John Adams Kuakini
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John Adams Kiiapalaoku Kuakini (1789–1844) was an important adviser to
Kamehameha I Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; to May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii ...
in the early stages of the
Kingdom of Hawaii The Hawaiian Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ɛ ɐwˈpuni həˈvɐjʔi, was an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country from 1795 to 1893, which eventually encompassed all of the inhabited Hawaii ...
. He was responsible for contributing to the infrastructure among other changes in the
Kona District Kona is a ''moku'' or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii, known for its Kona coffee and the Ironman World Championship Triathlon. In the administration of Hawaii County, the ''moku'' of Kona is divided into North Kon ...
during this era.


Family life

He was born about 1789 with the name ''Kaluaikonahale''. His father was Keʻeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi, an alii (noble) from the
island of Hawaii Hawaii is the List of islands of the United States by area, largest island in the United States, located in the Hawaii, state of Hawaii, the southernmost state in the union. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcani ...
, and his mother was NāmāhānaiKaleleokalani, the widow queen and half-sister of the late king of
Maui Maui (; Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ) is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2). It is the List of islands of the United States by area, 17th-largest in the United States. Maui is one of ...
, Kamehameha Nui. Historian
Samuel Kamakau Samuel Mānaiakalani Kamakau (October 29, 1815 – September 5, 1876) was a Hawaiian historian and scholar. His work appeared in local newspapers and was later compiled into books, becoming an invaluable resource on the Hawaiian people, Hawaiian ...
later makes the contradictory claim that
Kaʻiana Kaʻiana, also known as Keawe-Kaʻiana-a-ʻAhuʻula, (about 1755 – 1795) was a Native Hawaiian (kānaka ʻōiwi/maoli) warrior and '' aliʻi'' ( noble) of Puna, Hawai‘i, who turned against Kamehameha I in 1795 during his conquest of Oahu and ...
was Kuakini's father and also claimed he was a ''poʻolua'' child (possessing two head or father). Keʻeaumoku became a
fugitive A fugitive or runaway is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from jail, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals. A fugitive from justice, also known ...
from King Kahekili II of Maui. Escaping to Hana, the family moved back to Hawaii island and lived on Kahaluu Bay. He was the youngest of four important siblings: sisters Queen Kaahumanu, Kamehameha's favorite wife and later became the powerful
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 offi ...
,
Kalākua Kaheiheimālie Kalākua Kaheiheimālie, later known as Hoapili Wahine (–1842) was a member of Hawaiian royalty who was one of the queen consorts at the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was the mother of another queen consort, and grandmother of two futu ...
and Namahana-o-Piia, also queens of Kamehameha, and brother George Cox Kahekili Keeaumoku, who later became the Governor of Maui. His father helped
Kamehameha I Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; to May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii ...
come to power in the battle of Mokuōhai in 1782. With the introduction of
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
, Hawaiians were encouraged to take
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
or American names. As an example of his royal manner, he chose the name John Adams after
John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams (; July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was the sixth president of the United States, serving from 1825 to 1829. He previously served as the eighth United States secretary of state from 1817 to 1825. During his long diploma ...
, the
U.S. president The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
in office at the time. He adopted the name as well as other customs of the U.S. and
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
.Robert Oaks, ''Hawaii: A History of the Big Island'', Arcadia Publishing, 2003, , Page 45 As a youth he excelled at sports such as
canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. In some parts of Europe, canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an 'open canoe' or Canadian. A few of the recreational ...
, but later acquired a taste for alcohol, fine food, and women. He seriously injured his foot, however, trying to escape after being caught with the wife of Governor Kuihelani of Oahu. He recovered, but walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Like many of Polynesian royal lineage, he had a large stature. A visitor in 1819 described him as about 6 feet 3 inches, and in his later days was said to have weighed over 400 pounds. He married Keouawahine and Kaniuʻopiohaʻaheo or Haʻaheo. With Keouawahine, he had one son Keoua, who died in infancy, and with Haʻaheo, he had one daughter Mele Kaʻauʻamoku o Kamānele (1814–1834). Kamānele was considered to be a potential bride for King
Kamehameha III Kamehameha III (born Kauikeaouli) (March 17, 1814 – December 15, 1854) was the third king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kīwalaō Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula K ...
, but she died young. The king later married
Kalama Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili (1817 – September 20, 1870) was a Queen consort of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III. She chose the baptismal name Hakaleleponi after the Biblical f ...
, the daughter of ship pilot
Naihekukui Naihe-Kukui Kapihe (died 1825), known as "Captain Jack" or "Jack the Pilot" to visitors, served as Honolulu harbor master and admiral of the royal fleet in the early Kingdom of Hawaii. His daughter would become a Queen consort. Life He was roya ...
.


