Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kekauʻōnohi

“The Queen dowager (Kaʻahumanu), the favourite of Tammeamah (Kamehameha), was stretched out on some very fine mats, and wrapped up in a beautiful piece of cloth of Lavalliere colour.”

“A young man, very well made, and remarkably clean, waved before her an elegant fan made of birds’ feathers; and a young woman brought to her at intervals, a small vase made of the calebash, as a spitting-dish; it was half filled with flowers, and covered with a handkerchief tied about it.”

“This vase was also offered to the other Princesses; but it was evident that all the care, and the greater part of the attentions were devoted to the favourite, whose name was Tammeamaroo (Kamamalu).”

“There were five of these Queens (wives of Liholiho); and she of whom I speak, who weighed at least thirty stone, was the smallest. The others were rather shapeless masses of flesh than human figures.”

“Their room was small, and crowded with calebashes, mats, little boxes from China, and with pieces of English and country cloths, all lying about in every corner.”

“The entrance was obstructed by a great crowd round the door, and there was a guard placed close by, to watch over the safety of the Princesses.”

“On enquiring what kind of amusements they had, and how they passed their time, we were informed that they were occupied in keeping death at a distance; which must be admitted to be rather difficult, considering the ability of the physician whom I have described to you. Happy are those who can do without him! and still happier those who require no other!”

“Our officious interpreter however having returned, we went with him to the King, who received us in the brilliant costume of which I have already spoken, but with such a stiff air, that we immediately supposed his limbs had been accustomed to greater freedom.”

“I sketched his portrait along with that of his wife, and included in the picture his principal officers, lying at his feet, and his two life-guards with birds-feather cloaks, who, with drawn swords, appeared ready to defend him.”

“We presented the Sovereigns with an Indian shawl, and a pair of handsome ear-rings; but we had the mortification to see that they received our presents with indifference, and without appearing to attach the slightest value to them.”

“Before we retired, our master of the ceremonies asked me to perform a few sleight-of-hand tricks in the presence of the court, and the King gave me a pack of French cards: I readily complied, and, novice as I am in this art, I was very much amused at the surprise of the officers, and particularly at the unmeaning look of the King.”

“His wife requested me in the most polite manner to teach her some of the tricks; I consented, and had the pleasure of seeing her practise some of them with great dexterity.”

“This young lady is the sister of her husband. In her manners she has something childish, soft, and even simple; which is, however, in her not unbecoming. The presence of the King puts no restraint on the demonstrations of her affection, or on her tender caresses. …”

“I would strongly recommend to strangers who go to Owhyhee, and wish to pass some agreeable moments there, to get acquainted with this interesting female.”

“Her name is Kaou-Onoe (Kekauʻōnohi): she is about five feet six inches high; her shoulders are broad, her bosom small, and her eyes amorous; her limbs are plump and well formed, and her hands and feet extremely delicate.”

“She is remarkably clean in her person. On her body are some round marks, caused by the burns she inflicted on herself on the death of her father; but I observed with pleasure that not a single tooth had been extracted.”

“King Riouriou (Liholiho) has four other wives (Kamāmalu, Kīnaʻu, Kekāuluohi and Pauahi); but it is very evident that he loves Kaou-Onoe the best of any of them. Things which appear most extraordinary in the eyes of Europeans are here quite natural; and we are often astonished or shocked at customs, which the Sandwich islanders regard as of no consequence.”

“For example, the present King has married one of his father’s widows, out of love, we were told, for the deceased. If Kaou-Onoe ever has a rival, I do not believe she will be one of the present Princesses; one of whom, however, is tolerably pretty and agreeable.”

“At our first visit, only Kaou-Onoe was in the King’s apartment. The other Princesses were in a neighbouring hut, into which they invited us; and where we witnessed a very interesting scene.”

“The favourite’s brother, who had just returned from Woahoo, came in, labouring under evident emotion. Kaou-Onoe, who had accompanied us, embraced him with the greatest affection …”

“… and while we were remarking the difference between her tender caresses and those of other female sovereigns, our attention was arrested by the sobs and groans of a multitude of women, squatted on their heels at the further end of the room.”

“For some moments a religious silence was preserved – the recollection of the virtues of the great Tammeamah was doubtless the occasion of their lamentations. A people cannot be wicked, who shed so many tears to the memory of a good Prince.”

