Peter Kaeo
Encyclopedia
Peter Young Kaeo Kekuaokalani (1836–1880) was a Hawaiian noble and politician of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
. His mother was Jane Lahilahi
, the youngest daughter of John Young Olohana
, the advisor to Kamehameha I
, and Chiefess Kaōanaeha
. His father was Joshua Kaeo
, judge of the Supreme Court of Hawaii, and great-great grandson or great grandson of King Kalaniopuu. He was adopted, according to Hawaiian tradition of hānai by his maternal uncle John Kaleipaihala Young
at birth. His uncle was the fourth Kuhina Nui
and the Minister of the Interior. He was declared eligible to succeed to the Hawaiian throne by Kamehameha III
and attended Chiefs' Children's School because of his descent from Keliimaikai
, Kamehameha III's uncle. The school was run by Amos Starr Cooke and Julliette Montague Cooke, an American missionary couple.
He served as a member of the House of Nobles
1863–1880, and on the Privy Council of King Kamehameha IV
1863–1864. He contracted leprosy
, now known as the Hansen's disease, which was uncurable at the time. He was exiled to the leper colony at Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai
. He arrived on the settlement on the same boat as William P. Ragsdale, landing June 29, 1873. He had the means to maintain a comfortable existence, including two servants, but was aware of the poverty and desperation around him.
During his exile at Kalaupapa, he and his cousin Emma Kaleleonalani
, at the time Queen Dowager, exchanged letters revealing their personal lives during this three-year period. In addition, as an account of the affairs of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the same interim, as viewed through the writers’ Hawaiian eyes and as expressed in their own words—a reflection of island politics, dynastic intrigues, interethnic rivalries and animosities, American-Hawaiian diplomatic strains and frustrations during a time of national crisis. They wrote 122 letters now in Hawaiian historical archives. For example, from Peter Kaeo to Queen Emma, August 11, 1873:
On November 26, 1880 at the age 44, he died at Honolulu, after being released from Kalawao in 1876. The Hawaiian Gazette, December 1, 1880 said: The Hon. P. Y. Kaeo died at his residence on Emma Street on Friday night [November 26, 1880]. The funeral took place on Sunday and was largely attended by the retainers and friends of the family. The hearse was surrounded by Kahili-bearers as becomes the dignity of a chief. He was laid to rest at Maemae, the resting place of the chiefs, rather than at Mauna Ala. His leprosy and later shunning by the rest of the royal community, except for his cousin Emma, may have been the main reason he was denied the honor that the majority of the descendants of John Young and even his bastard half-brother were given.
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...
.
Life
Peter was born March 4, 1836 at Paloha, Honolulu on the island of OahuOahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. His mother was Jane Lahilahi
Jane Lahilahi
Jane Lahilahi Young Kaeo was a Hawaiian high chiefess and a daughter of John Young Olohana royal advisor of Kamehameha I.-Early life:She was born in May 1813, in Kawaihae, in the Kohala District, on the Island of Hawaii...
, the youngest daughter of John Young Olohana
John Young (Hawaii)
John Young was a British subject who became an important military advisor to Kamehameha I during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was left behind by Simon Metcalfe, captain of the American ship Eleanora, and along with a Welshmen Isaac Davis became a friend and advisor to Kamehameha...
, the advisor to 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 Chiefess Kaōanaeha
Kaoanaeha
Kaōanaeha Mele or Mary Kuamoo Kaōanaeha was a Hawaiian high chiefess during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Parentage:She was born circa 1780...
. His father was Joshua Kaeo
Joshua Kaeo
Joshua Kaeo , was a Hawaiian high chief or nobleman of Big Island descent, the uncle of Queen Emma of Hawaii, and an early Hawaiian politician and advisor of Kamehameha III....
, judge of the Supreme Court of Hawaii, and great-great grandson or great grandson of King Kalaniopuu. He was adopted, according to Hawaiian tradition of hānai by his maternal uncle John Kaleipaihala Young
Keoni Ana
John Kaleipaihala Young II sometimes called Keoni Ana Opio was a politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii, serving as Kuhina Nui of the Hawaiian Islands and Minister of Interior.-Early life:...
at birth. His uncle was the fourth 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 :...
and the Minister of the Interior. He was declared eligible to succeed to the Hawaiian throne by 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 attended Chiefs' Children's School because of his descent from Keliimaikai
Keliimaikai
Kalanimālokuloku-i-Kepookalani Keliimaikai was a High Chief and the most popular brother of Kamehameha the Great, who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was generally credited as an ancestor of Queen Emma of Hawaii, the consort of Kamehameha IV, a candidate for the Royal Election of 1872. His name...
, Kamehameha III's uncle. The school was run by Amos Starr Cooke and Julliette Montague Cooke, an American missionary couple.
He 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...
1863–1880, and on the Privy Council of King Kamehameha IV
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:...
1863–1864. He contracted leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
, now known as the Hansen's disease, which was uncurable at the time. He was exiled to the leper colony at Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai
Molokai
Molokai or Molokai is an island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is 38 by 10 miles in size with a land area of , making it the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the 27th largest island in the United States. It lies east of Oahu across the 25-mile wide Kaiwi Channel and north of...
. He arrived on the settlement on the same boat as William P. Ragsdale, landing June 29, 1873. He had the means to maintain a comfortable existence, including two servants, but was aware of the poverty and desperation around him.
During his exile at Kalaupapa, he and his cousin Emma Kaleleonalani
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....
, at the time Queen Dowager, exchanged letters revealing their personal lives during this three-year period. In addition, as an account of the affairs of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the same interim, as viewed through the writers’ Hawaiian eyes and as expressed in their own words—a reflection of island politics, dynastic intrigues, interethnic rivalries and animosities, American-Hawaiian diplomatic strains and frustrations during a time of national crisis. They wrote 122 letters now in Hawaiian historical archives. For example, from Peter Kaeo to Queen Emma, August 11, 1873:
"Deaths occur quite frequently here, almost dayly. Napela (the Mormon elder and assistant supervisor of the Kalaupapa Settlement) last week rode around the Beach to inspect the Lepers and came on to one that had no Pai [taro] for a Week but manage to live on what he could find in his Hut, anything Chewable. His legs were so bad that he cannot walk, and few traverse the spot where His Hut stands, but fortunate enough for him that he had sufficient enough water to last him till aid came and that not too late, or else probably he must have died."
On November 26, 1880 at the age 44, he died at Honolulu, after being released from Kalawao in 1876. The Hawaiian Gazette, December 1, 1880 said: The Hon. P. Y. Kaeo died at his residence on Emma Street on Friday night [November 26, 1880]. The funeral took place on Sunday and was largely attended by the retainers and friends of the family. The hearse was surrounded by Kahili-bearers as becomes the dignity of a chief. He was laid to rest at Maemae, the resting place of the chiefs, rather than at Mauna Ala. His leprosy and later shunning by the rest of the royal community, except for his cousin Emma, may have been the main reason he was denied the honor that the majority of the descendants of John Young and even his bastard half-brother were given.