Kamanawa II known as Kamanawa Ōpio or Kamanawa Elua ( – October 20, 1840) was a

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

an high chief and grandfather of the last two ruling monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaii, King David Kalākaua and Queen Lydia Makaeha Liliuokalani. His family had a good reputation until 1840, when he was convicted of murdering his wife.

Life

Family

Kamanawa was born about 1785. His father was High Chief Kepookalani. He was a grandson of Kameeiamoku, one of the five Kona chiefs who supported

Kamehameha I Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiikui Kamehameha o Iolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; – May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Th ...

in his formation of the Kingdom, one of the royal twins on the Coat of Arms of Hawaii. His mother was High Chiefess Alapai Wahine. His half-brother was Aikanaka. He was named after his great uncle

Kamanawa ''For other persons with this name, please see Kamanawa II.'' Kamanawa (died c. 1802?) was a Hawaiian high chief and early supporter of King Kamehameha I, known as one of the royal ''Nīʻaupiʻo'' twins with his brother Kameeiamoku. He later bec ...

, the twin of his grandfather. Sometimes he is called Kamanawa Ōpio or Elua because ''ōpio'' means "junior" and ''elua'' means "second" in the Hawaiian language. He had son Caesar Kaluaiku Kapaakea (1815–1866) and daughter Chiefess Kekahili (c. 1830) by Kamokuiki. He was known to live in the Keahuolū area of the North Kona district of the

island of Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii ) is the largest island in the United States, located in the state of Hawaii. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of , it has 63% of th ...

Death

He began to hear rumors that his great-uncle Alapai was the true father of Kekahili. Meanwhile, he had a son Joel Hulu Mahoe (1831–1891) by Aulani. He had divorced his wife Kamokuiki, but he could not legally remarry while his former wife lived. Punishment for adultery in missionary-influenced Hawaii included banishment to the barren island of

Kahoolawe Kahoolawe (Hawaiian: ), anglicized as Kahoolawe (), is the smallest of the eight main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. Kahoolawe is located about southwest of Maui and also southeast of Lānaʻi, and it is long by wide, with a total l ...

. He and an accomplice, Lonoapuakau, captain of the Hawaiian vessel ''Hooikaika'', poisoned Kamokuiki to avoid punishment for adultery, but were discovered. The trial, October 3, 1840, was presided over by Governor Kekūanāoa of

Oahu Oahu () ( Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island of O� ...

and a jury of twelve "intelligent Hawaiians". Kamanawa was found guilty of both murder and adultery. The same issue of the newspaper that expressed approval of the trial welcomed

Charles Wilkes Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842). During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he commanded ' during the ...

of the American Exploring Expedition. On October 20, 1840 he and Lonopuakau were hanged at Fort Honolulu before a crowd of 10,000. Kamanawa died twelve days after the first Hawaiian Constitution was signed. Prior to his death, he requested to see his grandsons James Kaliokalani and David Kalākaua, who were attending the Royal School. They were allowed to see their grandfather before his execution.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kamanawa 02 1780s births 1840 deaths Royalty of the Hawaiian Kingdom House of Kalākaua Executed people from Hawaii People executed for murder People executed by the Hawaiian Kingdom People convicted of murder by Hawaii House of Keawe