“In embracing one another here, the people place their noses together and breathe strongly. If we may believe however what we heard, they began to understand the European mode of salutation.” (Arago; portions of Letter CXIII, August 1819)

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Kekauonohi-WC
Kekauonohi-WC

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The King Was Going To England

“Liholiho sailed for Maui on October 21, but inexplicably aborted the trip and returned to Honolulu by 3 pm. Ten days later, without any advance warning, Liholiho began a momentous journey to share astounding news with his chiefs.”

“On October 31, the king departed Honolulu aboard L’Aigle’s sister ship, the Princess Mary, claiming to be sailing to Maui. Instead, the Princess Mary steered for the island of Hawai‘i, arriving at Kailua on the island’s western coast on November 4.”

“There Liholiho shared with Kuakini, John Young, and missionary Asa Thurston his startling intention: he was sailing to England to meet with King George!” (Corely)

“A council of chiefs had been summoned to assemble at Maui, to deliberate on this proposal; and, after remaining nearly a week at Hawaii, the king proceeded thither, for the purpose of meeting the chiefs.”

“It was their wish, that in case of the king’s concluding to take the voyage to England, that one of the missionaries should accompany the royal party; and accordingly, in compliance with this wish, Messrs. Bingham and Ellis proceeded to Maui in the early part of November.”

“When the council was assembled, it was soon perceived that the king’s mind was determinately set on the voyage, and the consent of the chiefs was therefore speedily given. It was resolved that his majesty should embark on board the Eagle, Captain Star buck.”

“His objects in visiting England, were to see the country, to acquire a better knowledge of the nature of commercial transactions, to obtain some acquaintance with the laws, usages, and institutions of England, and to make arrangements with the British government for the protection and prosperity of the Sandwich Islands.” (Missionary Records, 1839)

“News that Liholiho intended to sail to England aboard L’Aigle reached Honolulu’s foreign community on November 8. Suddenly, reported the trader Stephen Reynolds, there was a “great stir among the chiefs about the king going to England.”

“Liholiho planned to take $25,000 with him, and the chiefs feared that Starbuck and L’Aigle’s owners would drain their king of all his money and leave him destitute and far from home.”

“When the chiefs questioned him, however, Starbuck told a different story, saying that ‘the king will want for nothing in England.” Starbuck would not even charge the king for his passage – but here he hedged – of course, L’Aigle’s owners might choose to charge something for the royal suite’s passage after the suite had arrived in London.”

“Meanwhile, Liholiho moved ahead with other arrangements. He nominated his younger brother as his successor, finalized the selection of members of his suite, and decided on the gifts that he would present to King George.”

“L’Aigle’s crew moved ahead with their planning and boarded about 100 pigs and ‘boat loads of potatoes’ from one of the king’s brigs in expectation of the journey.”

“Preparations for departure intensified. Kuakini handled the provisioning of the ship for the king. Among other food brought on board was some salted dog’s flesh, a favourite dish with the Sandwich Islanders.”

“While the ship’s crew made ready, the mission ladies went to work creating a wardrobe of rich, elegant, silk dresses for Kamāmalu.”

“The men of the mission prepared letters to their superiors at Boston and London, describing the circumstances surrounding Liholiho’s decision to make the proposed voyage, Liholiho’s goals for the voyage, and how the king’s absence might affect the government and the efforts of the mission.”

“Traders and merchants bustled about the king, getting their accounts in for payment before he should depart. Liholiho appointed both Kalanimōku and Ka‘ahumanu as regents for his younger brother.” (Corely)

“It was the desire of the king, that Mr. Ellis should accompany him, as his interpreter, to England; and, in case he should afterwards determine upon visiting the United States, he proposed that Mr. Bingham should accompany him in the same capacity there.”

“But this arrangement was, unhappily, frustrated by the captain, and the consequence was, that the king and queen left their native islands without an interpreter fully acquainted with the English language.” (Missionary Records, 1839)

“At the chiefs’ request, both Hiram Bingham and William Ellis preached to packed congregations on November 23. L’Aigle left Honolulu’s inner harbor on November 25, but Liholiho waited until 10 a.m. on November 27 to board the small boat that would ferry him out to L’Aigle.”

