1. Family life

2. Royal Governor

3. Legacy

4. Ancestry

5. References

John Adams Ki{{okina}}iapalaoku Kuakini (1789–1844) 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

He was born about 1789 with the name Kaluaikonahale.^[1] His father was Keʻeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi, an ali{{okina}}i (noble) from the island of Hawai{{okina}}i, and his mother was Nāmāhāna{{okina}}i{{okina}}Kaleleokalani, the widow queen and half-sister of the late king of Maui, Kamehameha Nui. Historian Samuel Kamakau later makes the contradictory claim that Kaʻiana was Kuakini's father and also claimed he was a poʻolua child (possessing two head or father).^[2]

Keʻeaumoku became a fugitive from King Kahekili II of Maui. Escaping to Hana, the family moved back to Hawai{{okina}}i island and lived on Kahalu{{okina}}u Bay. He was the youngest of four important siblings: sisters Queen Ka{{okina}}ahumanu, Kamehameha's favorite wife and later became the powerful Kuhina nui, Kalākua Kaheiheimālie and Namahana-o-Pi{{okina}}ia, also queens of Kamehameha, and brother George Cox Kahekili Ke{{okina}}eaumoku, who later became the Governor of Maui. His father helped Kamehameha I come to power in the battle of Moku{{okina}}ōhai in 1782.

With the introduction of Christianity, Hawaiians were encouraged to take British or American names.

As an example of his royal manner, he chose the name John Adams after John Quincy Adams, the U.S. president in office at the time. He adopted the name as well as other customs of the U.S. and Europe.^[3]

As a youth he excelled at sports such as canoeing, but later acquired a taste for alcohol, fine food, and women. He seriously injured his foot, however, trying to escape after being caught with the wife of Governor Kuihelani of Oahu. He recovered, but walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Like many of Polynesian royal lineage, he had a large stature. A visitor in 1819 described him as about 6 feet 3 inches, and in his later days was said to have weighed over 400 pounds.^[3]

He married Keouawahine, and had one son Keoua, who died in infancy, and one daughter Mele Kaʻauʻamoku o Kamānele (1814–1834). Kamānele was considered to be a potential bride for King Kamehameha III, but she died young. The king later married Kalama, the daughter of ship pilot Naihekukui.^[4]

Royal Governor

When the Kingdom's central government moved to Lahaina in 1820, his influence expanded on Hawai{{okina}}i island. After John Young had effectively but unofficially served in the role, Kuakini was appointed the first recorded Royal Governor of Hawai{{okina}}i island, serving from 1820 until his death.^[5] However, on April 1, 1831, a potential rebellion was uncovered on the island of O{{okina}}ahu. His sister Queen Regent Ka{{okina}}ahumanu appointed him Royal Governor of O{{okina}}ahu after Kuini Liliha, the leader of the rebellion, he resided at Fort Honolulu serving as the Commander in Chief.^[6]

Some time in the next few years he moved back to the island of Hawai{{okina}}i after Ka{{okina}}ahumanu died and Elizabeth Kīna{{okina}}u became Queen Regent, calling herself Ka{{okina}}ahumanu II. From 1841 through 1843 he served in the House of Nobles.^[7]

He gave land to missionaries, such as Asa Thurston to build Moku{{okina}}aikaua Church, and others on the island. He extended a series of low walls that were originally used as Ahupua{{okina}}a (traditional land division) barriers for pigs, because the cattle left behind by George Vancouver were wandering through the village of Kailua. This work became known as Ka pā nui o Kuakini ("The Great Wall of Kuakini"), some of which still stands today.

In the village he built Hulihe{{okina}}e Palace in the American style out of native lava, coral lime mortar, koa and {{okina}}ohi{{okina}}a timbers. Completed in 1838, he used the palace to entertain visiting Americans and Europeans with great feasts. He made official visits to all ships that arrived on the island, offering them tours of sites such as the Kīlauea volcano.^[8]

Kuakini died December 9, 1844 in Kailua-Kona.^[9] He left Hulihe{{okina}}e Palace to his hānai (adopted son) William Pitt Leleiohoku I, who left it to his wife Princess Ruth Ke{{okina}}elikōlani.

Legacy

Hulihe{{okina}}e Palace is now a museum run the Daughters of Hawai{{okina}}i, including some of his artifacts.^[10]

A highway is named "Kuakini Highway", which runs from the Hawaii Belt Road through the town of Kailua-Kona, to the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area.^[11] He is also the namesake of Kuakini Street, Honolulu, which is in turn the namesake of the Kuakini Medical Center on it.

Ancestry

References

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