Pauahi was born in Honolulu on December 19, 1831, in ʻAikupika the grass hut compound of her father, Abner Kuhoʻoheiheipahu Pākī (c. 1808-1855).
 Pākī was an aliʻi (noble) from the island of Molokaʻi, and son of Aliʻi Kalani-hele-maiiluna, who descended from the aliʻi nui (ruling monarchs) of the island of Maui.
Her mother was Laura Kōnia (c 1808-1857), the younger daughter of Ke Aliʻi Pauli Kaʻōleiokū (1767–1818), by his second wife, Kahailiopua Luahine.
Kaʻōleiokū was the son of Kānekapōlei, wife of Kalaniʻōpuʻu and Kamehameha I, and Luahine was descended from Kalaimanokahoʻowaha who had greeted Captain Cook in 1778.
Pauahi was named for her aunt, Queen Pauahi (c. 1804–1826), a widow of King Kamehameha II, and given the Christian name of Bernice.

In a surviving mele hānau (birth chant) for Pauahi, the names Kalaninuiʻīamamao and Keaweikekahialiʻiokamoku are referenced and considered the main links to the Kamehamehas as Kalaninuiʻīamamao was the father of Kalaniʻōpuʻu and "stepfather" of Keōua, Kamehameha I's father while Keaweikekahialiʻiokamoku was the common ancestor of both men.
Pauahi's birth chant does not mention Kamehameha I himself.

She was adopted at birth by Princess Kīnaʻu (who took office in the position of Kuhina Nui (regent), styled as Kaʻahumanu II), but was returned to her parents in 1838 when Kīnaʻu gave birth to her daughter, Victoria Kamāmalu.
Kīnaʻu died of mumps in 1839.
Pauahi began attending the Chiefs' Children's School (later called the Royal School) that same year and remained there until 1846.
Her teachers were Mr. and Mrs. Cooke.
Pauahi greatly enjoyed horseback riding and swimming, and she also liked music, flowers, and the outdoors.
She dressed like any fashionable New York or London woman of the time.
Pauahi was born in Honolulu on December 19, 1831, in ʻAikupika the grass hut compound of her father, Abner Kuhoʻoheiheipahu Pākī (c. 1808-1855).  Pākī was an aliʻi (noble) from the island of Molokaʻi, and son of Aliʻi Kalani-hele-maiiluna, who descended from the aliʻi nui (ruling monarchs) of the island of Maui. Her mother was Laura Kōnia (c 1808-1857), the younger daughter of Ke Aliʻi Pauli Kaʻōleiokū (1767–1818), by his second wife, Kahailiopua Luahine. Kaʻōleiokū was the son of Kānekapōlei, wife of Kalaniʻōpuʻu and Kamehameha I, and Luahine was descended from Kalaimanokahoʻowaha who had greeted Captain Cook in 1778. Pauahi was named for her aunt, Queen Pauahi (c. 1804–1826), a widow of King Kamehameha II, and given the Christian name of Bernice.
In a surviving mele hānau (birth chant) for Pauahi, the names Kalaninuiʻīamamao and Keaweikekahialiʻiokamoku are referenced and considered the main links to the Kamehamehas as Kalaninuiʻīamamao was the father of Kalaniʻōpuʻu and "stepfather" of Keōua, Kamehameha I's father while Keaweikekahialiʻiokamoku was the common ancestor of both men. Pauahi's birth chant does not mention Kamehameha I himself.
She was adopted at birth by Princess Kīnaʻu (who took office in the position of Kuhina Nui (regent), styled as Kaʻahumanu II), but was returned to her parents in 1838 when Kīnaʻu gave birth to her daughter, Victoria Kamāmalu. Kīnaʻu died of mumps in 1839. Pauahi began attending the Chiefs' Children's School (later called the Royal School) that same year and remained there until 1846. Her teachers were Mr. and Mrs. Cooke. Pauahi greatly enjoyed horseback riding and swimming, and she also liked music, flowers, and the outdoors. She dressed like any fashionable New York or London woman of the time.
Bernice Pauahi Bishop