Namakeha
Encyclopedia
Bennett, Beneli, Beniki, or Benjamin Nāmākēhā-o-kalani (c. 1799–1860) was a Hawaiian high Chief, uncle of Queen Emma of Hawaii
, and first husband of Queen Kapiolani
.
He and his brother George Naea were sons of High Chief Kamaunu and High Chiefess Kukaeleiki, the daughter of Kalauawa from the royal line of Kauaian chiefs. Kukaeleiki was also cousin of Queen Keōpūolani
. Nāmākēhā was also said to have been descended from Kalanawaa of Oahu and High Chiefess Kuaenaokalani of Maui who held the exalted kapu
rank of Kekapupoohoolewaikalā (a head so sacred that it could not be exposed to the sun except at dawn).
Some sources
say his father was High Chief Keliimaikai
, son of High Chief Keōua
by his second wife the High Chiefess Kekuiapoiwa II
, and his mother was Kalikookalani. His name was the same as the high chief who rebelled against Kamehameha during the end of his military career in 1796. His brother Naea was the father of Queen Emma
.
He was a member of the House of Nobles
from about 1848 through 1855. By 1851 the House of Nobles consisted only of petty chiefs called Kaukaualii. Nāmākēhā was inferior to the alii nui (High Chiefs). Kaukaualii were only descended from famous fathers while alii nui claim parentage of mother of the highest rank.
On March 8, 1852 he married the chiefess Esther Kapiolani
, daughter of Kūhiō Kalanianaole
of Hilo and Chiefess Kekaulike of Kauai. His second wife was 35 years his junior. Through that marriage she became Queen Emma's aunt. He and Kapiolani had no children. Although he had one son Hinau by his first wife, Halauwai. For his health the young couple voyaged for months on The Morning Star, a missionary vessel, among the Gilbert Islands
, but in vain, for Nāmākēhā died on December 27, 1860, at Honolulu. He was buried at the Wylie Tomb in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
at Mauna Ala. His wife later married David Kalākaua
and became the Queen consort of Hawaii.
His line died out with his granddaugher Stella Keomailani (1866–1927), who was married to James Dawson Cockett and later to Edwin K. Kea.
Queen Emma of Hawaii
Queen Consort Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonālani Naea Rooke of Hawaii was queen consort of King Kamehameha IV from 1856 to his death in 1863. She ran for ruling monarch against King David Kalākaua but was defeated....
, and first husband of Queen Kapiolani
Queen Kapiolani
Queen Kapiolani formally Esther Kapiolani or Esther Kapiolani Napelakapuokakae, was married to King David Kalākaua and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:...
.
He and his brother George Naea were sons of High Chief Kamaunu and High Chiefess Kukaeleiki, the daughter of Kalauawa from the royal line of Kauaian chiefs. Kukaeleiki was also cousin of Queen Keōpūolani
Keopuolani
Kalanikauikaalaneo Kai Keōpūolani-Ahu-i-Kekai-Makuahine-a-Kama-Kalani-Kau-i-Kealaneo was a queen consort of Hawaii and the highest ranking wife of King Kamehameha I.-Early life:...
. Nāmākēhā was also said to have been descended from Kalanawaa of Oahu and High Chiefess Kuaenaokalani of Maui who held the exalted kapu
Kapu
Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
rank of Kekapupoohoolewaikalā (a head so sacred that it could not be exposed to the sun except at dawn).
Some sources
say his father was High Chief Keliimaikai
Keliimaikai
Kalanimālokuloku-i-Kepookalani Keliimaikai was a High Chief and the most popular brother of Kamehameha the Great, who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was generally credited as an ancestor of Queen Emma of Hawaii, the consort of Kamehameha IV, a candidate for the Royal Election of 1872. His name...
, son of High Chief Keōua
Keoua
Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Ahilapalapa, sometimes called Keōua Nui , was an Ancient Hawaiian noble and the father of Kamehameha I, the first King of united Hawaii...
by his second wife the High Chiefess Kekuiapoiwa II
Kekuiapoiwa II
Kekuiapoiwa II was a Hawaiian chiefess and the mother of the king Kamehameha I.- Biography :She was named after her aunt Kekuiapoiwa Nui , the wife of King Kekaulike of Maui....
, and his mother was Kalikookalani. His name was the same as the high chief who rebelled against Kamehameha during the end of his military career in 1796. His brother Naea was the father of Queen Emma
Queen Emma of Hawaii
Queen Consort Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonālani Naea Rooke of Hawaii was queen consort of King Kamehameha IV from 1856 to his death in 1863. She ran for ruling monarch against King David Kalākaua but was defeated....
.
He was a 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...
from about 1848 through 1855. By 1851 the House of Nobles consisted only of petty chiefs called Kaukaualii. Nāmākēhā was inferior to the alii nui (High Chiefs). Kaukaualii were only descended from famous fathers while alii nui claim parentage of mother of the highest rank.
On March 8, 1852 he married the chiefess Esther Kapiolani
Queen Kapiolani
Queen Kapiolani formally Esther Kapiolani or Esther Kapiolani Napelakapuokakae, was married to King David Kalākaua and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:...
, daughter of Kūhiō Kalanianaole
Kuhio Kalanianaole
Kūhiō Kalanianaole was a Hawaiian high chief of Hilo and father of Queen Kapiolani.He was born c. 1814 to Alii Elelule Laakeaelelulu and his wife Poomaikelani, daughter of Alii Kanekoa, of Waimea, by his first wife, Kalani-kau-lelei-awi, daughter of Kepoomahoe...
of Hilo and Chiefess Kekaulike of Kauai. His second wife was 35 years his junior. Through that marriage she became Queen Emma's aunt. He and Kapiolani had no children. Although he had one son Hinau by his first wife, Halauwai. For his health the young couple voyaged for months on The Morning Star, a missionary vessel, among the Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
, but in vain, for Nāmākēhā died on December 27, 1860, at Honolulu. He was buried at the Wylie Tomb in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
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:...
at Mauna Ala. His wife later married 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 became the Queen consort of Hawaii.
His line died out with his granddaugher Stella Keomailani (1866–1927), who was married to James Dawson Cockett and later to Edwin K. Kea.