeled its constitution after the National Woman Suffrage Association. The group preferred to be called suffragists rather than suffragettes, distancing themselves from the more militant British movement.
The passing of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920, granting women the right to vote, was a significant achievement for Dowsett and her fellow suffragists in Hawaii. However, their efforts did not end there. Dowsett continued to advocate for women’s rights and equal opportunities. She believed that political enfranchisement was just the first step towards achieving full gender equality.
Dowsett’s dedication and leadership in the women’s suffrage movement had a lasting impact on Hawaiian society. Her work paved the way for future generations of women to participate in politics and fight for their rights. The Hawaiian women’s commitment and readiness to gain equal suffrage were noted by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin at the time.
Wilhelmine Kekelaokalaninui Widemann Dowsett passed away on December 10, 1929, leaving behind a legacy of courage and determination in the pursuit of women’s rights.