“His people thronged the beach near Pākākā quayside as Liholiho settled himself into the small boat, accompanied by his principal chiefs. As the boat left the shore, the loud weeping of the people mingled with the roar of cannon from the fort and from the forty vessels lying in the harbor.” (Corely)

“At his departure the natives gathered round him, and tore their hair, and shriek’d and yell’d with the most frantic gestures. The King was dressed in European fashion, and when the boat shoved off from the shore, he stood up without betraying the slightest emotion; while the natives swam round and clung to various parts, crying and yelling with the greatest bitterness.”

“On coming on Board, the decks were crowded with queens and chiefs, pigs and poultry. Of pigs there were about 300; goats, 36; sheep, 6; and bullocks, 4; with 8 dozen of fowls, and 4 dozen of ducks, – all adrift together; and potatoes and powey (poi) from stem to stern.” (Atheneum, 1824)

“Still at her home when Liholiho departed and knowing that a canoe waited to transport her to the ship, Kamamalu arose from her mat, lovingly embraced her mother and other relatives, and walked out of her home towards the quay.”

“s she passed along through the crowd, people fell to their knees and bathed her feet with tears, and loud wailing arose from the crowd of thousands who thronged the shore.”

“At the quay, she movingly addressed a farewell to her country and to her deceased father, Kamehameha, to whom she had promised that she would always follow Liholiho faithfully.”

“With a final prayer and “Aloha nui oukou!” Kamamalu stepped away from shore. A crowd of people waded into the water after her, waving their hands in sorrow and crying out Auwe! Auwe! while the cannon roared from the walls of the fort.” (Corley)

Their departure took place on November 27, 1823. (Missionary Records, 1839)

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Their_Majesties_King_Rheo_Rhio,_Queen_Tamehamalu,_Madame_Poke
Their_Majesties_King_Rheo_Rhio,_Queen_Tamehamalu,_Madame_Poke

by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Ali‘i Letters – Ka‘ahumanu to Kamāmalu (1822)

“We want literacy, it may make us wise.”

Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (Mission Houses) collaborated with Awaiaulu Foundation to digitize, transcribe, translate and annotate over 200-letters written by 33-Chiefs.

The letters, written between 1823 and 1887, are assembled from three different collections: the ABCFM Collection held by Harvard’s Houghton Library, the HEA Collection of the Hawaii Conference-United Church of Christ and the Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society.

These letters provide insight into what the Ali‘i (Chiefs) were doing and thinking at the time, as well as demonstrate the close working relationship and collaboration between the aliʻi and the missionaries.

In this letter, sent in late-July 1822, Kaʻahumanu writes to Kamehamalu (Kamāmalu) to introduce Kaumualiʻi as her new husband, encourage more letter writing and send a gift of goby fish.

Kamehamalu, also known as Kamāmalu and Kamehamehamalu, was the primary wife of Liholiho, Kamehameha II. The favorite wife of Kamehameha I, Kaʻahumanu was the first Kuhina Nui, or regent, from 1819-1832.

While this letter predates her commitment to Christianity, she did become a convert and a strong advocate for the Protestant religion.

“Waimea, Mahoehope 32, 1822”

“Greetings to you, Kamehamalu,”

“Here is a letter from your aunt and your uncle, from your new uncle, my new husband.”

“Love to you, to my son and to all of my daughters. The two of us have had no illness, but are in good health. Uheke gives his/her regards to all of you. There are three of us, but there was one letter and no more.”

“Here is my word to you, there you are among the longnecks, so send letters here. There are many people, but few letters. I want [you] to send eight hundred Hawaiian letters.”

“We want literacy, it may make us wise.”

“Give our affection to Mr. and Mrs. Bingham and all the longnecks. Here is my gift to you, some bundles of goby fish.”

“Me, your aunt, Kaahumanu Kaumualii”

Here’s a link to the original letter, its transcription, translation and annotation:
https://hmha.missionhouses.org/files/original/2f3417658026fcd6af51a69dc5330273.pdf

On October 23, 1819, the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries from the northeast US, led by Hiram Bingham, set sail on the Thaddeus for the Sandwich Islands (now known as Hawai‘i.) They arrived in the Islands and anchored at Kailua-Kona on April 4, 1820.

Over the course of a little over 40-years (1820-1863 – the “Missionary Period”,) about 180-men and women in twelve Companies served in Hawaiʻi to carry out the mission of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) in the Hawaiian Islands.

