Fanny Kekelaokalani
Encyclopedia
Fanny Kekuiapoiwa Kekelaokalani Young Lewis Naea (1806–1880), was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii
, and mother of a Queen consort.
, in the Kohala District, on the Island of Hawaii
. Her father was John Young
, a former English sailor who became the royal advisor of Kamehameha I
. Her mother was the High Chiefess Kaoanaeha
, the niece of Kamehameha I. She was given the name of Fanny or Fannie and sometimes referred to as Pane the Hawaiian version of Fanny. Her Hawaiian name Kekelaokalani derived from her great-great grandmother, the High Chiefess Kekelaokalani, the sister of Keeaumoku-nui, the grandfather of Kamehameha the Great. Her name Kekuiapoiwa derived from Kamehameha's mother and her great-grandmother. She was raised on her father's homestead on a barren hillside overlooking Kawaihae Bay. It is now part of Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site. She grew up with two younger sisters, Grace
and Jane
, and younger brother, John
. She had two older half-brothers by her father's first marriage to Namokuelua: Robert
and James
. The siblings were hapa-haole or part Caucasian, but considered of alii (royal) class through their mother, and John Young's honorary title of "Olohana".
(1833–1853), who attended Royal School along with other royal children. Later, she married High Chief George Naea. With Naea she had a daughter Emma
on January 2, 1836. She allowed her daughter to be adopted by her sister Grace Kamaikui and her husband Dr. Rooke according to the Hawaiian tradition known as hānai. Emma's birthplace has been debated as Kawaihae, Lahaina or Honolulu. Most likely Emma was born in Honolulu. Her father John Young died at her sister's home in Honolulu on December 16, only three weeks before Emma's birth. He had been living there for some time under Dr. Rooke's care, and it appears the Young family, including Fanny and Naea, gathered in Honolulu, perhaps in anticipation of his death. They were present at his funeral. It is unlikely the Rookes would have allowed Fanny in her last stages of pregnancy to risk the health of the baby by sailing the rough channels to Kawaihae or Lahainna. After Emma's adoption Fanny might have divorced her husband Naea. Naea later contracted leprosy in 1838, died in 1854, and she became a widow.
in 1872. All the other women eligible to become monarch were there: his half-sister Princess Ruth Keelikolani
, Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Queen Emma, and Lydia Kamakaeha Dominis.
Fanny died September 4, 1880, in Honolulu, Oahu. She was 74 years old. She had lived passed all her siblings and close relatives. She was the second last surviving member of the Young family; the last was her daughter Emma who had become Queen consort of Kamehameha IV
and lived until April 25, 1885. Fanny was buried in the Wylie Tomb in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
known as Mauna Ala.
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 mother of a Queen consort.
Early life
She was born, July 21, 1806 in KawaihaeKawaihae
Kawaihae is an unincorporated community on the west side of the island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii, north of Kailua-Kona. Its harbor includes a fuel depot, shipping terminal and military landing site. Outside of the man-made breakwall of the harbor is a popular surf spot and the Pua...
, in the Kohala District, 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...
. Her father was John Young
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...
, a former English sailor who became the royal advisor of 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...
. Her mother was the High Chiefess Kaoanaeha
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...
, the niece of Kamehameha I. She was given the name of Fanny or Fannie and sometimes referred to as Pane the Hawaiian version of Fanny. Her Hawaiian name Kekelaokalani derived from her great-great grandmother, the High Chiefess Kekelaokalani, the sister of Keeaumoku-nui, the grandfather of Kamehameha the Great. Her name Kekuiapoiwa derived from Kamehameha's mother and her great-grandmother. She was raised on her father's homestead on a barren hillside overlooking Kawaihae Bay. It is now part of Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site. She grew up with two younger sisters, Grace
Grace Kamaikui
Grace Kamaikui Young Rooke was a Hawaiian high chiefess who was daughter of the chief military advisor during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and adoptive mother of a future Queen consort.-Early Life and Marriage:...
and Jane
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...
, and younger brother, John
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:...
. She had two older half-brothers by her father's first marriage to Namokuelua: Robert
Robert Young (Hawaii)
Robert Young was a Hawaiian chief and the son of John Young, the British advisor of Kamehameha the Great. Named after his paternal grandfather, Robert Young of Lancashire, England, he was probably called Lopaka by his mother and other Hawaiians.-Early life:He was born February 14, 1796, the eldest...
and James
James Kanehoa
James Young Kānehoa was a member of the court of King Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III during the Kingdom of Hawaii. Sometimes he is confused with his half-brother John Kaleipaihala Young II known as Keoni Ana.-Life:...
. The siblings were hapa-haole or part Caucasian, but considered of alii (royal) class through their mother, and John Young's honorary title of "Olohana".
Marriage
Her first marriage was to Henry Coleman Lewis, a haole or foreigner, and she had a daughter Mary Polly PaaāinaMary Polly Paaaina
Mary Polly Paaāina or Mary Ii was a Hawaiian chiefess and sister of Queen Emma who attended Royal School.-Biography:She was born circa 1833. Her parents were Henry Coleman Lewis and High chiefess Fanny Kekela. Her mother was daughter of John Young the advisor of Kamehameha I and was also...
(1833–1853), who attended Royal School along with other royal children. Later, she married High Chief George Naea. With Naea she had a daughter Emma
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....
on January 2, 1836. She allowed her daughter to be adopted by her sister Grace Kamaikui and her husband Dr. Rooke according to the Hawaiian tradition known as hānai. Emma's birthplace has been debated as Kawaihae, Lahaina or Honolulu. Most likely Emma was born in Honolulu. Her father John Young died at her sister's home in Honolulu on December 16, only three weeks before Emma's birth. He had been living there for some time under Dr. Rooke's care, and it appears the Young family, including Fanny and Naea, gathered in Honolulu, perhaps in anticipation of his death. They were present at his funeral. It is unlikely the Rookes would have allowed Fanny in her last stages of pregnancy to risk the health of the baby by sailing the rough channels to Kawaihae or Lahainna. After Emma's adoption Fanny might have divorced her husband Naea. Naea later contracted leprosy in 1838, died in 1854, and she became a widow.
Later life
She was present at the deathbed of King Kamehameha VKamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
in 1872. All the other women eligible to become monarch were there: his half-sister Princess Ruth Keelikolani
Keelikolani
Princess Ruth Luka Keanolani Kauanahoahoa Keelikōlani , was a member of the Kamehameha family, the founding dynasty of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She served as Royal Governor of the Island of Hawaii. As primary heir to the Kamehameha family, Ruth became a landholder of what would become the Bernice...
, Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Queen Emma, and Lydia Kamakaeha Dominis.
Fanny died September 4, 1880, in Honolulu, Oahu. She was 74 years old. She had lived passed all her siblings and close relatives. She was the second last surviving member of the Young family; the last was her daughter Emma who had become Queen consort of 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:...
and lived until April 25, 1885. Fanny was buried in the Wylie Tomb in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
The Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, known as Mauna Ala in the Hawaiian language, is the final resting place of Hawaii's two prominent royal families: the Kamehameha Dynasty and the Kalākaua Dynasty.-Description:...
known as Mauna Ala.