Kuakini

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John Adams Kuakini
Royal Governor of Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu
John Adams Kuakini.png
An 1822 sketch by William Ellis
Born c. 1789
Died December 9, 1844(1844-12-09)
Kailua-Kona
Spouse High Chiefess Keoua
High Chiefess Haʻaheo
Issue High Chief Keoua
High Chiefess Kamanele
Full name
Kaluaikonahale
Father Keʻeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi
Mother NāmāhānaʻiʻKaleleokalani

John Adams Kiʻiapalaoku 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

File:Kuakini wearing feather cloak.jpg
Sketch of Kuakini wearing his ʻahuʻula signifying Hawaiian nobility.

He was born about 1789 with the name Kaluaikonahale.[1] His father was Keʻeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi, an aliʻi (noble) from the island of Hawaiʻi, and his mother was NāmāhānaʻiʻKaleleokalani, the widow queen and half-sister of the late king of Maui, Kamehameha Nui.

His father became a fugitive from King Kahekili II of Maui. Escaping to Hana, the family moved back to Hawaiʻi island and lived on Kahaluʻu Bay. He was the youngest of four important siblings: sisters Queen Kaʻahumanu, Kamehameha's favorite wife and later became the powerful Kuhina nui, Kalākua Kaheiheimālie and Namahana-o-Piʻia, also queens of Kamehameha, and brother George Cox Kahekili Keʻeaumoku, who later became the Governor of Maui. His father helped Kamehameha I come to power in the battle of Mokuʻōhai 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.[2]

As a youth he excelled at sports such as canoeing, but later acquired a taste of 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 of have weighed over 400 pounds.[2]

He married Keouawahine, and had one son Keoua, who died in infancy, and one daughter Mele Kamanele Kuakini (1814–1834). Kamanele was considered to be a potential bride for King Kamehameha III, but she died young. The king later married the lower ranking Chiefess Kalama, the daughter of ship pilot Naihekukui.[3]

Royal Governor

File:A Hura, or Native Dance, performed in presence of the Governor at Kairua, sketch by William Ellis.jpg
Sketch from William Ellis of Kuakini welcoming visitors with a Hula dance ceremony

When the Kingdom's central government moved to Lahaina in 1820, his influence expanded on Hawaiʻi island. After John Young had effectively but unofficially served in the role, Kuakini was appointed the first recorded Royal Governor of Hawaiʻi island, serving from 1820 until his death.[4] However, on April 1, 1831, a potential rebellion was uncovered on the island of Oʻahu. His sister Queen Regent Kaʻahumanu appointed him Royal Governor of Oʻahu after Kuini Liliha, the leader of the rebellion, he resided at Fort Honolulu serving as the Commander in Chief.[5] Some time in the next few years he moved back to the island of Hawaiʻi after Kaʻahumanu died and Elizabeth Kīnaʻu became Queen Regent, calling herself Kaʻahumanu II. From 1841 through 1843 he served in the House of Nobles.[6]

He gave land to missionaries, such as Asa Thurston to build Mokuʻaikaua Church, and others on the island. He extended a series of low walls that were originally used as Ahupuaʻa (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 Huliheʻe Palace in the American style out of native lava, coral lime mortar, koa and ʻohiʻa 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.[7]

Kuakini died December 9, 1844 in Kailua-Kona.[8] He left Huliheʻe Palace to his hānai (adopted son) William Pitt Leleiohoku I, who left it to his wife Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani.

Legacy

Portions of the Great Wall still exist around Kailua-Kona

Huliheʻe Palace is now a museum run the Daughters of Hawaiʻi, including some of his artifacts.[9] 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.[10] He is also the namesake of Kuakini Street, Honolulu, which is in turn the namesake of the Kuakini Medical Center on it.

Ancestry

Family of Kuakini
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. Kauakahilau
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Lonoikahaupu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Kuluina
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Keawepoepoe
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. Kaneikauaiwilani
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Kalanikauleleiaiwi (= 29)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. Keakealaniwahine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Keʻeaumoku Pāpaʻiahiahi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Kūmaʻaikū
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Kuakini
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Lonohonuakini
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. Kaulahea II
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Kalanikauanakinilani
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Kekaulike
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. ʻUmi-a-Liloa of Maui
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Papaikaniau
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Kuʻihewamakawalu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. NāmāhānaʻiʻKaleleokalani
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. Kauaua-a-Mahi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Haʻae-a-Mahi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Kalanikauleleiaiwi (= 9)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Haʻaloʻu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. Kaulahea II (= 12)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Kalelemauliokalani
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31. Papaikaniau (= 13)
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Robert Oaks, Hawaiʻi: A History of the Big Island, Arcadia Publishing, 2003, ISBN 978-0-7385-2436-8, Page 45
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ List of Royal Governors of Hawaiʻi Island in Hawaiʻi State Archives
  5. ↑ List of Royal Governors of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi State Archives
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ William Ellis, 1825, A journal of a tour around Hawaii, the largest of the Sandwich Islands, Published by Crocker & Brewster
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Huliheʻe Palace official web site
  10. ↑ Juvik and Juvik editors, 1998, Atlas of Hawaii, University of Hawaii Press, ISBN 978-0-8248-2125-8
Preceded by Royal Governor of Hawaiʻi Island
1820 - 1831		 Succeeded by
Naihe
Preceded by Royal Governor of Oʻahu
1831 - 1832		 Succeeded by
Kīnaʻu
Preceded by Royal Governor of Hawaiʻi Island
1832 - 1844		 Succeeded by
William Pitt Leleiohoku I
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