House of Laanui
Encyclopedia
The House of Laanui is a family of heirs to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii
collateral to the House of Kamehameha
. Both houses are branches of the House of Keōua Nui
.
family names for royal houses was only introduced into Hawaii in the 19th century. The male line of Kalokuokamaile
stopped after the marriage of Chiefess Kaohelelani
to Nuhi. After this the line continues as the House of Laanui, using the name of the son of Nuhi and Kaohelelani, rather than being called House of Nuhi. Theresa Owana Laanui was the last to use the Laanui surname. The surviving descendants use the Wilcox family name, and include English and Italian descent after Theresa's marriage to Robert William Wilcox
.
Hawaiian royal houses, unlike European royal houses, continued after the extinction of the male line through the female line.
of the island of Hawaii
, and from the island of Maui
. The dynastic line was established by Kalokuokamaile
who was the eldest half-brother of King Kamehameha I
, who established the reigning House of Kamehameha
. Kalokuokamaile was the son of High Chief Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui
and High Chiefess Kahikikala-o-kalani of Western Maui.
Kalokuokamaile's paternal ancestry makes his descendants the closest surviving collateral relatives of the Kamehameha reigning house. From his paternal grandmother, Kamakaimoku, daughter of Chief Kua Nuuanu, an Oahu chief descended from King Umi
's youngest son Kumalae of Hilo. This maternal grandmother was also the half-sister of Heulu, the father of Keawe-a-Heulu
, ancestor of House of Kalakaua
.
The ancestry of Kalokuokamaile’s mother High Chiefess Kahikikala-o-kalani was of a cadet branch of the Royal House of Maui. His mother was daughter of High Chief Kalahumoku
, of Hāna, Kaupo and Kipahulu
, by his wife, High Chiefess Kalani Kaumehameha. On her father side, she descended from Lono-Honua-Kini, King of Maui, through his youngest daughter the Princess Kuhala of Maui. Through his mother and father, Kalokuokamaile descended from the island rulers of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and (more distantly) Kauai.
of Kahikinui and Honuaula descent. Kaohelelani married Nuhi, who was noble but not a ruling chief. Rather than being called the House of Nuhi, the House continued under the name of their son, Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
. Gideon's male line came to end in 1944 after the death of Theresa Owana Laanui, the last female descendants.
Her descendants:
s of Portugal
, since they are not descendants of the last monarch. The claims of succession are from Lunalilo
, the last descendant of Keōua Nui to sit on the Hawaiian throne, while the Kawananakoas are successor of Queen Liliuokalani. The Kalakaua and Kawananakoa descend from Kalaninuiamamao
while the Keōua Nui descend from Keeaumoku Nui
, who were both brothers and sons of Keaweikekahialiiokamoku the last unquestioned Alii Aimoku of the Island of Hawaii. These two brothers were the main forces in the war of succession that followed Keawe's death, and the battle between their descendants, for the position of sovereign of Hawaii continues. The Kawananakoa pretender, Prince Quentin Kawananakoa, is the ninth-cousin-twice removed of Noa Kalokuokamaile.
, who attended the Chiefs' Children's School. Each of the 15 royal children were declared eligible to succeed to the Hawaiian throne by King Kamehameha III
with approval of the House of Nobles.
Although Princess Elizabeth was childless she adopted her only niece Theresa Owana Laanui as her heir. The Kawananakoa are cousins to royal family members who attended the school; they are not as close as the niece and aunt relation.
With Theresa's second marriage to military and political leader Robert William Wilcox
(Hawaii's first Delegate to Congress), the Laanui also claimed a closer lineage to the Kings of Maui through the line of Wilcox's ancestor Lonomakaihonua, the brother of Kaulahea II, King of Maui. However, the Kawananakoas are closer in descent to the House of Maui, descended from King Kekaulike, son of Kaulahea II.
Members of the Laanui family sometimes claimed the titles of prince
and princess
, as a matter of tradition and respect of their ancient native Hawaiians ancestry.
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
collateral to the House of Kamehameha
House of Kamehameha
The House of Kamehameha , or the Kamehameha Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the unification of the islands by Kamehameha I in 1810 and the death of Kamehameha V in 1872...
. Both houses are branches of the House of Keōua Nui
House of Keoua
The House of Keōua Nui or simply House of Keōua, was a non-ruling noble family of Ancient Hawaii from which the reigning family of Kamehameha I and Lunalilo were descended...
.
