Kamanawa II
Encyclopedia
Kamanawa II known as Kamanawa Ōpio or Kamanawa Elua (c. 1785 – October 20, 1840) was a Hawaiian high chief and grandfather of the last two ruling monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaii
, King David Kalākaua
and Queen Lydia Makaeha Liliuokalani. His family had a good reputation until 1840 when he was convicted of murdering his wife.
Kamanawa was born about 1785. His father was High Chief Kepookalani
. He was a grandson of Kameeiamoku, one of the five Kona chiefs who supported Kamehameha I
in his formation of the Kingdom, one of the royal twins on the Coat of Arms of Hawaii. His mother was High Chiefess Alapai Wahine
.
His half-brother was Aikanaka. He was named after his great uncle Kamanawa
, the twin of his grandfather Kameeiamoku. Sometimes he is called Kamanawa Ōpio or Elua because ōpio means "junior" and elua means "second" in the Hawaiian language
. He had son Caesar Kaluaiku Kapaakea
(1815–1866) and daughter Chiefess Kekahili (c. 1830) by Kamokuiki. He was known to live in the Keahuolū area of the North Kona
district of the island of Hawaii
.
He began to hear rumors that his great-uncle Alapai was the true father of Kekahili. Meanwhile, he had a son Joel Hulu Mahoe
(1831–1891) by Aulani. He had divorced his wife Kamokuiki, but he could not legally remarry while his former wife lived. Punishment for adultery included banishment to the barren island of Kahoolawe
. He and an accomplice, Lonoapuakau, captain of the Hawaiian vessel Hooikaika, poisoned Kamokuiki to avoid punishment for adultery, but were discovered.
The trial, October 3, 1840, was presided over by Governor Kekūanāoa
of Oahu
and a jury of twelve "intelligent Hawaiians". Kamanawa was found guilty of both murder and adultery. The same issue of the newspaper that expressed approval of the trial welcomed Charles Wilkes
of the American Exploring Expedition.
On October 20, 1840 he and Lonopuakau were hanged at Fort Honolulu with a crowd of 10,000. Kamanawa died twelve days after the first Hawaiian Constitution
was signed. His grandson David Kalākaua was six years old, still attending Royal School, when the Cookes sent him to see the execution, not knowing it was his grandfather. Juliette Cooke wrote in her journal: “A man is to be hanged and wants to see David." It was also whispered that this was punishing David for not being a member of the House of Kamehameha
. To see a public execution of his own grandfather was traumatic for the six year old child. Kalākaua, coming from the tradition of ohana
(close extended family relationships), had known his grandfather well. Rumors that he saved a piece of the rope seem unlikely, but this might have influenced Kalākaua's later conflicts with the conservative missionaries after he came to the throne.
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...
, King David Kalākaua
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
and Queen Lydia Makaeha Liliuokalani. His family had a good reputation until 1840 when he was convicted of murdering his wife.
Kamanawa was born about 1785. His father was High Chief Kepookalani
Kepookalani
Kepookalani was a High Chief during the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii.Two of his grandchildren would marry, and two of his great-grandchildren would be the last two ruling monarchs of the Kingdom.-Life:Kepookalani was born around 1760...
. He was a grandson of Kameeiamoku, one of the five Kona chiefs who supported 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...
in his formation of the Kingdom, one of the royal twins on the Coat of Arms of Hawaii. His mother was High Chiefess Alapai Wahine
Alapaiwahine
Alapai wahine was Princess of the Island of Hawaii and great-grandmother of King David Kalākaua and Queen Lydia Liliuokalani. She was a Naha chiefess: the product of a rare father and daughter marriage uncommon in Hawaiian history....
.
His half-brother was Aikanaka. He was named after his great uncle Kamanawa
Kamanawa
Kamanawa was a Hawaiian high chief and early supporter of King Kamehameha I, known as one of the royal niau-pio twins with his brother Kameeiamoku...
, the twin of his grandfather Kameeiamoku. Sometimes he is called Kamanawa Ōpio or Elua because ōpio means "junior" and elua means "second" in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
. He had son Caesar Kaluaiku Kapaakea
Kapaakea
Caesar Kaluaiku Kapaakea was a Hawaiian chief who was the patriarch of the House of Kalākaua that ruled the Kingdom of Hawaii during the last of its days.-Biography:...
(1815–1866) and daughter Chiefess Kekahili (c. 1830) by Kamokuiki. He was known to live in the Keahuolū area of the North Kona
Kona 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,...
district 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...
.
He began to hear rumors that his great-uncle Alapai was the true father of Kekahili. Meanwhile, he had a son Joel Hulu Mahoe
Joel Hulu Mahoe
Joel Hulu Mahoe was a noted Hawaiian pastor and missionary and half-uncle of two of Hawaii's future monarchs, King David Kalākaua and Queen Lydia Kamakaeha Liliuokalani.-Early life:...
(1831–1891) by Aulani. He had divorced his wife Kamokuiki, but he could not legally remarry while his former wife lived. Punishment for adultery included banishment to the barren island of Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe is the smallest of the eight main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. Kahoolawe is located about seven miles southwest of Maui and also southeast of Lanai, and it is long by wide, with a total land area of . The highest point on Kahoolawe is the crater of Lua Makika at the...
. He and an accomplice, Lonoapuakau, captain of the Hawaiian vessel Hooikaika, poisoned Kamokuiki to avoid punishment for adultery, but were discovered.
The trial, October 3, 1840, was presided over by Governor Kekūanāoa
Mataio Kekuanaoa
Mataio Kekūanāoa was descended from the high chiefs of the island of Oahu. His name Mataio was the Hawaiian form of Matthew, although the former remain the most common form used to referred to him....
of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
and a jury of twelve "intelligent Hawaiians". Kamanawa was found guilty of both murder and adultery. The same issue of the newspaper that expressed approval of the trial welcomed Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War...
of the American Exploring Expedition.
On October 20, 1840 he and Lonopuakau were hanged at Fort Honolulu with a crowd of 10,000. Kamanawa died twelve days after the first Hawaiian Constitution
1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
The 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii titled Ke Kumukānāwai a me nā Kānāwai o ko Hawai’i Pae ‘Āina, Honolulu, 1840 was the first fully written constitution for the Kingdom of Hawaii...
was signed. His grandson David Kalākaua was six years old, still attending Royal School, when the Cookes sent him to see the execution, not knowing it was his grandfather. Juliette Cooke wrote in her journal: “A man is to be hanged and wants to see David." It was also whispered that this was punishing David for not being a member of 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...
. To see a public execution of his own grandfather was traumatic for the six year old child. Kalākaua, coming from the tradition of ohana
Ohana
Part of Hawaiian culture, ohana means family in an extended sense of the term, including blood-related, adoptive or intentional. It emphasizes that family are bound together and members must cooperate and remember one another...
(close extended family relationships), had known his grandfather well. Rumors that he saved a piece of the rope seem unlikely, but this might have influenced Kalākaua's later conflicts with the conservative missionaries after he came to the throne.