Images of Old Hawaiʻi

  • Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Ali’i / Chiefs / Governance
    • American Protestant Mission
    • Buildings
    • Collections
    • Economy
    • Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings
    • General
    • Hawaiian Traditions
    • Other Summaries
    • Mayflower Summaries
    • Mayflower Full Summaries
    • Military
    • Place Names
    • Prominent People
    • Schools
    • Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks
    • Voyage of the Thaddeus
  • Collections
  • Contact
  • Follow

March 17, 2025 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the “Apostle of Ireland”, he is the primary patron saint of the island.

Legend credits St. Patrick with teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, using it to illustrate the Christian teaching of three persons (the Father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit) in one God.  (Shamrocks are a central symbol for St Patrick’s Day.)  St Patrick is also credited with ridding Ireland of snakes, chasing them into the sea.

St. Patrick features in many stories in the Irish oral tradition and there are many customs connected with his feast day.  March 17, popularly known as St. Patrick’s Day, is believed to be his death date and is the date celebrated as his feast day.

St. Patrick has never been formally canonized by a Pope; nevertheless, various Christian churches declare that he is a Saint in Heaven (he is included in the List of Saints.)

So, today, we celebrate the death of St Patrick; we also celebrate the “birth” of Kauikeaouli.

On the night of his birth, the chiefs gathered about the mother.  Early in the morning the child was born but as it appeared to be stillborn.

Then came Kaikioʻewa from some miles away, close to Kuamoʻo, and brought with him his prophet (Kamaloʻihi or Kapihe) who said, “The child will not die, he will live.”

The child was well cleaned and laid upon a consecrated place and the seer (kaula) took a fan (peʻahi), fanned the child, prayed, and sprinkled him with water, at the same time reciting a prayer.

The child began to move, then to make sounds and at last he came to life. The seer gave the boy the name of “The red trail” (Keaweaweʻula) signifying the roadway by which the god descends from the heavens.  The name Kauikeaouli means “placed in the dark clouds.”

Kauikeaouli was the second son of Keōpūolani by Kamehameha, and she called him Kīwalaʻo after her own father. She was the daughter of Kiwalaʻo and Kekuʻiapoiwa Liliha, both children of Kalola and hence Keōpūolani was a niʻaupiʻo and a naha chiefess, and the niʻaupiʻo rank descended to her children and could not be lost by them.  (Kamakau)

Kauikeaouli was only nine years old when his older brother Liholiho sailed to England; Liholiho died on that trip, leaving Kauikeaouli successor to the rule over Hawaiʻi. As he was then too young to assume command, affairs were administered by his guardians, Kaʻahumanu and Kalanimōku, and the other chiefs under them.

We more commonly reference Kauikeaouli as Kamehameha III.  He was the longest reigning Hawaiian monarch, serving 29-years, from 1825 to 1854.

There is scarcely in history, ancient or modem, any King to whom so many public reforms and benefits can be ascribed, as the achievements of his reign. Yet what King has had to contend with so many difficulties as King Kamehameha III? (The Polynesian, 1855)

“That the existence of the King, chiefs and the natives, can only be preserved by having a government efficient for the administration of enlightened justice, both to natives and the subjects of foreign powers residing in the islands, and that chiefly through missionary efforts the natives have made such progress in education and knowledge, as to justify the belief that by further training, they may be rendered capable of conducting efficiently the affairs of government; but that they are not at present so far advanced.”  (Kamehameha IV, in Obituary to his hānai father)

In private life, Kamehameha III was mild, kind, affable, generous and forgiving. He was never more happy than when free from the cares and trappings of state. He could enjoy himself sociably with his friends, who were much attached to him. (The Polynesian, 1855)

Having associated much, while a boy, with foreigners, he continued to the last to be fond of their company. Without his personal influence, the law to allow them to hold lands in fee simple could never have been enacted.  (The Polynesian, 1855)

It is hardly possible to conceive any King more generally beloved than was Kamehameha III; more universally obeyed, or more completely sovereign in the essential respect of independent sovereignty, that of governing his subjects free from any influence or control coming from beyond the limits of his own jurisdiction.  (The Polynesian, 1855)

