David Kamehameha
Encyclopedia
David Kamehameha was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
through his mother and was named in his grandfather's honor and after the biblical king David
, in respect to his parents' conversion to Christianity. He had three brothers, Moses Kekūāiwa
(1829–1848), Lot Kapuāiwa
(1830–1872), Alexander Liholiho
(1834–1863), and a sister Victoria Kamāmalu (1838–1866). He had other siblings, an unnamed, elder half-brother from his mother's previous marriage to Kahalaiʻa Luanuʻu, who died young; and half-sister Ruth Keelikōlani
(1826–1883), from his father's previous marriage.
Laura Fish Judd, wife of missionary Gerrit P. Judd
, described the prince as "a boy fine enough for any mother not of the seed royal to glory in."
In the Hawaiian
tradition of hānai, he was given in adoption to his "grandmother", Queen Kaʻahumanu, alongside Keelikōlani. David's birth had helped reconcile Kaʻahumanu to his mother's refusal to marry her half-brother, Kamehameha III
, in accordance with the wishes of Kamehameha I. His aunt, Kekāuluohi, helped the old Queen take care of him.
Queen Kaʻahumanu was the most powerful figure in Hawaii at the time, serving as kuhina nui
(premier) and regent for Kamehameha III
; she often found trouble in dealing with the young king's guardian, Boki, the royal governor of Oahu, who publicly accused her of scheming to place David Kamehameha on the throne, an accusation she denied.
When news reached her that Boki was coming to kill her, she said "I do not fear death planned by this son of ours, but he will have [come] himself to kill me and these grandchildren of mine who will stay by me." Luckily, Boki was convinced by David's father, Kekūanāoʻa, to give up his idea of declaring war on the dowager Queen.
When he was four in 1832, Kaʻahumanu died of intestinal illness at her house in the Mānoa Valley
, and afterwards, David was either raised by Kekāuluohi, although Kīnaʻu still had a hand in his upbringing. Her mother succeeded as kuhina nui in Kaʻahumanu's place and styled herself Kaʻahumanu II.
He died of unknown causes on December 15th, 1835 in Honolulu, in his mother's stone house near the present Iolani Palace.
He was laid to rest on the grounds of [[ʻIolani Palace]] (both the first and second palace had yet to be built) and later transported to the Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum
.
In 1836, Kapaʻakea
and Keohokālole
named their third son David Kalākaua
, probably in honor of the premier's dead son.
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...
.
Biography
Born May 20th, 1828, he was the firstborn and eldest son of Mataio Kekūanāoʻa and Elizabeth Kīnaʻu. He was a grandson of King Kamehameha IKamehameha 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...
through his mother and was named in his grandfather's honor and after the biblical king David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
, in respect to his parents' conversion to Christianity. He had three brothers, 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...
(1829–1848), Lot Kapuāiwa
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
(1830–1872), Alexander Liholiho
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:...
(1834–1863), and a sister Victoria Kamāmalu (1838–1866). He had other siblings, an unnamed, elder half-brother from his mother's previous marriage to Kahalaiʻa Luanuʻu, who died young; and half-sister 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...
(1826–1883), from his father's previous marriage.
Laura Fish Judd, wife of missionary Gerrit P. Judd
Gerrit P. Judd
Gerrit Parmele Judd was an American physician and missionary to the Kingdom of Hawaii who later became a trusted advisor and cabinet minister to King Kamehameha III.- Life :...
, described the prince as "a boy fine enough for any mother not of the seed royal to glory in."
In the Hawaiian
Culture of Hawaii
The culture of Hawaii has its origins in the traditional culture of the Native Hawaiians. As Hawaii has become home to many different ethnic groups during the past 200 years, each ethnic group has added elements of its own culture...
tradition of hānai, he was given in adoption to his "grandmother", Queen Kaʻahumanu, alongside Keelikōlani. David's birth had helped reconcile Kaʻahumanu to his mother's refusal to marry her half-brother, 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...
, in accordance with the wishes of Kamehameha I. His aunt, Kekāuluohi, helped the old Queen take care of him.
Queen Kaʻahumanu was the most powerful figure in Hawaii at the time, serving as kuhina nui
Kuhina Nui
Kuhina Nui was a powerful office in the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1819 to 1864. It was usually held by a relative of the king and was the rough equivalent of the 19th century European office of Prime Minister or sometimes Regent.- Origin of the office :...
(premier) and regent for 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...
; she often found trouble in dealing with the young king's guardian, Boki, the royal governor of Oahu, who publicly accused her of scheming to place David Kamehameha on the throne, an accusation she denied.
When news reached her that Boki was coming to kill her, she said "I do not fear death planned by this son of ours, but he will have [come] himself to kill me and these grandchildren of mine who will stay by me." Luckily, Boki was convinced by David's father, Kekūanāoʻa, to give up his idea of declaring war on the dowager Queen.
When he was four in 1832, Kaʻahumanu died of intestinal illness at her house in the Mānoa Valley
Manoa
thumb|240px|right|Vintage shot of University of Hawaii, Manoa240px|thumb|right|Vintage photo of Manoa ValleyMānoa is a valley and a residential neighborhood of Honolulu CDP of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States; the community is approximately three miles east and inland from...
, and afterwards, David was either raised by Kekāuluohi, although Kīnaʻu still had a hand in his upbringing. Her mother succeeded as kuhina nui in Kaʻahumanu's place and styled herself Kaʻahumanu II.
He died of unknown causes on December 15th, 1835 in Honolulu, in his mother's stone house near the present Iolani Palace.
He was laid to rest on the grounds of [[ʻIolani Palace]] (both the first and second palace had yet to be built) and later transported 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:...
.
In 1836, Kapaʻakea
Kapaakea
Caesar Kaluaiku Kapaakea was a Hawaiian chief who was the patriarch of the House of Kalākaua that ruled the Kingdom of Hawaii during the last of its days.-Biography:...
and Keohokālole
Keohokalole
Analea, Ane or Annie Keohokālole was a Hawaiian chiefess and matriarch of the Kalākaua Dynasty that ruled Hawaii from 1874 to 1893.-Life:...
named their third son 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...
, probably in honor of the premier's dead son.