History
The European-style use of patrilinealPatrilineality
Patrilineality is a system in which one belongs to one's father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritance of property, names or titles through the male line as well....
family names for royal houses was only introduced into Hawaii in the 19th century. The male line of Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile , was a Hawaiian chief and first-born son of Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui and half-brother of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. He was the progenitor of the House of Kalokuokamaile.- Biography :He was born on the island of Maui...
stopped after the marriage of Chiefess Kaohelelani
Kaohelelani
-Life:She was born in the District of Hāna on the island of Maui in the mid to late 18th century. Her mother was High Chiefess Kaloiokalani of the royal family of Kahikinui and Honuaula...
to Nuhi. After this the line continues as the House of Laanui, using the name of the son of Nuhi and Kaohelelani, rather than being called House of Nuhi. Theresa Owana Laanui was the last to use the Laanui surname. The surviving descendants use the Wilcox family name, and include English and Italian descent after Theresa's marriage to Robert William Wilcox
Robert William Wilcox
Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox , nicknamed the Iron Duke of Hawaii, was a native Hawaiian revolutionary soldier and politician. He led uprisings against both the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii under King Kalākaua and the Republic of Hawaii under Sanford Dole, what are now known as the...
.
Hawaiian royal houses, unlike European royal houses, continued after the extinction of the male line through the female line.
Kalokuokamaile
The eldest branch of the House of Keōua Nui is from descendants of chiefs of the Kona districtKona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
of the island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, and from the island of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. The dynastic line was established by Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile , was a Hawaiian chief and first-born son of Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui and half-brother of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. He was the progenitor of the House of Kalokuokamaile.- Biography :He was born on the island of Maui...
who was the eldest half-brother of King Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
, who established the reigning House of Kamehameha
House of Kamehameha
The House of Kamehameha , or the Kamehameha Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the unification of the islands by Kamehameha I in 1810 and the death of Kamehameha V in 1872...
. Kalokuokamaile was the son of High Chief Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui
Keoua
Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Ahilapalapa, sometimes called Keōua Nui , was an Ancient Hawaiian noble and the father of Kamehameha I, the first King of united Hawaii...
and High Chiefess Kahikikala-o-kalani of Western Maui.
Kalokuokamaile's paternal ancestry makes his descendants the closest surviving collateral relatives of the Kamehameha reigning house. From his paternal grandmother, Kamakaimoku, daughter of Chief Kua Nuuanu, an Oahu chief descended from King Umi
Umi
Umi may refer to:*Umi, Fukuoka, a town in Japan *'Umi-a-Liloa, king of the island of Hawaii*Umi Ryuzaki, a character in the fictional manga series Magic Knight Rayearth*UMI, Universal Mobile Interface...
's youngest son Kumalae of Hilo. This maternal grandmother was also the half-sister of Heulu, the father of Keawe-a-Heulu
Keawe-a-Heulu
Keaweaheulu Kaluaapana was a Hawaiian high chief and maternal great-grandfather of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliuokalani...
, ancestor of House of Kalakaua
House of Kalakaua
The House of Kalākaua, or the Kalākaua Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the assumption of King David Kalākaua to the throne in 1874 and the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893. Liliuokalani died in 1917, leaving only cousins as heirs...
.
The ancestry of Kalokuokamaile’s mother High Chiefess Kahikikala-o-kalani was of a cadet branch of the Royal House of Maui. His mother was daughter of High Chief Kalahumoku
Kalahumoku
Kalahumoku II was a Hawaiian High Chief and maternal grandfather of Kalokuokamaile, the progneitor of the Kalokuokamaile Dynasty.He was the son of the High Chief Mopua of Hana and the High Chiefess Kauaamano...
, of Hāna, Kaupo and Kipahulu
Kipahulu
Kīpahulu is a village in the Hāna district of Maui, Hawaii. It is a sustainable farm community located in a remote area in the southeast part of Maui.-Location and access:...
, by his wife, High Chiefess Kalani Kaumehameha. On her father side, she descended from Lono-Honua-Kini, King of Maui, through his youngest daughter the Princess Kuhala of Maui. Through his mother and father, Kalokuokamaile descended from the island rulers of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and (more distantly) Kauai.
Laanui-Kalokuokamaile
The male line of Kalokuokamaile went extinct when Kalokuokamaile did to produce a male heir. He was survived by his daughter Princess Kaohelelani, by his wife KaloiokalaniKaloiokalani
Kaloiokalani, a Hawaiian chiefess of Maui descent, was the only known wife of Prince Kalokuokamaile and therefore the matriarch of the still-surviving House of Kalokuokamaile. Her great-great-great-great-granddaughter, Princess Myrtle Kaloiokalani Kinau Wilcox , was her namesake...
of Kahikinui and Honuaula descent. Kaohelelani married Nuhi, who was noble but not a ruling chief. Rather than being called the House of Nuhi, the House continued under the name of their son, Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
Gideon Peleioholani Laanui was a Hawaiian chief who was grandnephew of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. From him descends the House of Laanui.-Early life:...
. Gideon's male line came to end in 1944 after the death of Theresa Owana Laanui, the last female descendants.
