Kanaina
Encyclopedia
Charles Kanaina was a Hawaiian noble during the Kingdom of Hawaii
, and father of King William Charles Lunalilo
.
Other sources give his father as High Chief Kapalahaole and mother Princess Kaumaka-o-Kapaa.
He was named Kanaina, after a nickname of Kalanimanokahoowaha, the chief who was portrayed by John Webber
and who later is reputed to have killed Captain James Cook.
In the Hawaiian language
, ka naina means "the conquering".
Kanaina married Miriam Auhea Kekauluohi, who had been one of several wives of both Kamehameha I
and Kamehameha II
. However, under the influence of Christian missionaries, Kamehameha II renounced all his other wives except one. Kekauluohi was then free to marry Kanaina after they both took Christian first names.
They had at least one son, and perhaps other children. The couple were hānai parents to Queen Kalama
(his maternal niece), the wife of Kamehameha III
, and their second son Keaweaweulaokalani II.
Kanaina served as a member of the House of Nobles
(upper house of the legislature) of Kamehameha III
from 1841 to 1876, on the Privy Council from July 29, 1845 to 1855, and on the Supreme Court from when it was first founded on May 10, 1842.
In the tradition of European royalty, he was granted the style (manner of address)
of "highness".
His son William Charles Lunalilo was born on January 31, 1835, became last of the House of Keōua Nui
to reign as King of Hawaii in 1873, but died one year later on February 3, 1874 .
Kanaina died March 13, 1877 in Honolulu, Oahu and was buried at Kawaiahao Church in the Lunalilo Mausoleum, next to his wife and son who had both died before him.
, John Mott-Smith
, and Edwin O. Hall as trustees.
Various lawsuits ensued over the property. Lunalilo had requested in his will to use the estate to fund a charity. The trustees favored splitting up the estate by selling it off, while others claimed the value of land was underestimated, and an endowment to run the charity could have been funded by lease income.
For example, Kanaina leased (and later his heirs would sell) thousands of acres of land on the island of Hawaii
to businessman (and son of missionaries) William Herbert Shipman
.
The Hawaii public archives building, built in 1906 on the [[ʻIolani Palace]] grounds, was named the Kanaina building. It is located at 21°18′22"N 157°51′28"W. It held state offices in the 1950s, added as a contributing property of the Hawaii Capital Historic District
and then was restored to be used for the Friends of ʻIolani Palace in 1990.
A Kanaina Avenue is named for him, located at 21°16′16"N 157°48′48"W between Kapiolani Park
and Diamond Head.
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...
, and father of King William Charles Lunalilo
Lunalilo
Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...
.
Life
Kanaina was born circa 1801. His parents were nobility (alii) who were from the non-ruling elite. Some sources give his father as chief Eia Kamakakaualii and his mother Kauwa Palila, the 9th descendant of Piilani.Other sources give his father as High Chief Kapalahaole and mother Princess Kaumaka-o-Kapaa.
He was named Kanaina, after a nickname of Kalanimanokahoowaha, the chief who was portrayed by John Webber
John Webber
John Webber was an English artist best known for his images of early Alaska and Hawaii.Webber was born on 6 October 1751 in London, educated in Switzerland and studied painting at Paris....
and who later is reputed to have killed Captain James Cook.
In the 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...
, ka naina means "the conquering".
Kanaina married Miriam Auhea Kekauluohi, who had been one of several wives of both Kamehameha I
Kamehameha 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...
and Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
. However, under the influence of Christian missionaries, Kamehameha II renounced all his other wives except one. Kekauluohi was then free to marry Kanaina after they both took Christian first names.
They had at least one son, and perhaps other children. The couple were hānai parents to Queen Kalama
Kalama
Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili, Queen Consort of Hawaii was Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III.-Early life:...
(his maternal niece), the wife of 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...
, and their second son Keaweaweulaokalani II.
Kanaina served as 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...
(upper house of the legislature) of 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...
from 1841 to 1876, on the Privy Council from July 29, 1845 to 1855, and on the Supreme Court from when it was first founded on May 10, 1842.
In the tradition of European royalty, he was granted the style (manner of address)
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
of "highness".
His son William Charles Lunalilo was born on January 31, 1835, became last of the House of Keōua Nui
House of Keoua
The House of Keōua Nui or simply House of Keōua, was a non-ruling noble family of Ancient Hawaii from which the reigning family of Kamehameha I and Lunalilo were descended...
to reign as King of Hawaii in 1873, but died one year later on February 3, 1874 .
Kanaina died March 13, 1877 in Honolulu, Oahu and was buried at Kawaiahao Church in the Lunalilo Mausoleum, next to his wife and son who had both died before him.
Legacy
Kanaina had acted as trustee of the royal lands inherited from his wife while his son was a minor, and after his son's death. However, when Kanaina died, the court appointed Sanford B. DoleSanford B. Dole
Sanford Ballard Dole was a lawyer and jurist in the Hawaiian Islands as a kingdom, protectorate, republic and territory...
, John Mott-Smith
John Mott-Smith
John Mott-Smith was the first dentist to set up a permanent practice in the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was also a politician, newspaper editor, and diplomat.-Life:John Mott-Smith was born in New York City November 13, 1824,...
, and Edwin O. Hall as trustees.
Various lawsuits ensued over the property. Lunalilo had requested in his will to use the estate to fund a charity. The trustees favored splitting up the estate by selling it off, while others claimed the value of land was underestimated, and an endowment to run the charity could have been funded by lease income.
For example, Kanaina leased (and later his heirs would sell) thousands of acres of land on the island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
to businessman (and son of missionaries) William Herbert Shipman
William Herbert Shipman
William Herbert Shipman was a wealthy businessman on the island of Hawaii. One estate of his family was used to preserve an endangered species of Hawaiian Goose. A historic house associated with his family for over a hundred years is called the W. H. Shipman House in Hilo, Hawaii...
.
The Hawaii public archives building, built in 1906 on the [[ʻIolani Palace]] grounds, was named the Kanaina building. It is located at 21°18′22"N 157°51′28"W. It held state offices in the 1950s, added as a contributing property of the Hawaii Capital Historic District
Hawaii Capital Historic District
The Hawaii Capital Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been the center of government ever since the earliest days of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom.-Location:...
and then was restored to be used for the Friends of ʻIolani Palace in 1990.
A Kanaina Avenue is named for him, located at 21°16′16"N 157°48′48"W between Kapiolani Park
Kapiolani Park
Kapiolani Regional Park is the largest and oldest public park in Hawaii, located in Honolulu, Hawaii on the east end of Waikīkī just beyond Kuhio Beach Park and the Waikiki residential neighborhood...
and Diamond Head.