One of the earliest efforts of the missionaries, who arrived in 1820, was the identification and selection of important communities (generally near ports and aliʻi residences) as “stations” for the regional church and school centers across the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian Mission Houses’ Strategic Plan themes note that the collaboration between Native Hawaiians and American Protestant missionaries resulted in

  • The introduction of Christianity;
  • The development of a written Hawaiian language and establishment of schools that resulted in widespread literacy;
  • The promulgation of the concept of constitutional government;
  • The combination of Hawaiian with Western medicine, and
  • The evolution of a new and distinctive musical tradition (with harmony and choral singing).

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Kaahumanu - Kamamalu Late-July 1822-400

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Entourage

On November 27, 1823, L’Aigle, an English whaling ship under the command of Captain Valentine Starbuck, on which Kamehameha II (Liholiho), Kamāmalu, and their entourage traveled to England to gain firsthand experience in European ways.

The king and his chiefs agreed that Liholiho needed a competent interpreter to travel with him, and they asked Starbuck to permit the Englishman William Ellis and his family to join the royal suite. Starbuck adamantly and persistently refused. Frenchman John Rives went as interpreter.

Liholiho’s chosen party were Governor Boki and his wife, Liliha, Kapihe, Chief Kekuanaoa, steward Manuia, Naukana (Noukana), Kauluhaimalama, servant Na‘aiweuweu, and James Kanehoa Young. (Corley)

Boki was the son of Kekuamanoha, a chief of Maui (but it was rumored that he was the son of Kahekili II.) His original name was Kamaʻuleʻule; his nickname came from a variation on Boss, the name of the favorite dog of Kamehameha I.

His older brother, Kalanimōkū, was prime minister and formerly Kamehameha’s most influential advisor. His aunt was the powerful Kaʻahumanu, queen regent and Kamehameha’s favorite wife.

King Kamehameha II appointed Boki as governor of Oʻahu and chief of the Waiʻanae district. John Dominis Holt III said Boki was “a man of great charisma who left his mark everywhere he went.”

Boki married Chiefess Kuini Liliha; Liliha was the daughter of Kalaniulumoku II (some say Koakanu was her father) and Loeau, who were themselves full blooded brother and sister (children of Kalaniulumoku I and his own mother the venerable kapu chiefess Kalanikuiokikilo.)

This makes Liliha a niaupio child, a chiefess of the highest possible princely rank in the system of Hawaiian chiefs. She was hānai (adopted) daughter of Ulumāheihei (Hoapili). (Kekoolani)

Ulumāheihei’s father, High Chief Kameʻeiamoku, was one of the “royal twins” who helped Kamehameha I come to power – the twins are on the Islands’ coat of arms – Kameʻeiamoku is on the right (bearing a kahili,) his brother, Kamanawa is on the left, holding a spear.

Kapihe (Naihekukui) “was very intelligent, had an excellent memory, and spoke English tolerably. He was remarkably skillful in the game of draughts (Kōnane,) which he played with uniform success.” (Byron)

He was son of the chief Hanakāhi and also known as Jack the Pilot or Captain Jack. He had been the pilot for the Russian explorer Golovnin in 1818 and piloted Freycinet from Kailua Bay to Kawaihae in August 1819. (Birkett) Lord Byron referred to him as ‘Admiral.’

Kekūanāoʻa’s name (literally, the standing projections) is said to refer to ships’ masts seen in the harbor when Kekūanāoʻa was born. (Pukui) (Some claim Kekūanāoʻa to be the son of Ki‘ilaweau, the grandson of Alapaʻi, King of Hawai‘i, and the Chiefess Kaho‘owaha of Moana. (Kapi‘ikauinamoku))

“As a young man he was a favorite and attendant of the declining years of Kamehameha I. With Liholiho he was a punahele, or intimate attendant and friend, and in that capacity accompanied the Royal party to England”.

Kekūanāoʻa married Pauahi, formerly a wife of Liholiho. They had a daughter, Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani. In 1827, Kīnaʻu, daughter of Kamehameha, became Kekūanāoʻa’s wife. Kīnaʻu and Kekūanāoʻa had five children: Prince David Kamehameha (who died as a child;) Prince Moses Kekūāiwa (who died in 1848;) Prince Lot Kapuāiwa (Kamehameha V); Prince Alexander Liholiho (Kamehamhea IV) and Princess Victoria Kamāmalu.

Boki’s younger cousin, Manuia, was in command of Fort Kekuanohu, of the fortified hill of Punchbowl and the harbor of Kou, and Boki made him Chief Marshall with power over life and death. He an Boki later set up grog shops at Honolulu.