Her descendants:
- For daughters, EvaEva Kuwailanimamao CartwrightEva Kuwailanimamao Cartwright was related to the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Eva Kuwailanimamao Cartwright was born March 24, 1881 at Honolulu....
and DaisyDaisy Napulahaokalani CartwrightDaisy Emmalani Napulahaokalani Cartwright was related to the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Daisy Napulahaokalani Cartwright was born February 21, 1879 in Honolulu....
,
(Cartwright-Laanui-Kalokuokamaile) - For grandchildren, Elliot, Dwight, and Emily
(Styne-Cartwright-Laanui-Kalokuokamaile) - For son, RobertRobert Kalanikupuapaikalaninui WilcoxRobert Garibaldi Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Keoua Wilcox was a relative of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Robert Garibaldi Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Keoua Wilcox was born January 17, 1893, a few days after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.His mother was Princess Theresa Owana...
, from who descends many other branches descend.
(Wilcox-Laanui-Kalokuokamaile) - For the most active branch of Robert's descendants under Noa and his mother, OwanaOwana SalazarOwana Kaohelelani Mahaelani-rose Salazar is a musician who is related to the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She used her popularity to promote discussion of Hawaiian sovereignty issues.-Early years:Owana Salazar was born October 30, 1953....
(Wilcox-Laanui-Kalokuokamaile-DeGuair-Salazar) - For daughter, VirginiaVirginia Kaihikapumahana WilcoxVirginia Kahoa Kaahumanu Kaihikapumahana Ninito Wilcox was related to the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Her father was military and political leader Robert Kalanihiapo Wilcox ....
(Wilcox-Laanui-Kalokuokamaile).
For Virginia’s descendants (Miller-Wilcox-Laanui-Kalokuokamaile)
Claims to Throne
Being the only descendants of any of the brothers of Kamehameha, these descendants claim to be the closest surviving relatives of the Kamehameha dynasty. The Laanui claims are similar to the Miguelist pretenderMiguelista
In the history of Portugal, a Miguelista was a supporter of the legitimacy of the king Miguel I of Portugal. The name is also given to those who supported absolutism as form of government, in opposition to the liberals who intended the establishment of a constitutional regime in Portugal....
s of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, since they are not descendants of the last monarch. The claims of succession are from Lunalilo
Lunalilo
Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...
, the last descendant of Keōua Nui to sit on the Hawaiian throne, while the Kawananakoas are successor of Queen Liliuokalani. The Kalakaua and Kawananakoa descend from Kalaninuiamamao
Kalaninuiamamao
Kalaninuiamamao was a Prince of the Big Island of Hawaii, or 1st Alii Nui of Kau, an ancestor of the Queen Liliuokalani. He is probably the Hawaiian chief with the most varied spelling of his name.- Biography :...
while the Keōua Nui descend from Keeaumoku Nui
Keeaumoku Nui
Kalani Kama Keeaumoku-nui was Prince of the Big Island of Hawaii and high chief of the Kona district and part of Kohala district and grandfather of Kamehameha I. He was a Pio chief which was considered among royalties of the highest rank in the realm. Through his mother and father he was descended...
, who were both brothers and sons of Keaweikekahialiiokamoku the last unquestioned Alii Aimoku of the Island of Hawaii. These two brothers were the main forces in the war of succession that followed Keawe's death, and the battle between their descendants, for the position of sovereign of Hawaii continues. The Kawananakoa pretender, Prince Quentin Kawananakoa, is the ninth-cousin-twice removed of Noa Kalokuokamaile.
Other claims
The Laanui are the closest descendants of Princess Elizabeth KekaaniauElizabeth Kekaaniau
Elizabeth Kekaaniau Laanui Pratt or Elizabeth Kekaikuihala Kekaaniauokalani Kalaninuiohilaukapu Laanui was a great grandniece of Kamehameha I, being a great granddaughter of Prince Kalokuokamaile, the older brother of Kamehameha I, founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:She was born September 12,...
, who attended the Chiefs' Children's School. Each of the 15 royal children were declared eligible to succeed to the Hawaiian throne by King Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
with approval of the House of Nobles.
Although Princess Elizabeth was childless she adopted her only niece Theresa Owana Laanui as her heir. The Kawananakoa are cousins to royal family members who attended the school; they are not as close as the niece and aunt relation.
With Theresa's second marriage to military and political leader Robert William Wilcox
Robert William Wilcox
Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox , nicknamed the Iron Duke of Hawaii, was a native Hawaiian revolutionary soldier and politician. He led uprisings against both the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii under King Kalākaua and the Republic of Hawaii under Sanford Dole, what are now known as the...
(Hawaii's first Delegate to Congress), the Laanui also claimed a closer lineage to the Kings of Maui through the line of Wilcox's ancestor Lonomakaihonua, the brother of Kaulahea II, King of Maui. However, the Kawananakoas are closer in descent to the House of Maui, descended from King Kekaulike, son of Kaulahea II.
Members of the Laanui family sometimes claimed the titles of prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
and princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
, as a matter of tradition and respect of their ancient native Hawaiians ancestry.