Under his leadership, Hawaiʻi changed from an isolated island kingdom to a recognized member of the modem world. Many of the things he did as king still influence life in Hawaiʻi today.  (Kamehameha Schools Press)

The following are only some of the many accomplishments of Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli:)

  • On June 6, 1825, Kauikeaouli was proclaimed king of Hawaiʻi. To the people he said, “Where are you, chiefs, guardians, commoners?  I greet you.  Hear what I say! My kingdom I give to God.  The righteous chief shall be my chief, the children of the commoners who do you right shall be my people, my kingdom shall be one of letters.”  (Kamakau – Kamehameha Schools Press)
  • June 7, 1839, he signed the Declaration of Rights (called Hawai‘i’s Magna Charta) that, in part, noted, “God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the earth, in unity and blessedness. God has also bestowed certain rights alike on all men and all chiefs, and all people of all lands.”
  • June 17, 1839 he issued the Edict of Toleration permitting religious freedom for Catholics in the same way as it had been granted to the Protestants.
  • June 28, 1839 he founded Chief’s Children’s School (The Royal School;) the main goal of this school was to groom the next generation of the highest ranking chiefs’ children of the realm and secure their positions for Hawaiʻi’s Kingdom.  (He selected missionaries Amos and Juliette Cooke to teach the 16 royal children and run the school.)
  • October 8, 1840 (the King was about 27-years-old) he enacted the Constitution of 1840 that, in part, changed the government from one of an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. It provided for a separation of powers between three branches of government, with executive power in the hands of the king, the kuhina nui (similar to a prime minister) and four governors; a bicameral legislative body consisting of a house of nobles and a house of representatives, with the house of representatives elected by the people; and a judiciary system, including a supreme court.
  • April 27, 1846 he declared that “the forests and timber growing therein shall be considered government property, and under the special care of the Minister of the Interior …;” effectively starting the process of protecting our mauka watersheds.
  • January 27, 1848 through March 7, 1848 he participated in what we refer to as the “Great Māhele” that was a reformation of the land system in Hawaiʻi and allowed private ownership.
  • June 14, 1852 he enacted the Constitution of 1852 that expanded on the Declaration of Rights, granted universal (adult male) voting rights for the first time and changed the House of Nobles from a hereditary body to one where members served by appointment by the King. It also institutionalized the three branches of government and defined powers along the lines of the American Constitution.
  • Toward the end of Kauikeaouli’s reign there were 423-schools in Hawaiʻi with an enrollment of over twelve-thousand-students. Most of the schools were elementary schools using Hawaiian as the language of instruction.

Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) died December 15, 1854 (at the age of 41.)

Kauikeaouli’s exact birth date is not known; however, the generally accepted date is August 11, 1813.  Never-the-less, Kauikeaouli was apparently an admirer of Saint Patrick and chose to celebrate his birthday on March 17.  Happy Birthday and Cheers to Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III.

© 2025 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Kamehameha_III,_1825
Kauikeaouli Birthsite
Kaniakapupu-KamehamehaII_home_in_Nuuanu
Kamehameha_III-Kauikeaouli
Kamehameha_III_and_Kalama,_ca._1850
Kamehameha_III,_retouched_photo_by_J._J._Williams_(PP-97-7-011)-ca_1850
Guinness
Kamehameha_I
Royal School ,_probably_after_1848
Ke_Kumu_Kanawai-Constitution-1840
Great Mahele Book
Keōpūolani-(1778–1823)mother Kamehameha II, Kamehameha III-1790
Kamehameha_Dynasty_Tomb_-_Royal_Mausoleum,_Honolulu,_HI
Saint_Patrick

Filed Under: General, Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance Tagged With: Kamehameha III, Keopuolani, Hawaii, Kona, Kamehameha, Great Mahele, Hawaiian Constitution, Kauikeaouli

November 7, 2024 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kūnuiākea

“‘The Kuakoa publicly affirmed,’ says the Elele, ‘that A. K. Kūnuiākea is the illegitimate child of Kamehameha III, while Kaeo and Lahilahi were his legal parents.’”