Royal Governor

When the Kingdom's central government moved to
Lahaina Lahaina (; ) or Lāhainā is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. On the northwest coast of the island of Maui, it encompasses Lahaina town and the Kaanapali, Hawaii, Kaanapali and Kapalua, Hawaii, Kapalua beac ...
in 1820, his influence expanded on Hawaii island. After John Young had effectively but unofficially served in the role, Kuakini was appointed the first recorded Royal Governor of Hawaii island, serving from 1820 until his death. However, on April 1, 1831, a potential
rebellion Rebellion is an uprising that resists and is organized against one's government. A rebel is a person who engages in a rebellion. A rebel group is a consciously coordinated group that seeks to gain political control over an entire state or a ...
was uncovered on the island of
Oahu Oahu (, , sometimes written Oahu) is the third-largest and most populated island of the Hawaiian Islands and of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu's southeast coast. The island of Oahu and the uninhabited Northwe ...
. His sister Queen Regent Kaahumanu appointed him Royal Governor of Oahu after Kuini Liliha, the leader of the rebellion, he resided at Fort Honolulu serving as the Commander in Chief. Some time in the next few years he moved back to the island of Hawaii after Kaahumanu died and Elizabeth Kīnau became Queen Regent, calling herself Kaahumanu II. From 1841 through 1843 he served in the House of Nobles. He gave land to
missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Miss ...
, such as Asa Thurston to build Mokuaikaua Church, and others on the island. He extended a series of low walls that were originally used as Ahupuaa (traditional land division) barriers for pigs, because the
cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are calle ...
left behind by
George Vancouver Captain (Royal Navy), Captain George Vancouver (; 22 June 1757 – 10 May 1798) was a Royal Navy officer and explorer best known for leading the Vancouver Expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern West Coast of the Uni ...
were wandering through the village of Kailua. This work became known as ''Ka pā nui o Kuakini'' ("The Great Wall of Kuakini"), some of which still stands today. In the village he built Hulihee Palace in the American style out of native
lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a Natural satellite, moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a Fissure vent, fractu ...
, coral lime mortar, koa and ohia timbers. Completed in 1838, he used the palace to entertain visiting Americans and Europeans with great feasts. He made official visits to all ships that arrived on the island, offering them tours of sites such as the
Kīlauea Kīlauea ( , ) is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. It is located along the southeastern shore of Hawaii (island), Hawaii Island. The volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and grew above sea level about 100,000 years ...
volcano. Kuakini died December 9, 1844, in
Kailua-Kona Kailua-Kona is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. It is most commonly referred to simply as Kona (a name it shares with the district to which it belongs), but also as Kona To ...
. He left Hulihee Palace to his ''hānai'' (adopted son) William Pitt Leleiohoku I, who left it to his wife Princess Ruth Keelikōlani.


Legacy

Hulihee Palace is now a museum run by the Daughters of Hawaii, including some of his artifacts. A highway is named "Kuakini Highway", which runs from the Hawaii Belt Road through the town of
Kailua-Kona Kailua-Kona is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. It is most commonly referred to simply as Kona (a name it shares with the district to which it belongs), but also as Kona To ...
, to the
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area (known locally as Old A) is a park built on the site of an old landing strip just north of Kailua, Hawaii County, Hawaii. History During World War II, a small landing strip was cleared near the end of Kuaki ...
.Juvik and Juvik editors, 1998, ''Atlas of Hawaii'', University of Hawaii Press, He is also the namesake of Kuakini Street, Honolulu, which is in turn the namesake of the
Kuakini Medical Center Kuakini Medical Center is a private hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. The center is run by the Kuakini Health System which also runs geriatric care facilities and a foundation. History The organization started as the Japanese Benevolent Society in 189 ...
on it.


Ancestry


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuakini, John Adams 1780s births 1844 deaths Governors of Hawaii (island) Governors of Oahu Members of the Hawaiian Kingdom House of Nobles Hawaiian Kingdom politicians House of Kekaulike Royalty of the Hawaiian Kingdom Converts to Christianity from Hawaiian religion Hawaiian Kingdom Protestants Commanders-in-chief of the Hawaiian Kingdom