Emma Nāwahī was born in Hilo, Hawai`i Island, to a Hilo Chiefess and a Chinese sugar miller. Emma and her husband, Joseph, founded the Hui Aloha `Āina political party to protest the overthrow and annexation. Together, they also founded a newspaper in 1895, Ke Aloha `Āina (The Hawaiian Patriot) that was staunchly pro-royalist in its outlook. After her husband’s death in 1896, she continued publishing the newspaper until she sold her interest in 1910. She also was heavily involved in and instrumental in Hui Aloha `Āina o Nā Wahine (The Women’s Patriotic League) and their work against annexation. She was involved in collecting signatures for the Kū`ē petition to the United States government against annexation.