Naukana (Noukana) was son of Kamanawa (one of the twins on the Islands’ coat of arms – and one of Kamehameha’s four Kona Uncles who helped him rise to control all of the Islands.)

Kauluhaimalama was son of Kekūhaupiʻo. Hawai‘i Island ruling chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu instructed Kekūhaupiʻo to teach Kamehameha the ancient martial arts of the land. Kekūhaupiʻo was determined to give all his knowledge to his chiefly pupil, and he indeed did so. This brought about the firm bond between Kekūhaupiʻo and the young Kamehameha.

Kekūhaupiʻo is arguably the one man most closely connected to Kamehameha I during Kamehameha’s formative years, while he developed his skills as a warrior, and through the early period of Kamehameha’s conquests.

“Kanehoa Young, the second son of John Young, was about the same age as Liholiho, had traveled widely throughout the world, and spoke English.” (Corley)

John Young, a boatswain on the British fur trading vessel, Eleanora, was stranded on the Island of Hawai‘i in 1790. Kamehameha brought Young to Kawaihae, where he was building the massive temple, Pu’ukoholā Heiau.

For the next several years, John Young, and another British sailor, Isaac Davis, went on to assist Kamehameha in his unification of the Hawaiian Islands.

Because of his knowledge of European warfare, Young is said to have trained Kamehameha and his men in the use of muskets and cannons. In addition, both Young and Davis fought alongside Kamehameha in his many battles.

With these powerful new weapons and associated war strategy, Kamehameha eventually brought all of the Hawaiian Islands under his rule.

In London, Liholiho and Kamāmalu became ill. It is believed they probably contracted the measles on their visit to the Royal Military Asylum (now the Duke of York’s Royal Military School.) Virtually the entire royal party developed measles within weeks of arrival, 7 to 10 days after visiting the Royal Military Asylum housing hundreds of soldiers’ children.

Kamāmalu (aged 22) died on July 8, 1824. The grief-stricken Kamehameha II (age 27) died six days later, on July 14, 1824. Prior to his death he asked to return and be buried in Hawai‘i.

Kapihe was the only one of the followers who had suffered from the disorder in a degree at all equal to the king and queen. Boki and Kekūanāoʻa rapidly recovered; and Kapihe soon grew better.

Shortly thereafter, the British Government dispatched HMS Blonde to convey the bodies of Liholiho and Kamāmalu back to Hawaii, along with the entourage. The Captain of the Blonde, a newly commissioned 46-gun frigate, was Lord Byron (a cousin of the poet.) The Blonde arrived back in Honolulu on May 6, 1825.

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Their_Majesties_King_Rheo_Rhio,_Queen_Tamehamalu,_Madame_Poke
Their_Majesties_King_Rheo_Rhio,_Queen_Tamehamalu,_Madame_Poke

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Kalākua

“Kalākua, a widow of Kamehameha … asked (the missionary women) to make a gown for her in fashion like their own.” (Bingham) “(She) was told that it was the Lord’s day, and that they would make it tomorrow.” (April 2, 1820, Thaddeus Journal)

The next day, the first Hawaiian sewing circle was held on the decks of the Thaddeus, “Kalākua brought a web of white cambric to have a dress made for herself in the fashion of our ladies, and was very particular in her wish to have it finished while sailing along the western side of the island, before reaching the king.”

“Monday morning April 3d (1820,) the first sewing circle was formed that the sun ever looked down upon in the Hawaiian realm. Kalākua was directress. She requested all the seven white ladies to take seats with them on mats, on the deck of the Thaddeus.”

“The dress was made in the fashion of 1819. The length of the skirt accorded with Brigham Young’s rule to his Mormon damsels, – have it come down to the tops of the shoes. But in the queen’s case, where the shoes were wanting, the bare feet cropped out very prominently.” (Lucy Thurston, part of the Pioneer Company)

Kalākua (also Kaheiheimālie) (c. 1778–1842) was daughter of Keʻeaumoku, a chief from Hawaiʻi Island and Namahana, from the royal family on Maui. She was described as physically being ‘tall and gigantic,’ like her siblings. (Bingham)

“(Kalākua) was never a woman to indulge in flirtations, and her name was never coupled with gossip. She may have had her longings, but she remained true to her husband; and her children were never rumored to have been born of a double paternity like so many of the chiefs.”

