Joseph Nawahi
Encyclopedia
Joseph Nāwahī also known as Joseph Kahooluhi Nāwahī and as Joseph Kahooluhi Nāwahīokalaniōpuu was a native Hawaiian legislator, lawyer, newspaper publisher, and painter.
of Hawaiʻi Island. His parents were Nāwahīokalaniōpuu and Keaweolalo.
As a young man, he was educated in Protestant mission schools such as the Hilo Boarding School, the Royal School, and Lāhaināluna School. He later became a member of the Hawaiian legislature, serving for 20 years (1872–1892), and was a member of the cabinet of Queen Liliuokalani, serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1892 and was vice president, later elected president of the Liberal Party
. He was one of the electors who made Lunalilo
king in 1873. He was also one of the six electors that voted for Queen Emma
in 1874 and was affliated with the Queen Emma Party
that followed the Queen's defeat in the election. He was also the President of the Hawaiian Patriotic League and opposed the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Nāwahī operated Ke Aloha Aina, a Hawaiian language
newspaper. In December 1894, a search warrant was served on his Kapālama home looking for "sundry arms and ammunition." Although nothing was found, Nāwahī was arrested for treason and bail was set at 10,000 dollars. He spent nearly three months in jail until being bailed out and it is believed that this is where he caught the tuberculosis that would later take his life.
His first marriage ended in divorce.
He married secondly Emma Aima Aii in Hilo on February 17, 1881. He had three children with his second wife including sons Albert Kahiwahiwa Nāwahī and Alexander Kaeeokalani Nāwahī and currently has descendants living to this day.
He was a self-taught artist and was the first Native Hawaiian to become an accomplished painter in the Western style. Only five or six of his paintings are known to exist.
In 1999, this school was one of two that graduated the first high school classes to have been educated entirely in the Hawaiian language in a century.
In 2008 a crater on the planet Mercury
was named for him.
His painting of Hilo Bay discovered in 1984 was donated in 2007 to Kamehameha Schools
. A documentary film titled "Biography Hawaii: Joseph Nāwahī" was produced in 2008 based on his life. The premiere was on June 25, 2009 on PBS Hawaii. The title role was played by Professor Kalena Silva of the University of Hawaii at Hilo
, and partially filmed at the Lyman House
.
Life
Joseph Nāwahī was born January 13, 1842 at Kaimū, in the Puna districtPuna, Hawaii
Puna is one of the nine districts in Hawaii County, Big Island, Hawaii. The District of Puna is located on the easternmost portion of the island and shares borders to the north with the District of South Hilo and a border to the west with the District of Kaū...
of Hawaiʻi Island. His parents were Nāwahīokalaniōpuu and Keaweolalo.
As a young man, he was educated in Protestant mission schools such as the Hilo Boarding School, the Royal School, and Lāhaināluna School. He later became a member of the Hawaiian legislature, serving for 20 years (1872–1892), and was a member of the cabinet of Queen Liliuokalani, serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1892 and was vice president, later elected president of the Liberal Party
National Liberal Party of the Hawaiian Kingdom
In 1892, the Hawaiian National Liberal Party also known as the National Liberal Party of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a political party of the Kingdom of Hawaii near its end.-Liberal nationalism:In their platform the Liberal Party “We deem that all Government should be founded on the...
. He was one of the electors who made Lunalilo
Lunalilo
Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...
king in 1873. He was also one of the six electors that voted for 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....
in 1874 and was affliated with the Queen Emma Party
Queen Emma Party
The Queen Emma Party or short name the Queen’s Party or the Emma Party was a political party in the Kingdom of Hawaii. The Queen’s Party was created by supporters of Queen Emma for the Royal Election of 1874. Members were referred to as “Queenites” or “Emmaites”...
that followed the Queen's defeat in the election. He was also the President of the Hawaiian Patriotic League and opposed the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Nāwahī operated Ke Aloha Aina, a Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
newspaper. In December 1894, a search warrant was served on his Kapālama home looking for "sundry arms and ammunition." Although nothing was found, Nāwahī was arrested for treason and bail was set at 10,000 dollars. He spent nearly three months in jail until being bailed out and it is believed that this is where he caught the tuberculosis that would later take his life.
His first marriage ended in divorce.
He married secondly Emma Aima Aii in Hilo on February 17, 1881. He had three children with his second wife including sons Albert Kahiwahiwa Nāwahī and Alexander Kaeeokalani Nāwahī and currently has descendants living to this day.
He was a self-taught artist and was the first Native Hawaiian to become an accomplished painter in the Western style. Only five or six of his paintings are known to exist.
Legacy
Today, a Hawaiian language immersion school is named in his honor is in Keaau, in the Puna district on the island of Hawaii. Ke Kula o Nāwahīokalaniōpuu educates students from grades K-12 in the Hawaiian language.In 1999, this school was one of two that graduated the first high school classes to have been educated entirely in the Hawaiian language in a century.
In 2008 a crater on the planet Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
was named for him.
His painting of Hilo Bay discovered in 1984 was donated in 2007 to Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
. A documentary film titled "Biography Hawaii: Joseph Nāwahī" was produced in 2008 based on his life. The premiere was on June 25, 2009 on PBS Hawaii. The title role was played by Professor Kalena Silva of the University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
The University of Hawaii at Hilo, UHH, or UH Hilo is one of the ten branches of the University of Hawaii system anchored by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii...
, and partially filmed at the Lyman House
Lyman House Memorial Museum
The Lyman House Memorial Museum, also known as the Lyman Museum, is a Hilo, Hawaii-based natural history museum founded in 1931 in the Lyman family mission house, originally built in 1838.-The mission:...
.