Manaiula Tehuiarii
Encyclopedia
Manaiula Tehuiarii Sumner (fl. 1848) was princess from the Kingdom of Tahiti who settled in the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
Her name has also been given as Mareilila, Malaiula, Mareiula, or Mareira. Her name is synonymous with a species of banana
, mai`a mānai`ula.
Manaiula Tehuiarii was born to Tute Tehuiarii, a chief from either Tahiti
, or Moorea
or Bora Bora
. Her father was the adoptive son of King Pōmare I
of Tahiti, who named him Tute in honor of Captain Cook (Tapena Tute in Polynesian). In 1826, he brought his entire family over to Hawaii, where he served as missionary and royal chaplain to Kamehameha III
and Kamehameha IV
.
It was during this time that Manaiula met and married High Chief William Kealaloa Kahanui Sumner, the son of Captain William Sumner and the High Chiefess Keakuaaihue. They had their only daughter Nancy Wahinekapu Sumner in March 9, 1839.
Another dubious version of her life tells that she arrived in 1849, chaperoned by her elder sister Mauli, she and her cousin Ninito Teraiapo, as the guests Admiral De Tromelin
.
Ninito was betrothed to Prince Moses Kekūāiwa
and Manaiula to Prince Lot Kapuāiwa, but the first prince died before their arrival and the second prince departed to Europe with his other brother.
They were asked to wait for his return but not long after, both Ninito and Manaiula were wooed by the Sumner brothers, John Keolaloa Sumner and William Keolaloa Kahanui Sumner, respectively. This is chronologically impossible as Manaiula was already in Hawaii and married in 1849.
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...
.
Her name has also been given as Mareilila, Malaiula, Mareiula, or Mareira. Her name is synonymous with a species of banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
, mai`a mānai`ula.
Manaiula Tehuiarii was born to Tute Tehuiarii, a chief from either Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, or Moorea
Moorea
Moʻorea is a high island in French Polynesia, part of the Society Islands, 17 km northwest of Tahiti. Its position is . Moʻorea means "yellow lizard" in Tahitian...
or Bora Bora
Bora Bora
The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora proper with its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef, 29.3 km² in total, and of the atoll of Tupai , located north of Bora Bora...
. Her father was the adoptive son of King Pōmare I
Pomare I
Pōmare I, King of Tahiti , fully in old orthography: Tu-nui-ea-i-te-atua-i-Tarahoi Vairaatoa Taina Pōmare I , was the unifier and first king of Tahiti and founder of the Pōmare dynasty and the Kingdom of Tahiti between 1788? and 1791.Outu is the phonetic English rendering of...
of Tahiti, who named him Tute in honor of Captain Cook (Tapena Tute in Polynesian). In 1826, he brought his entire family over to Hawaii, where he served as missionary and royal chaplain to 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 Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha IV, born Alexander Iolani Liholiho Keawenui , reigned as the fourth king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 11, 1855 to November 30, 1863.-Early life:...
.
It was during this time that Manaiula met and married High Chief William Kealaloa Kahanui Sumner, the son of Captain William Sumner and the High Chiefess Keakuaaihue. They had their only daughter Nancy Wahinekapu Sumner in March 9, 1839.
Another dubious version of her life tells that she arrived in 1849, chaperoned by her elder sister Mauli, she and her cousin Ninito Teraiapo, as the guests Admiral De Tromelin
Louis Tromelin
Louis-François-Marie-Nicolas Le Goarant de Tromelin was a nineteenth-century French Naval captain, sent to the Pacific Ocean on political and military missions, and credited with the discovery of Phoenix Island in the Phoenix group and Fais Island in the Carolines...
.
Ninito was betrothed to Prince Moses Kekūāiwa
Moses Kekuaiwa
Moses Kekūāiwa Keawenui was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.He was the second son of Mataio Kekūanāoa and Elizabeth Kīnaʻu. He was a grandson of Kamehameha I through his mother who was known as Kaahumanu II when she was regent...
and Manaiula to Prince Lot Kapuāiwa, but the first prince died before their arrival and the second prince departed to Europe with his other brother.
They were asked to wait for his return but not long after, both Ninito and Manaiula were wooed by the Sumner brothers, John Keolaloa Sumner and William Keolaloa Kahanui Sumner, respectively. This is chronologically impossible as Manaiula was already in Hawaii and married in 1849.