Leleiohoku I
Encyclopedia
William Pitt Leleiohoku I (March 31, 1821 – October 21, 1848) was a Hawaiian noble during the Kingdom of Hawaii
who married two notable princesses and served as Royal Governor of Hawaii island. On King Kalākaua
's trip around the world, he noted that the Sultan of Johor resembled Leleiohoku.
Leleiohoku was born on March 31, 1821 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He was the son of the Prime Minister Kalanimoku
who was called The Iron Pillar of Hawaii and took the English name of William Pitt after his contemporary William Pitt the Younger
of England. His mother was Kiliwehi, the daughter of King Kamehameha I
.
She name him in honor of the date of death of his grandfather on the Hawaiian calendar, on the night of Hoku, Kaelo (May 14); Leleiohoku means "Fled in the time of Hoku" in Hawaiian
.
He inherited his father's western name and was called "Billy Pitt".
He was of the highest hereditary descent after the king.
He was hānai (adopted) by John Adams Kuakini
who was Governor of Hawaii Island and brother of powerful Queen Kaahumanu. He attended Lahainaluna Seminary ran by the American missionaries and converted to Christianity
.
He was married in November 25, 1835 to the Princess Nāhienaena
when he was only 14; the princess was 6 years his senior. The marriage had been arranged by the missionaries to halt a sibling marriage between King Kamehameha III
and Nāhienaena. Their Christian wedding was held in Wainee Church
. It was not a happy union. He inherited little of his father's land because Kalanimoku, shortly before his death, made a verbal will leaving his entire property to his niece Kekauōnohi
, the previous queen of King Kamehameha II
. Kekauōnohi, although only a cousin of Leleiohoku, was regarded according to ancient Hawaiian customs as his sister. It appears that Kalanimoku made a verbal disposition of his property to her (who was older than Leleiohoku) and willed that he should be the kanaka living under her.
Nāhiena became ill after a failed pregnancy and died in 1836 at age 21. The child was said to be his but probably could have been Kauikeaouli's. Leleiohoku married a second time to Princess Ruth Keelikōlani
, who was daughter of Kalani Pauahi and Kekuanaoa. He had a son William Pitt Kīnau
from his second wife. He served as an original member of the House of Nobles
in 1841–1846, and on the Kings Privy Council from 1845 to 1846. His foster father Kuakini died in 1844 and he inherited the governorship of the Big Island
. He inherited the Hulihee Palace
which he passed to his wife. He died on October 21 in the measles
epidemic of 1848, aged 27.
His widow lived on and inherited her husband's properties after their son died at age 17. Keelikolani showed her love for him when she named her adoptive son Leleiohoku II, after her deceased husband Leleiohoku. He was buried on the grounds of the current Iolani Palace and later remove to the Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum
.
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...
who married two notable princesses and served as Royal Governor of Hawaii island. On King 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...
's trip around the world, he noted that the Sultan of Johor resembled Leleiohoku.
Leleiohoku was born on March 31, 1821 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He was the son of the Prime Minister Kalanimoku
Kalanimoku
William Pitt Kalanimoku 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.-Life:Kalanimoku was born ...
who was called The Iron Pillar of Hawaii and took the English name of William Pitt after his contemporary 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...
of England. His mother was Kiliwehi, the daughter 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...
.
She name him in honor of the date of death of his grandfather on the Hawaiian calendar, on the night of Hoku, Kaelo (May 14); Leleiohoku means "Fled in the time of Hoku" in Hawaiian
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 inherited his father's western name and was called "Billy Pitt".
He was of the highest hereditary descent after the king.
He was hānai (adopted) by John Adams Kuakini
John Adams Kuakini
John Adams Kiiapalaoku Kuakini was an important adviser to Kamehameha I in the early stages of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was responsible for much building and other changes in the Kona District during this era.-Family life:...
who was Governor of Hawaii Island and brother of powerful Queen Kaahumanu. He attended Lahainaluna Seminary ran by the American missionaries and converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
He was married in November 25, 1835 to the Princess Nāhienaena
Nahienaena
Harriet or Harrieta Keōpūolani Nāhienaena was a high ranking princess during the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the conversion of its royalty to Christianity.-Life:...
when he was only 14; the princess was 6 years his senior. The marriage had been arranged by the missionaries to halt a sibling marriage between 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...
and Nāhienaena. Their Christian wedding was held in Wainee Church
Waiola Church
Waiola Church is the site of a historic mission established in 1823 on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Originally called Wainee Church till 1953, the cemetery is the final resting place for early members of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii....
. It was not a happy union. He inherited little of his father's land because Kalanimoku, shortly before his death, made a verbal will leaving his entire property to his niece 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....
, the previous queen of King 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...
. Kekauōnohi, although only a cousin of Leleiohoku, was regarded according to ancient Hawaiian customs as his sister. It appears that Kalanimoku made a verbal disposition of his property to her (who was older than Leleiohoku) and willed that he should be the kanaka living under her.
Nāhiena became ill after a failed pregnancy and died in 1836 at age 21. The child was said to be his but probably could have been Kauikeaouli's. Leleiohoku married a second time to 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...
, who was daughter of Kalani Pauahi and Kekuanaoa. He had a son William Pitt Kīnau
William Pitt Kinau
-Life:He was born December 21, 1842. His father was High Chief William Pitt Leleiohoku I . His mother was Princess Ruth Keelikōlani . Through his mother he was Kamehameha I's only great-great grandchild. His mother's parentage has been disputed but she is a member of the House of Kamehameha by...
from his second wife. He served as an original member of 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...
in 1841–1846, and on the Kings Privy Council from 1845 to 1846. His foster father Kuakini died in 1844 and he inherited the governorship of the Big Island
Royal Governors of Hawaii
The Governor of Hawaii was the royal governor or viceroy of the Island of Hawaii during the Kingdom of Hawaii. The Governor of Hawaii was usually a Hawaiian chief or prince and could even be a woman. There were no restriction of women in government in the House of Nobles or Governship of the islands...
. He inherited the Hulihee Palace
Hulihee Palace
The Hulihee Palace is located in historic Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Alii Drive. The former vacation home of Hawaiian royalty, it was converted to a museum run by the Daughters of Hawaii, showcasing furniture and artifacts.-History:...
which he passed to his wife. He died on October 21 in the measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
epidemic of 1848, aged 27.
His widow lived on and inherited her husband's properties after their son died at age 17. Keelikolani showed her love for him when she named her adoptive son Leleiohoku II, after her deceased husband Leleiohoku. He was buried on the grounds of the current Iolani Palace and later remove to the Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum
Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
The Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, known as Mauna Ala in the Hawaiian language, is the final resting place of Hawaii's two prominent royal families: the Kamehameha Dynasty and the Kalākaua Dynasty.-Description:...
.