“This is a very important matter, and should not concealed. There are many witnesses to it; it has been universally talked of; Kamehameha made no secret of the fact that this was his son, and there are an abundance of witnesses to his saying so; there are also tokens such as are wont to be preserved as proofs.”

“This is a strange thing for the present age, but it was considered perfectly proper in the age that is past. That was the nature of the relation between Liloa and Umi, (his illegitimate male son,) Peleiholani and Kaleiopuu, Kahekili and Kamehameha I, and the same was the relation between Kauikeaouli and this chief (Kūnuiākea).”

“Undoubtedly it is an offence in this age, but what is the best course, to utter a falsehood or to speak out the truth? We prefer to tell the truth.”

“A child resulting from this kind of relation between aliis of high rank was much prized in old times, and was greatly esteemed by those who were jealous of their chiefly rank. …”

“The history of children begotten after this (illegitimate) fashion by parents of this sort is well-known. These histories merely show what has been done secretly; the features of the parents are seen in their children and this is a shame.”  (Elele Poakolu, Saturday press, April 28, 1883)

Kūnuiākea “was born June 19, 1851 at the premises known as ‘Kuaihelani,’ now the present site of the central Union church.” (Independent, March 11, 1903) [Now part of the Capitol grounds.]

“The Honorable Kūnuiākea was baptized in the Anglican faith, by the Lord Bishop of Honolulu, at the Church at Peleula, and his name he was baptized with is Albert Fredrick Kūnuiākea Oiwiaulani Koenaokalani.”

“Present was his hanai mother, the dowager Queen K. Hakaleleponi, and the Honorable Col. Peter Young Kekuaokalani, and Col. D. Kalakaua.” (Kuokoa, 11/22/1862)

“Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III let the whole world know that Lahilahi Young’s twin sons were his when he gave them their names.”

“Kiwalao was the name which he gave the boy he and Kalama took home. Kūnuiākea Ke-Kukailimoku was the name he gave the boy kept by Lahilahi and her husband, Joshua Kaeo”.

“Kiwalao had been the name of Kauikeaouli’s grandfather, the unfortunate successor to Kalaniopuu whom Kamehameha the Great had killed in his first successful battle.”

“Kiwalao means ‘the shining aura of the kapus, seen from head to foot of the sacred person.’ Kūnuiākea was an ancient name, which means Ku, the founder. Ke Kukailimoku was the name of Kamehameha’s war god. … Fate, or the curse which hung over lolanl palace, again thwarted Kauikeaouli’s happiness in his sons. Kiwalao, their child, died before reaching his first birthday.” (Clarice Taylor)

“As a hānai of Queen Kalama (Kauikeaouli’s wife), [Kunuikea] had been raised in the household of his biological father. Although a son of the mōʻī (king), he was not eligible to succeed his father because the constitution stated that succession was limited to legally begotten children or named heirs.”

“As Kaiukeaouli was discouraged from naming his biological son his heir, his hānai son Alexander Liholiho became Kamehameha IV.”  (Iolani Palace)

Kūnuiākea “was better known as Prince Albert, called ‘Prince’ only by courtesy for from childhood he was brought up by being a ‘hanai’ child by adoption of King Kamehameha III and his consort Hazeleleponi Kapakuhaili, better known as Queen Kalama, also a High Chiefess and the child was a favorite figure in and about grounds during those days.”

“Even at the death of his reputed father he remained with Queen Kalama up to the time of her death with the exception of the days he attended school at Ahuimanu under the tuition of the Roman Catholic Mission with Father Walsh as tutor.”

“He was a man of words and that loudly to His people called him pupulo (not crazy but nutty to use a slang phrase on account of being talkative in an indiscreet manner).  It is said of him that thus trait befell him when he was yet In his infancy and it came about in this wise:  …”

“The King his reputed father visited the child in disguise as he was wont to do at times when going out among his people and found the child in his cradle asleep unbeknown to the nurse kahu who was away washing and awaking him took him up and nestled him on his lap, he being very fond of him knowing him to be of his own flesh.”

“When the nurse returned (who died a few years ago) and saw the King with the child she rebuked him saying: ‘You have ruined my charge.’ And from that time so it is said by those who pretend to know began this trait in him, remaining with him to the end as a punishment of the gods upon the faultless child who was unaware of his fate.”

