In the words of William Ellis, Liholiho, the “king of the Sandwich Islands was the son of Tamehameha, former king, and Keopuolani … He was born in the eastern part of Hawaii, in the year 1795 or 1796.”
“The name by which he was generally known was Rihoriho, which was only a contraction of Kalaninuirihoriho, literally, the heavens great black – from Kalani, the heavens, nui, great, and rihoriho, applied to any thing burnt to blackness.”
“On public occasions, he was sometimes called Tamehameha, after his father, though names are not always hereditary. Besides these, he had a variety of other names, the most common of which was Iolani. The word lani, heaven or sky, formed a component part in the name of most chiefs of distinction.”
“The early habits of Rihoriho did not warrant any great expectations. His natural disposition was frank and humane.”
“The natives always spoke of him as good natured, except when he was under the influence of ardent spirits: his manners were perfectly free, at the same time dignified, and always agreeable to those who were about him.”
“His mind was naturally inquisitive. The questions he usually presented to foreigners were by no means trifling; and his memory was retentive.”
“His general knowledge of the world was much greater than could have been expected. I have heard him entertain a party of chiefs for hours together, with accounts of different parts of the earth …”
“… describing the extensive lakes, the mountains and mines of North and South America; the elephants and inhabitants of India; the houses, manufactures, &c. of England, with no small accuracy, considering he had never seen them.”
“He had a great thirst for knowledge, and was diligent in his studies. I recollect his remarking one day, when he opened his writing desk, that he expected more advantage from that desk, than from a fine brig belonging to him, lying at anchor opposite the house in which we were sitting.”
“Mr. Bingham and myself were his daily teachers, and have often been surprised at his unwearied perseverance. I have sat beside him at his desk sometimes from nine or ten o’clock in the morning, till nearly sunset, during which his pen has not been out of his hand more than three quarters of an hour, while he was at dinner.”
“We do not know that Christianity exerted any decisive influence on his heart. He was willing to receive the missionaries on their first arrival-availed himself of their knowledge to increase his own …”
“… and, during the latter years of his life, was decidedly favourable to their object; declared his conviction of the truth of Christianity; attended public worship himself on the Sabbath, and recommended the same to his people.”
“His moral character was not marked by that cruelty, rapacity, and insensibility to the sufferings of the people, which frequently distinguish the arbitrary chiefs of uncivilized nations.”
“He appears in general to have been kind; and, in several places on our tour, the mothers shewed us their children, and told us, that when Rihoriho passed that way, he had kissed them, – a condescension they seemed to think much of, and which they will probably remember to the end of their days.”
“But though generous in his disposition, he was addicted to intoxication; whether from natural inclination, or the influence and example of others, is not now to be determined; frequently, to my own knowledge, it has been entirely from the latter.”
“Had he in early life been privileged to associate with individuals whose conduct and principles were favourable, to virtue and religion, there is every reason to suppose his moral character with respect at least to this vice, would have been as irreproachable as his mental habits were commendable. But, alas for him,! it was quite the reverse.”
“Though not distinguished by the ardour and strength of character so conspicuous in his father, he possessed both decision and enterprise: the abolition of the national idolatry was a striking instance of the former; and his voyage to England, of the latter.”
“The motives by which he was induced to undertake that long and hazardous voyage were highly commendable. They were, a desire to see, for himself, countries of which he had heard such various and interesting accounts …”
“a wish to have a personal interview with his majesty the king of Great Britain, or the chief members of the British government, for the purpose of confirming the cession of the Sandwich Islands, and placing himself and his dominions under British protection.”
“It was also his intention to make himself acquainted with the tenor and forms of administering justice in the courts of law the principles of commerce-and other subjects which seemed important to the welfare of the islands.”
“Although the melancholy death of the king and of his queen prevented the accomplishment of these objects so fully as might have been wished, yet no unfriendly feeling is likely to be entertained by the people, as to the cause of it.”
“The account the survivors will convey to their countrymen, of the generous reception they met – the hospitable manner in which they were entertained, while they lived-the high respect paid to their remains, and other tokens of friendship, will not only prevent suspicion, but combine to confirm that attachment and confidence which they have so long felt towards England.”
“No disturbance of the general tranquillity, or change in the government, is to be apprehended from this event. Rihoriho left a younger brother, Kauikeoule, about ten years of age, who will be his successor.”
“A regency will govern during his minority, and the executive authority will probably continue to be exercised by Karaimoku, and the other chiefs with whom Rihoriho left it, when he embarked for England.”
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