Kealiiahonui
Encyclopedia
Aaron Kealiiahonui was member of the nobility of the Kingdom of Kauai
and the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
, the last ruling King of Kauai. His mother was Kaapuwai Kapuaamoku. His father agreed to become a vassal
to Kamehameha I
in 1810, so he would never become a ruling monarch. In 1821 his father was forced into exile, and to emphasize the submission, marry Queen Regent Kaahumanu.
After his father died in 1824, and his half-brother Humehume
led a failed rebellion, Queen Kaahumanu forced Keliiahonui into a similar relationship. Keliiahonui gave up his first wife, Kapule, symbolically married Kaahumanu, and there were no more rebellions from Kauai. The misionaries disliked these forced marriages, and hoped education would convert them. Keliiahonui was described as "...handsome, and naturally and usually more interesting at that period than most of the nobility". Physically he was 6 feet 6 inches tall (2 m) "...considered to be the handsomest chief in the Islands, and was proficient in all athletic exercises". On December 5, 1825, he was part of a royal baptism
ceremony where he took the Christian name "Aaron".
His name is sometimes also spelled without the first "a" as Keliiahonui, which is what was used for his namesake grandnephew, Edward Keliiahonui
(1869–1887).
After Kaahumanu died in 1832, he married for a third time, to Kekauōnohi
, a granddaughter of Kamehameha I and former Queen Consort. He had no children that lived to adulthood.
at this time. He was named in the 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
as one of the founding members of the upper house of the legislature, the House of Nobles
. He served in the 1842 through 1848 sessions of the legislature. In 1845 he served as royal chamberlain, and from 1845 to 1847 he was included in the Privy Council
of King Kamehameha III
.
Keliiahonui died June 23, 1849 in Honolulu. A niece named Kapule after his first wife looked after him before his death. He had a public funeral on June 30. it was a combination of Christian and ancient Hawaii
an practices. His coffin was taken to a cave in an area known as Puuloa (near modern day Pearl Harbor
). Kekauōnohi had wanted a burial at sea, but Kapule and her husband hid the coffin until they were convinced to offer it to the spirits that were through to inhabit this area.
Alii Aimoku of Kauai
The Alii Aimoku of Kauai was the sovereign king or queen of the islands of Kauai and Niihau.- Overview :The monarchs of Kauai, like those of the other Hawaiian islands, claim descent from Wakea and Papa. Nanaulu, a descendant in the fourteenth generation from Wakea, was the ancestor of Moikeha, 1st...
and the Kingdom of Hawaii
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...
.
Family life
Keliiahonui was born August 17, 1800. His father was KaumualiiKaumualii
Kaumualii was the last independent Alii Aimoku of Kauai and Niihau before becoming a vassal of Kamehameha I of the unified Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810...
, the last ruling King of Kauai. His mother was Kaapuwai Kapuaamoku. His father agreed to become a vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
to 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 1810, so he would never become a ruling monarch. In 1821 his father was forced into exile, and to emphasize the submission, marry Queen Regent Kaahumanu.
After his father died in 1824, and his half-brother Humehume
Humehume
Humehume , known by many different names during his time, such as George Prince, George Prince Kaumualii, Tamoree or Kumoree by American writers, was a son of the king of part of the Hawaiian Islands. He traveled widely, served in the U.S...
led a failed rebellion, Queen Kaahumanu forced Keliiahonui into a similar relationship. Keliiahonui gave up his first wife, Kapule, symbolically married Kaahumanu, and there were no more rebellions from Kauai. The misionaries disliked these forced marriages, and hoped education would convert them. Keliiahonui was described as "...handsome, and naturally and usually more interesting at that period than most of the nobility". Physically he was 6 feet 6 inches tall (2 m) "...considered to be the handsomest chief in the Islands, and was proficient in all athletic exercises". On December 5, 1825, he was part of a royal baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
ceremony where he took the Christian name "Aaron".
His name is sometimes also spelled without the first "a" as Keliiahonui, which is what was used for his namesake grandnephew, Edward Keliiahonui
Edward Keliiahonui
Edward Abnel Keliiahonui Piikoi was a prince of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His second name was probably based on "Abner", but sounds for "r" and "l" are used interchangeably in some dialects of the Hawaiian language.-Early life:...
(1869–1887).
After Kaahumanu died in 1832, he married for a third time, to Kekauōnohi
Kekauonohi
Anna Keahikuni-i-Kekauōnohi , sometimes called Miriam Kekauōnohi, was a Hawaiian princess and queen consort, member of the House of Kamehameha and granddaughter King Kamehameha I....
, a granddaughter of Kamehameha I and former Queen Consort. He had no children that lived to adulthood.
Politics
In 1840 he was finally allowed to participate in leadership positions. It was his wife Kekauōnohi, however, who was officially made Royal Governor of KauaiGovernors of Kauai
The Governor of Kauai was the royal governor or viceroy of the island of Kauai and island of Niihau during the Kingdom of Hawaii. The Governor of Kauai was usually a Hawaiian chief or prince and could even be a woman. The Governor had authority over the islands of Kauai and Niihau, and it was up to...
at this time. He was named in the 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
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...
as one of the founding members of the upper house of the legislature, the House of Nobles
Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
The Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom was the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A royal legislature was first provided by the 1840 Constitution and the 1852 Constitution was the first to use the term "Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom", and the first to subject the monarch to...
. He served in the 1842 through 1848 sessions of the legislature. In 1845 he served as royal chamberlain, and from 1845 to 1847 he was included in the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
of 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...
.
Keliiahonui died June 23, 1849 in Honolulu. A niece named Kapule after his first wife looked after him before his death. He had a public funeral on June 30. it was a combination of Christian and ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
an practices. His coffin was taken to a cave in an area known as Puuloa (near modern day Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
). Kekauōnohi had wanted a burial at sea, but Kapule and her husband hid the coffin until they were convinced to offer it to the spirits that were through to inhabit this area.