“The reason for this was the reverence and awe in which the King was held, his rank being such that he was considered sacred kapu next to that of a god and deemed likely to be worshipped by the other chiefs of lower rank and by the people.”

“The first Liholiho (King Kamehameha II), the High Chiefess Nahienaena, the King’s sister was held in the same respect they being considered alii kapu (sacred chiefs) for they were the children of first cousins (being of the first blood almost a brother and sister), Kamehameha I and the High Chiefess Keopuolani.”

“But apart from all of these traits in his character he was generous to others not of his people or retainers and a steadfast friend. On account of certain traits in him their loyal friends and retainers did not stay around him although when called upon they always responded and respected him.”

“It is true that he might have been King but it was not so decided his character being too well known and he was feared by the people for they mistrusted him.”

“His first fiancee in his young days was the late Princess Likelike their betrothal being much desired by those in authority as well as the other chiefs.”

“But through some reason or other the engagement was broken she later becoming Mrs A S Cleghorn.  In 1878 he was married to Mary Poli the widow of the Rev Z Poli who now survives him a widow for the second time.”

“After being released from a spendthrift guardianship under which he had been placed by those who cared for his welfare, the people of this city, to show some confidence in him elected him as a Representative of the Legislature of 1882.”

“But he was never again reelected till under the Provisional Government he was elected as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1895.” (Independent, March 11, 1903)

“When the bells of the Fort St Cathedral tolled a requim for Prince Albert Kekukailimoku Kūnuiākea they tolled the passing of the last of the royal family of the Great Kamehameha.”

“Prince Kūnuiākea died at the age of 52 on March 10, 1903 at his beach road home. … The prince as not the last descendant by any means.  Other children of Kamehameha who were not recognized as members of the royal family have descendants living today.” (Clarice Taylor)

© 2024 Ho‘okuleana LLC

Filed Under: Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Prominent People Tagged With: Hawaii, Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III, Albert Kunuiakea, Kunuiakea

September 24, 2024 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Washington Place

Captain John Dominis was an Italian-American ship captain and merchant from New York who had been trading in the Pacific since the 1820s.

In the 1840s, he purchased property on Beretania Street.  There, he started to build a home for his family, Mary Lambert Dominis (his wife) and John Owen Dominis (his son.)

The original central portion, built in 1844-1847, was designed and executed in Greek Revival Style, with supplies ordered from Boston.

Captain Dominis reportedly embarked on several trading voyages while the house was being built, using the profits to pay off accumulated debts and resume operations (it’s not clear how many trips were required to build the new home.)

It is a two-story structure with partial basement. Various additions and alterations have occurred over the years.  Cellar walls and foundations are of coral stone; Walls are coral stone (approximately 2½-feet thick) faced with cement to simulate stone work.  The second floor is wood frame.

In 1847, on a voyage to the China Sea, Captain Dominis was lost at sea.

The grounds were said to have been planted “by Mrs. Captain Dominis as the first private garden in Honolulu, carefully watered until the yard was a handsome, cool retreat.” By 1848 the garden was sufficiently interesting for a visitor to ask for a list of the plants in the yard.

Mary Dominis then rented out the spare bedroom to American Commissioner Anthony Ten Eyck.  Impressed with the white manor and grand columns out front, Ten Eyck said it reminded him of Mount Vernon, George Washington’s mansion and that it should be named “Washington Place.”  He wrote a letter to RC Wyllie stating such.

King Kamehameha III, who concurred, Proclaimed as ‘Official Notice,’ “It has pleased His Majesty the King to approve of the name of Washington Place given this day by the Commissioner of the United States, to the House and Premises of Mrs. Dominis and to command that they retain that name in all time coming.”  (February 22, 1848)

In 1862, John Owen Dominis married Lydia Kamakaʻeha (also known as Lydia Kamakaʻeha Pākī.)  Lydia Dominis described Washington Place “as comfortable in its appointments as it is inviting in its aspect.”

Mary Dominis died on April 25, 1889, and the premises went to her son, John Owen Dominis, Governor of Oʻahu.

