Kalanimoku
Encyclopedia
William Pitt Kalanimoku (c. 1768–1827) was a High Chief who functioned similar to a prime minister
of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the reigns of Kamehameha I
, Kamehameha II
and the beginning of the reign of Kamehameha III
. He was called The Iron Cable of Hawaii because of his abilities.
, circa 1768. His father was Kekuamanoha and his mother was Kamakahukilani, the niece of his father. Through his father he was a grandson of Kekaulike, the King or Moi of Maui. Through his mother he was great-grandson of Kekaulike. He was cousin of Kaahumanu, Kaheiheimālie, and Namahana Piia
, Kamehameha's three wives; Kuakini, later served as Governor of Hawaii; and Keeaumoku II, later served as Governor of Maui. His siblings included Boki
, later served as Governor of Oahu; Kahakuhaakoi Wahinepio
, later served as Governor of Maui, and Manono II, the wife of Keaoua Kekuaokalani
. Both his sisters were at one time wives of Kamehameha I which may explain how he gained his power.
At the time, his name was often spelled Karaimoku by the Hawaiians and sometimes Kalaimoku. Other spellings were Crymoku or Crimoku. He adopted the name William Pitt after his contempary the Prime Minister of Great Britain, William Pitt the Younger
. He was frequently addressed as Mr. Pitt or Billy Bitt. He served as Kamehameha I's chief minister and treasurer succeeding his uncle Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi
. He had great natural abilities in both governmental and business affairs. He was well liked and respected by foreigners, who learned from experience to rely on his words. He was called "the iron cable of Hawaii" because of his abilities.
He was baptized a Roman Catholic in 1819 aboard the French ship Uranie, in the presence of Kuhina Nui
(Premier) Kaahumanu and King Kamehameha II. The scene was painted by ship's artist Jacques Arago
(1790—1855), who wrote and illustrated accounts of the Hawaiian Islands during the French expedition.
Kalanimoku led an army against the revolt of Kekuaokalani in December 1819 in the successful battle of Kuamoo.
He served as regent along with Queen Kaahumanu while Kamehameha II traveled to London
in 1823, and to Kamehameha III after Kamehameha II's death in 1824.
In his later years his vision dimmed and one of his eyes was defective. He suffered from dropsy through 1826 and the disease became alarming in the following year. He died at Kamakahonu
(the old home of Kamehameha I) in Kailua Kona, Hawaii Island on February 7, 1827. He had only one son, William Pitt Leleiohoku I, who married Princess Ruth Keelikōlani
.
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the reigns of 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...
, Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
and the beginning of the reign of 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...
. He was called The Iron Cable of Hawaii because of his abilities.
Life
Kalanimoku was born at Kauiki, MauiMaui
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,...
, circa 1768. His father was Kekuamanoha and his mother was Kamakahukilani, the niece of his father. Through his father he was a grandson of Kekaulike, the King or Moi of Maui. Through his mother he was great-grandson of Kekaulike. He was cousin of Kaahumanu, Kaheiheimālie, and Namahana Piia
Namahana Piia
Lydia Namahana Piia was a wife of King Kamehameha I of Hawaii. She was the daughter of Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi, and her sister Kaʻahumanu was also Kamehameha's wife. Kamehameha and Kaʻahumanu later arranged Piia to marry Gideon Peleioholani Laanui, who was ten years her junior...
, Kamehameha's three wives; Kuakini, later served as Governor of Hawaii; and Keeaumoku II, later served as Governor of Maui. His siblings included Boki
Boki
Boki may refer to:*Boki Royal Governor of Oahu*Boki, Nigeria Local Government Area in Africa*Boki people in Nigeria*Boki Milošević Serbian clarinetist*Boki Nachbar Slovenian basketball player...
, later served as Governor of Oahu; Kahakuhaakoi Wahinepio
Wahinepio
Kahakuhaakoi Wahinepio , was a Hawaiian chiefess and member of the royal family during the Kingdom of Hawaii. Wahinepio means captive women in Hawaiian....
, later served as Governor of Maui, and Manono II, the wife of Keaoua Kekuaokalani
Keaoua Kekuaokalani
Keaoua Kekua-o-kalani was a nephew of Kamehameha I, the chief from the Big Island of Hawaii who had unified the Hawaiian islands. He was the son of Kamehameha's half brother Kealiimaikai and Kamehameha's half-sister Kiilaweau. After Kamehameha died in 1819, Keaoua rebelled against Kamehameha's...
. Both his sisters were at one time wives of Kamehameha I which may explain how he gained his power.
At the time, his name was often spelled Karaimoku by the Hawaiians and sometimes Kalaimoku. Other spellings were Crymoku or Crimoku. He adopted the name William Pitt after his contempary the Prime Minister of Great Britain, William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. He was frequently addressed as Mr. Pitt or Billy Bitt. He served as Kamehameha I's chief minister and treasurer succeeding his uncle Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi
Keeaumoku Papaiahiahi
Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi was a Hawaiian high chief and the father of Kaahumanu. He was the principal agent in elevating Kamehameha I to the throne of Hawaii and served in a capacity similar to commander in chief or Prime Minister...
. He had great natural abilities in both governmental and business affairs. He was well liked and respected by foreigners, who learned from experience to rely on his words. He was called "the iron cable of Hawaii" because of his abilities.
He was baptized a Roman Catholic in 1819 aboard the French ship Uranie, in the presence of Kuhina Nui
Kuhina Nui
Kuhina Nui was a powerful office in the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1819 to 1864. It was usually held by a relative of the king and was the rough equivalent of the 19th century European office of Prime Minister or sometimes Regent.- Origin of the office :...
(Premier) Kaahumanu and King Kamehameha II. The scene was painted by ship's artist Jacques Arago
Jacques Arago
Jacques Étienne Victor Arago was a French writer, artist and explorer, author of a Voyage Round the World.-Biography:...
(1790—1855), who wrote and illustrated accounts of the Hawaiian Islands during the French expedition.
Kalanimoku led an army against the revolt of Kekuaokalani in December 1819 in the successful battle of Kuamoo.
He served as regent along with Queen Kaahumanu while Kamehameha II traveled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1823, and to Kamehameha III after Kamehameha II's death in 1824.
In his later years his vision dimmed and one of his eyes was defective. He suffered from dropsy through 1826 and the disease became alarming in the following year. He died at Kamakahonu
Kamakahonu
Kamakahonu, the residence of Kamehameha I, was located at the North end of Kailua Bay in Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi Island.-History:Kamehameha I , who unified the Hawaiian Islands, lived out the last years of his life and instituted some of the most constructive measures of his reign here...
(the old home of Kamehameha I) in Kailua Kona, Hawaii Island on February 7, 1827. He had only one son, William Pitt Leleiohoku I, who married Princess Ruth Keelikōlani
Keelikolani
Princess Ruth Luka Keanolani Kauanahoahoa Keelikōlani , was a member of the Kamehameha family, the founding dynasty of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She served as Royal Governor of the Island of Hawaii. As primary heir to the Kamehameha family, Ruth became a landholder of what would become the Bernice...
.
