The Regent in handing back to the King the authority which he placed in her hands, must do so with a feeling of great satisfaction. During His Majesty’s absence we passed through one very critical period, viz., the small-pox. This called for an extraordinary demand upon the resources of the executive, which was well responded to. When we compare what was done here, with what was done in Sydney, we may well be satisfied with our own Government. Throughout this period the Regent supported her ministers well in spite of opposition and complaint. It certainly was a hard time. The long quarantine and the necessary interference with business operations made men feel discontented, and we may consider ourselves fortunate that we passed through as well as we did. Since the great strain of the small-pox, matters have gone along pretty smoothly, with the exception of a little trouble with some of the plantation laborers; this however has been judiciously arranged and adjusted. The King then returns to find his country prosperous and contented; with this he must be pleased, and he must be more than satisfied with the manner in which the Regent has maintained the dignity of the position entrusted to her, and the able way in which she has fulfilled the duties which it entailed. During her tenure of this office, the Princess has won for herself popularity and respect among all sections of the community; in laying down her powers she can justly be congratulated upon having used them so well, and we feel the community will certainly endorse the sentiment.

(Hawaiian Gazette, 11/2/1881, p. 2)