Lydia was eventually titled Princess and later Queen Liliʻuokalani, in 1891.  John Owen died shortly after becoming Prince consort (making Liliʻuokalani the second widow of the mansion.)  Title then passed to Queen Liliʻuokalani.

Liliʻuokalani continued to occupy Washington Place until her death on November 11, 1917.

Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, one of the heirs to the estate of Queen Liliʻuokalani, suggested that the Territory acquire Washington Place as the Executive Mansion. The Legislature appropriated funds for the purchase, and in May, 1921, the property was acquired by the Territory.

In 1922, major additions were made. These included the glassed-in lanai, the porte-cochere and the rear one-story wing with Dining Room and Kitchen. Family bedrooms were added to the second-story of this wing, later.

Washington Place became the official home of the Governor of Hawaiʻi when it was formally opened on April 21, 1922, by Governor Wallace Rider Farrington.

In 1954, the large Covered Terrace was constructed and in 1959, the second-story TV room was built above the glassed-in lanai. An elevator and the metal fire escape were added in 1963.

The Beretania Street and Miller Street sides and a portion of the rear line are enclosed with a wrought iron fence set on a concrete base.

The original tract, as owned by the Dominis family and Queen Liliʻuokalani, comprised about 1.46 acres. The Territory of Hawaiʻi acquired additional property on Miller Street, making a total of about 3.1 acres.

Across the street from the State Capitol on Beretania Street, Washington Place was the executive mansion for the territorial governors from 1918 to 1959, and, after Hawaiʻi became the 50th state, the state governor’s mansion, from 1959 to 2002.

Washington Place remains the official residence of the governor however, a new house, built on the property in 2002, is now the personal residence of the Governor of Hawai‘i.  (governor-hawaii-gov)

© 2024 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Filed Under: Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Buildings, Prominent People Tagged With: Prince Kuhio, John Dominis, Washington Place, Wallace R Farrington, Hawaii, Oahu, Liliuokalani, Queen Liliuokalani, Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III

July 27, 2024 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

“Admiral of the Sandwich Islands”

On November 27, 1823, Kamehameha II (Liholiho) was the first Ali‘i to travel to England.  He was accompanied by Kamāmalu, the queen, Boki and his wife, Liliha, Kekūanāoʻa, Manuia, James Young and Kapihe.  (Alexander)

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.’

“He was decently clad in European clothes and spoke passable English; he showed me papers authorizing him to pilot us through these waters.”  (Camille de Roquefeuil; Birkett)

Back to Liholiho’s trip … it was taken partly by curiosity to see foreign lands, and partly by a desire to secure protection for his country, especially against Russia.

A council of the high chiefs was held at Lahaina to consider the subject, at which Kaahumanu was acknowledged as regent with Kalanimōku as her prime-minister, and Kauikeaouli confirmed as heir-apparent.

The king embarked in an English whale-ship, “L’Aigle,” commanded by Captain Starbuck, an American.  (Alexander)

L’Aigle arrived on May 17, 1824 in Portsmouth, and the next day the entourage moved into the Caledonian Hotel in London.  On the 12th of June, Manuia, was attacked by the measles; the next day, the king sickened, and by the 19th, all of the party were afflicted with the same disease … in a few days, the queen became dangerously ill.  (Jarves)

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.

On the 4th of July, Liholiho was sufficiently well to give an audience to Richard Charlton, Esq., the newly appointed consul to his dominions. By the 8th, no hopes of the queen were entertained; the mutual grief of the royal couple was affecting.

They held each other in a warm and protracted embrace, while the thought of dying so early in their career, so far from their loved islands and friends, caused the tears to gush freely. In the evening she died.  (Jarves)

The king was supported by pillows, and said little, but repeated the words, “I am dying, I am dying:” within the curtains of the bed one of the chiefs sat continually, with his face towards the king, and his eyes fixed on him, in conformity, as they said, with their native customs.

The day of the 8th of July was a very painful one, and the dying agony of the sufferer was long; for it was not until four o’clock of the morning of the 14th that Tamehameha II breathed his last.  (Byron)

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.