“Double paternity was considered an honor because it gave a double or triple line of chiefly descent, thick and intermingled, and formed an honorable ancestry doubly blessed in such riches and knowledge as chiefs desire.”

“Not so (Kalākua,) who considered herself sufficiently honored with the root already established. Kamehameha was her uncle, and both he and Keʻeaumoku were directly descended from Haʻae.” (Kamakau)

Kalākua’s siblings included Queen Kaʻahumanu, Hawaiʻi Island Governor John Adams Kuakini, Maui Governor George Cox Kahekili Keʻeaumoku II and Lydia Namahana Piʻia. She first married Kalaʻimamahu, the younger brother of Kamehameha I.

They had a daughter, Kekāuluohi; Kekāuluohi became Kamehameha’s youngest wife. Liholiho (Kamehameha II) later took her as one of his wives and around 1821 Kamehameha II gave Kekāuluohi to his friend Charles Kanaʻina. By Kanaʻina, Kekāuluohi had a son William Charles Lunalilo (future king of the Islands.)

Kekāuluohi succeeded her half-sister Kīnaʻu as Kuhina Nui. Initially, she was considered something of a “place-holder” for Kīnaʻu’s infant daughter Victoria Kamāmalu, who would later assume the office. (Archives)

With Kamehameha I, Kalākua had four children: their two sons died as infants; the oldest daughter, Kamāmalu, became wife of Liholiho (Kamehameha II,) and the youngest daughter, Kīnaʻu, later became Kuhina Nui.

Kīnaʻu later married Mataio Kekūanāoʻa; they had several children, including Lot Kapuāiwa (afterwards Kamehameha V,) Alexander Liholiho (afterwards Kamehameha IV) and Victoria. (Liliʻuokalani) That made Kalākua mother of another Queen consort, and grandmother of three future Kings.

“The death of Kamehameha made the first separation from the man she had lived with for twenty years. There was no woman of his household whom Kamehameha loved so much as (Kalākua.)”

“Kamehameha is never known to have deserted (Kalākua,) but it has often been said that she did not love him so much as her first husband Kalaʻimamahu from whom Kamehameha took her away.” (Kamakau)

“In September, 1823, she heard in Hawaii of Keōpūolani’s death and sailed at once for Lāhainā to attend the burial ceremonies. The chiefs had all assembled at Lāhainā, the body of the chiefess had been concealed, and (Hoapili) was in mourning.”

“After the days of mourning were ended (Kalākua) became the wife of (Hoapili) (October 19, 1823,) they became converted, were married under Christian vows, and took the names of Hoapili-kāne and Mary Hoapili-wahine [the Hawaiian form of Mr. and Mrs.]”

“At this time she had not thought much about religion. The chiefs took to drinking and sensual indulgence after the death of the chiefess [Keōpūolani], but (Kalākua) listened to the word of God as taught by the missionaries although in her heart she still enjoyed life and fun.”

“Hoapili had accepted the word of God because of Keōpūolani. (Kalākua) turned to Christianity first, and Kaʻahumanu followed.” (Kamakau)

In 1823, Kalākua (Kaheiheimālie and Hoapili-wahine) offered the American missionaries a tract of land on the slopes surrounding Puʻu Paʻupaʻu for the creation of a school.

Betsey Stockton founded a school for makaʻāinana (common people) including the women and children. The site of the school is now Lahainaluna School.

A good work for which Hoapili-kāne is celebrated was the building of the church at Waineʻe; the cornerstone was laid on September 14, 1828, for this ‘first stone meeting-house built at the Islands.’

It was dedicated on March 4, 1832 and served as the church for Hawaiian royalty during the time when Lāhainā was effectively the Kingdom’s capital, from the 1820s through the mid-1840s (it was destroyed by fire in 1894.) In addition, he erected the Lāhainā fort to guard the village against rioting from the whalers off foreign ships and from law breakers. (Kamakau)

When Lot Kapuāiwa was born to Mataio Kekūanāoʻa and Kīnaʻu, he was hānai by his grandmother Kalākua (Kaheiheimālie and Hoapili-wahine) and step-grandfather Hoapili-kāne. (Lot Kapuāiwa later became King Kamehameha V.) Kalākua died January 16, 1842 and is buried at Waine‘e (now Waiola) Cemetery.

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Hoapiliwahine_by_C._C._Armstrong
Hoapiliwahine_by_C._C._Armstrong