Born on December 23, 1847, she was the only daughter and second child of Hawaiian chiefess Kahinu and William Charles Malulani Kaleipaihala Beckley (1814–1871).

[1][2] Her mother Kahinu was the daughter of the High Chief Hoʻolulu who, along with his brother Hoapili, helped conceal the iwi (bones) of King Kamehameha I in a secret hiding place after his death.

[7] Around 1891, Kahea and Hawaiian musician Lizzie Alohikea co-composed the song Ahi Wela which consist of "poetry of passion, telling of sexual combustion that may result from the act of love".

[9][10][note 1] On March 25, Liliʻuokalani wrote in her diary: Wiliokai called to say he was notified by J. C. King of the P. G. that he must leave the mausoleum and to deliver up the keys to Maria Beckley Kahea.

[13][14] In the days of the monarchy the indiscriminate entrance to the Mausoleum of parties not known to be connected by either relationship or by the old acknowledged ties of chiefs and retainers was not permitted.

I do not understand that it is the intention of the present government to make a public show of the bones of our dead and beloved chiefs and to permit idle visit of uninterested parties just to satisfy a vulgar curiosity.

Her service was attended by relatives, representatives of the old chiefly lines of Hawaii, and members of the Kaʻahumanu Society and the Cathedral was "packed to the very doors" with wellwishers.

They had a number of children including Leander Kaonowailani (1875–1938), Violet Kahaleluhi Kinoole (1877–1958), Grace Namahana i Kaleleokalani (1878–1899), Frederick Malulani (1882–1949), George Healii (1886–1921), and Benjamin Kameʻeiamoku (1892–1954).