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 remains of the sovereigns had been placed in lead coffins, enclosed in wood, covered with crimson velvet, and richly ornamented. Suitable inscriptions in English and Hawaiian told the rank and age of the deceased.

The group headed back to the Islands on the 28th of September. On their voyage they had an opportunity of observing several other countries. The frigate touched at Rio, St. Catherines, at Valparaiso.  (Jarves)

Early in the morning of February 8, 1825, “Kapihe was affected with an apparent determination of blood to the head, and, notwithstanding every effort to save him, he died in the course of the day.”

“The attack seemed to have been coming on for some days; and, as it afterwards appeared, an abscess had formed on the brain.”

“The death of Kapihe may be considered as a serious loss to his native country: his natural intelligence had been cultivated and improved by his various voyages, and he had the most anxious desire to be useful at home.”

“We buried him out at sea off the Couronilla point, because the bigotry of the Chilians scarcely permits permanent repose to the remains of such as are not within the pale of the Roman church; and as Kapihe was not even christened, we substituted a prayer, written on the occasion, for the church service, when we committed his body to the deep.”  (Byron)

The Blonde arrived back in Honolulu on May 6, 1825.  Liholiho and Kamāmalu were buried on the grounds of the ʻIolani Palace in a coral house meant to be the Hawaiian version of the tombs Liholiho had seen in London.  They were eventually moved to Mauna ‘Ala, the Royal Mausoleum.

Kamehameha II was succeeded by his younger brother Kauikeaouli, who became King Kamehameha III.

Kapihe had one daughter, Kalama.

When it came to selecting a wife, Kamehameha III chose Kalama, although Kamanele, daughter of Gov. Adams, had been proposed as the most suitable, as to age, rank and education.

“Princes, doubtless, have a right to choose their own companions, though if they expect their offspring to enjoy a peaceful possession of the throne, the constitution, established usage, or will of the nation, should be respected. No small agitation existed for a time. His wishes in this matter, however, eventually prevailed.”  (Bingham)

The image shows Kapihe (Naihekukui, Captain Jack, Jack the Pilot.)  It was drawn by Arago.

© 2024 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Filed Under: Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance Tagged With: Naihekukui, Liholiho, Kamehameha II, Kapihe, Hawaii, Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III, Kamamalu, Kalama

March 17, 2024 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

“The child will not die, he will live.”

A mile south from Kahaluʻu, and five from Kailua, lies the village of Keauhou, once supremely sacred, and a proudest of the royal lands on the big island of Hawaii. (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

So exceedingly tabu, indeed, was Keauhou, that if even so much as a shadow of a commoner fell toward it from near at hand he would be put to death for his heinous sacrilege! (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

Therefore, in the morning, when shadows fell seaward, travelers had perforce to swim across the bay from its point of Ha‘ikaua on the north to that of Kaukulaelae on the opposite shore, or vice versa. (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

In the afternoon, however, when shadows fell inland, passers-by kept at a respectful distance behind the pali of ‘Ahuʻula – Feather Cape or Cloak – that enfolded from the rear the low portion of the village between it and the curve of its splendid white sand beach of former days. (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

Most tabu of all the tabu chiefesses of Keauhou, in her day, was Keōpūolani, whom Kamehameha the Great made his tabu state wife (wahine kapu). (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

While she was carrying the child several of the chiefs begged to have the bringing up of the child, but she refused until her kahu, Kaluaikonahale, known as Kuakini, came with the same request. (Kamakau)

She bade him be at her side when the child was born lest someone else get possession of it. He was living this side of Keauhou in North Kona, and Keōpūolani lived on the opposite side. (Kamakau)

On the night of the birth the chiefs gathered about the mother. (Kamakau)

The queen-mother had just bathed in the cold water near the southern extremity of Keauhou’s formerly picturesque white sand beach, and a few steps into the sea, where slowly gushed the now mostly destroyed sea-spring of Kuhalalua. (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

There, in a shallow seat formed by a hollow in the top of a large rock, the mother had sat as she enjoyed her bath. (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

Suddenly she was seized with her birth pains. Aided by her attendants she struggled to the near-by shore. There, grasping the trunk of a coconut tree to support and sustain her, she gave birth. (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

