Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Buried at Sea

As there was no proper place for the burial of Lunalilo’s mother Kekāuluohi (she died June 7, 1845, at the age of 50,) Lunalilo ordered “his native servants to take the bones of his mother and bury them in the bosom of the deep, where no mortal could disturb them.”

“At the dead of night, the canoe bearing the remains of Kekāuluohi, manned by a crew of native kahu (attendants) left Waikiki. They went to a point many miles off Diamond Head. When they reached the place, prayers (kanaenae) were offered according to the ancient rites of burial.”

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kalākua

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. Her 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. Her first daughter, Kekāuluohi, became Kamehameha’s youngest wife.

Kekāuluohi later married Charles Kanaʻina. By Kanaʻina, had a son William Charles Lunalilo (future king of the Islands.) Kalākua married Kamehameha I and 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 (Kamehameha V,) Alexander Liholiho (Kamehameha IV) and Victoria. She later married Hoapili. Kalākua was mother of two Queen consorts and grandmother of three future Kings.

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kekāuluohi

Kekāuluohi, daughter and firstborn (July 27, 1794) of Kaheiheimālie and Kalaʻimamahu (Kamehameha’s younger half-brother,) was reared by her maternal grandparents, Namahana and Keʻeaumoku (the most noted of all the warriors of Kamehameha I.) Kekāuluohi was looked on as the family head, and her father’s own trusted kahu and the latter’s kin were her caretakers. Kekāuluohi became Kamehameha’s youngest wife; after Kamehameha’s death his son Liholiho (Kamehameha II) took her as one of his wives.

Around 1821 Kamehameha II gave Kekāuluohi to his friend Charles Kanaʻina. By Kanaʻina she had a son Prince William Charles Lunalilo, born on January 31, 1835; he succeeded Kamehameha V as king. Kekāuluohi succeeded her half-sister Kīna‘u as Kuhina Nui. Kekāuluohi was a co-signer with Kamehameha III of Hawai‘i’s first Constitution in 1840. Kekāuluohi became a member of the Protestant church of the missionaries. The Hawai‘i State Archives is located in the Kekāuluohi Building on the ʻIolani Palace Grounds just behind the Kanaʻina Building (Old Archives Building.)

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

“Call the little baby Kīna’u.”

When the Gerrit and Laura Judd’s daughter was born, July 5, 1831, Kīna‘u wanted to adopt her – the Judd’s said, “We don’t give away our children.” At the girl’s christening, Kīna’u said, ‘Call the little baby Kīna’u.’ They did, and the Judd family continues the tradition today. The Judd’s child was not the only missionary child named for Hawaiian Chiefs or Chiefesses.

Maria Kapule Whitney was named for Kauai Chiefess Kapule, wife of Kauai’s King Kaumualiʻi. The Ruggles’ daughter was named Sarah Trumbull Kaumuali’i Ruggles. (Some suggest her Hawaiian name was Ka‘amuali‘i.) Lucia Kamāmalu Holman was named after King Kamehameha II’s wife. Elisabeth “Lizzie” Kaʻahumanu Bingham was named for Ka‘ahumanu, Kamehameha I’s favorite wife. Mary Kekāuluohi Clark was named for Kekāuluohi, who later became Kuhina Nui (as Kaʻahumanu III;) Kekāuluohi was mother of King Lunalilo.) Harriet Keōpūolani Williston Richards was named for the mother of King Kamehameha II and III. Douglass Hoapili Baldwin was named for the Governor of Maui.

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Huliheʻe, Its Owners and Visitors

In 1838, John Adams Kuakini built Huliheʻe as his primary residence. When Kuakini died Huliheʻe passed to his hānai son, William Pitt Leleiōhoku. Leleiōhoku died a few months later, leaving Huliheʻe to his wife, Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani. Kamehameha IV (Ruth’s half-brother) signed a lease with Princess Ruth for Huliheʻe; the King and Queen Emma moved to Kona for a 4-month stay in 1858. In May, 1861, Lady Jane Franklin, widow of a famed explorer, visited the palace. When King Lunalilo became ill, Princess Ruth and Queen Emma urged him to recover at Huliheʻe; he later returned to Honolulu and died shortly thereafter.

Princess Ruth died in her hale pili at Huliheʻe. Shortly after King Kalākaua finished building ʻIolani Palace (1882,) he purchased Huliheʻe from Pauahi’s estate in 1885 and turned Huliheʻe into his summer residence. Kalākaua died in 1891 and his wife, Queen Kapiʻolani, inherited the palace. Upon her death in 1899, the property went to her nephews, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole and Prince David Kawānanakoa. In 1925, the Territory of Hawaiʻi purchased the property then turned it over to the Daughters of Hawaiʻi to run it as a museum (which they continue to do today.)