Mataio Kekuanaoa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mataio Kekuanaoa was born ca. 1791-1868. He was descendant from the high chiefs of the island of Oahu. Sometimes he was referred as Prince Mataio Kekuanaoa, even though he never was given the title of Prince in his lifetime.

He was born in 1791 to the High Chiefess Inaina, daugter of Pupuka an Oahu alii of considerable importance. His father was either Nahiolea or High Chief Kiʻilaweau, the grandson of the Big Island usurper Alapa'inui who nephew was son of Princess Kalanikauleleiaiwi who ruled alongside her brother Keaweikekahiali`iokamoku. He was the punahele, or intimate companion of Kamehameha II in his youth and follow him to England where he and his Queen Kamamalu died of measles. He was able to escape the sickness and return to Hawaii and stablizing himself in the court by marrying two wifes of his late sovereign.

He married Princess Kalanipauahi and was probably the father of her daughter Princess Ruth Keelikolani. He remarried to Elizabeth Kinau who ruled as the Kuhina-nui at the time under the name Kaahumanu II. From her he fathered Moses Kekuaiwa, Lot Kapuaiwa, Alexander Liholiho, and Victoria Kamamalu. His son Alexander and Lot would become Kamehameha IV and V. His daughter would become Kaahumanu IV and become the fifth Kuhina-nui.

He was the royal governor of Oahu 1834 - 1868. In December 21, 1863 he was made the sixth Kuhina-nui replacing his daughter who had been made Crown Princess and heir apparent to the throne. Most of his reign as Kuhina-nui he supported his son Kamehameha V's view of abolishing the position. He held the position until 1864 when the Constitution of 1864 abolished it. He also served as a member of the House of Nobles, Privy Council and as President of the Board of Education. In 1866, Mark Twain praised Mataio Kekuanaoa as "a man of noble presence... seemingly natural and fitted to the place as if he had been born to it...."

[edit] Resource

• MATAIO KEKUANAO'A

Preceded by John Adams Kuakini	Royal Governor of Oahu 1834 - 1868	Succeeded by John Owen Dominis
Preceded by Kaahumanu IV	Kuhina Nui of the Hawaiian Islands 21 December 1863 - 24 August 1864	Succeeded by Position Abolished