Early in the morning, the child was born but as it appeared to be stillborn, Kuakini did not want to take it. (Kamakau)

Then came Kaikioʻewa from some miles away, close to Kuamoʻo, and brought with him his prophet who said, “The child will not die, he will live.” (Kamakau)

This man, Kamaloʻihi or Kapihe by name, came from the Napua line of kahunas descended from Makuakaumana whose god was Kaʻonohiokala (similar to the child of God). (Kamakau)

The child was well cleaned and laid upon a consecrated place and the seer (kaula) took a fan (peʻahi), fanned the child, prayed, and sprinkled it with water, at the same time reciting a prayer addressed to the child of God, something like that used by the Roman Catholics. (Kamakau)

The child began to move, then to make sounds, and at last it came to life. (Kamakau)

The child was named Kauikeaouli, a name from his ancestors, that being the name of his grandfather, Keōua (Keaoua), the one called Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Kauikeaouli. (Kuokoa Home Rula)

This name puts on high the sacred kapu of Keōua – his chiefly kapu extends above and touches the great heavens, and rests upon the dark clouds. (Kuokoa Home Rula)

So therefore, the importance of the names Keaouli and Keaoua, is the dark, black, thick, esteemed cloud. This cloud is a rain cloud. (Kuokoa Home Rula)

An Orator of the old times said that the name Kauikeaouli is the bank of clouds that Kapihe, the prophet, saw spread high in the heavens when he was called to go to see if the child that Keōpūolani gave birth to was alive or not alive. (Kuokoa Home Rula)

The tale of the birth of Kauikeaouli, born seemingly without a spark of life, but who was destined by the narrowest margin to return to this world from the spirit realm, that he might become the great King Kamehameha III. (Kelsey and Kekahuna; Maly)

His exact birth date is not known; however, a generally accepted date is August 11, 1813. Never-the-less, Kauikeaouli was apparently an admirer of Saint Patrick and chose to celebrate his birthday on March 17. (Kauikeaouli died December 15, 1854 (age of 41.))

© 2024 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Kamehameha_III,_1825
Kamehameha_III,_1825

Filed Under: Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance Tagged With: Hawaii, Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III, Keopuolani, Keauhou, Kamehameha

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 11
  • Next Page »

Images of Old Hawaiʻi

People, places, and events in Hawaiʻi’s past come alive through text and media in “Images of Old Hawaiʻi.” These posts are informal historic summaries presented for personal, non-commercial, and educational purposes.

Info@Hookuleana.com

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Swim Wear
  • Kohala Shark Hunt
  • Pacific Bakery and Hotel
  • Halo
  • Origin of Species
  • Pan Am
  • From Ocean to Plate

Categories

  • American Revolution
  • General
  • Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance
  • Buildings
  • Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings
  • Hawaiian Traditions
  • Military
  • Place Names
  • Prominent People
  • Schools
  • Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks
  • Economy
  • Voyage of the Thaddeus
  • Mayflower Summaries

Tags

Albatross Al Capone Ane Keohokalole Archibald Campbell Bernice Pauahi Bishop Charles Reed Bishop Downtown Honolulu Eruption Founder's Day George Patton Great Wall of Kuakini Green Sea Turtle Hawaii Hawaii Island Hermes Hilo Holoikauaua Honolulu Isaac Davis James Robinson Kamae Kamaeokalani Kamanawa Kameeiamoku Kamehameha Schools Lalani Village Lava Flow Lelia Byrd Liliuokalani Mao Math Mauna Loa Midway Monk Seal Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Oahu Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Pearl Pualani Mossman Queen Liliuokalani Thomas Jaggar Volcano Waikiki Wake Wisdom

Hoʻokuleana LLC

Hoʻokuleana LLC is a Planning and Consulting firm assisting property owners with Land Use Planning efforts, including Environmental Review, Entitlement Process, Permitting, Community Outreach, etc. We are uniquely positioned to assist you in a variety of needs.

Info@Hookuleana.com

Copyright © 2012-2024 Peter T Young, Hoʻokuleana LLC

 

Loading Comments...