Kekūanāoʻa

Parentage and early life

Kekūanāoʻa was born sometime around the year 1791. In the book: "An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origins and Migrations, and the Ancient History of the Hawaiian People to the Times of Kamehameha", Abraham Fornander states in his notes section on page 223; "Pupuka, an Oahu chief of considerable importance, was father of Inaina, the wife of Nahiolea, and mother of Kekuanaoa, late governor of Oahu". John Papa ʻĪʻī's uncle Nāhiʻōleʻa, the ali'i that took Kalanikapule's side against Kamehameha I and was killed by his cousins, was listed in the newspaper, "Ke Au Okoa" as Kekūanāoʻa's father however, in the chant for Nakanealoha, the name of Kiʻilaweau is mentioned as a "makua". This makes some believe he had two fathers, a tradition called poʻolua. At his death, his parents were identified as Nāhiʻōleʻa and Inaina however, on March 14, 1879, writing in his opinion for the Hawaiian Supreme Court over a probate matter, Justice C.J. Harris wrote: "With regard to Ruth Keelikolani, it appears to me pretty clear that Keawe, No. 3 of Moana’s husbands, was the father of Kanaina the first by Moana ; that this Kanaina had a son, Kiilaweau, who was the father of Kekuanaoa, and Kekuanaoa was the father of Keelikolani". Genealogist differ on the correct line with some believing that Nāhiʻōleʻa and Inaina were his parents and others believing it to be Kiʻilaweau and Moana Wahine's daughter, Kahoowaha.

Kiʻilaweau was an ali'i of the highest rank. While Kekūanāoʻa's children were not as high ranking as Kamehameha II or Kamehameha III, Kekūanāoʻa descends from Keawehanauikawalu and his line was considered high-ranking.

Political career

He was the Royal Governor of Oʻahu 1839–1864. On December 21, 1863 he was made the sixth Kuhina Nui, replacing his daughter who became Crown Princess and heir apparent to the throne. For most of his reign as Kuhina Nui he supported his son Kamehameha V's view of abolishing the position. He held the position until 1864 when the Constitution of 1864 abolished it. He also served as a member of the House of Nobles from 1841–1868, Privy Council 1845–1869, and as President of the Board of Education from 1860. In 1866, Mark Twain wrote of Mataio Kekūanāoʻa: "[A] man of noble presence.." and "[S]eemingly natural and fitted to the place as if he had been born to it...."

The Territorial Building in the Hawaii Capital Historic District was named for him.

Personal life

He was the punahele, or intimate companion of King Kamehameha II in his youth, and followed him to England where the King and Queen Kamāmalu died of measles in 1824. He was able to escape the sickness and return to Hawaii, stabilizing himself in the court by marrying two wives of his late sovereign. His first marriage to Kalehua was from 1822 to 1825, and the product of this marriage was a son named Paʻaula. He married again to Pauahi, the widow of Kamehameha II. Their marriage lasted only months, from November 1825 to her death in February 1826. He is considered the father of her daughter Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani.

He remarried Elizabeth Kīnaʻu, another Kamehameha II widow, who ruled as the Kuhina Nui at the time under the name Kaʻahumanu II. From her he fathered David Kamehameha, Moses Kekūāiwa, Lot Kapuāiwa, Alexander Liholiho, and Victoria Kamāmalu. His sons Alexander and Lot would become King Kamehameha IV and King Kamehameha V. His daughter would become the fifth Kuhina Nui as Kaʻahumanu IV. The third marriage lasted from 1827 until Kīnaʻu's death in 1839. After 6 years as a widower he remarried again in 1845, to the High Chiefess Kaloloahilani. The marriage resulted in the birth of a son on November 28, 1846.