Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
Encyclopedia
Gideon Peleioholani Laanui (1797–1849) was a Hawaiian chief who was grandnephew of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands
in 1810. From him descends the House of Laanui
.
in 1797. His mother was Chiefess Kaohelelani
, formerly heir to Hana, Kipahulu and Kaupo, and daughter of High Chief Kalokuokamaile
and High Chiefess Kaloiokalani
. His father was the High Chief Nuhi, ruler of Waimea and son of Chief Hinai of Waimea, by his wife, Kupapa-a-i. Nuhi had survived the 1792 battle at Puukoholā Heiau where Kamehameha I
unified the island of Hawaii. His only sibling was his sister Kekaikuihala.
When Laanui was a boy, Kamehameha was still trying to control the District of Waimea; if not in battle, through a matrimonial alliance. His failure to accomplish this through his niece Kaohelelani was a sting to the old warrior's pride, and now he chose a new agent by inviting Laanui to his court. The invitation was accepted, and the visit lasted for months. Kamehameha and Queen Kaahumanu arranged a marriage between Piia
and Laanui.
The couple lived at Waialua, one of the divisions of land which Piia had received from her father Keeaumoku Papaiahiahi
's large estate. Soon after Kamehameha I's death in 1819, Kaahumanu became Kuhina Nui
and Kamehameha II
became king. After this the first party of missionaries arrived. He and Piia, together with Queen Kaahumanu and several other chiefs, were among the first converts to Christianity. They were the first couples to be married by Hiram Bingham I
in a Christian ceremony. Their favorite dwelling was Waialua, Oahu. They visited Honolulu only when necessary. Unfortunately Piia's corpulence did not inure to healthfulness and before long she sickened and died. On her deathbed she said to her husband:
Laanui, in the presence of friends, relatives and retainers, pronounced forgiveness. A few days later Piia died.
, the French secretary of Kamehameha II
, whose Hawaiian name was Luahine ("Old Woman"). Owana's mother was Chiefess Holau II, descendant of Kaihikapumahana, the only daughter of Lonoikamakahiki Kapuokalani and his wife Kaikilanialliwahine o Puna and sister sister of Keawehanauikawalu, ancestor of Kekuanaoa, father of the last line of the Kamehamehas. His wife and her sister Virginia Kahoa were hānai (adopted) daughters of the Queen Kaahumanu and were spoken by Mrs. Gerrit P. Judd
as becomingly pretty. Laanui was almost twice the age of his young wife.
They lived at Waialua in the Laanui Estate, by the Anahulu River. Their town residence became owned by the James Campbell estate. In time a daughter was born. Friends from Honolulu brought offerings to mingle with those of Waialua and were entertained by Laanui and Owana.
They named their child Elizabeth Kekaaniauokalani. "Elizabeth" after the baptismal name of Queen Kaahumanu, the child's foster grandmother and step-aunt, and the Hawaiian name after one of Laanui's sister, the firstborn of Kaohelelani and Nuhi, who died at the age of five years. For five years they hoped for a male heir. They named their son Gideon Laanui II after his father and Kailipalaki o Keheananui (after the high alii Kinau II).
with his family was going to close the Royal School.
Eventually a guardian was appointed: John Papa Īī who was also administrator of Laanui's estate. Upon arriving at maturity Elizabeth was advised to claim her portion of her father's estats. When she called on Ii for this purpose, he astounded her with the information, "There is not much property that I know of which belonged to your father." Being young and unsuspicious she turned toward home little suspecting the wrongs inflicted on her and her brother. How they had been wronged remained a mystery until several years afterward, when a very confidential retainer of Laanui's took sick and fearing that death might overtake him at any moment, despatched a boy to Princess Elizabeth urging her to come to his bedside, as he wished to see her once more before the end came. The next morning, in company with her uncle, she went to the old gentleman awaiting their arrival in great anxiety. After they had partaken of some food the household was summoned to evening prayers as usual, by the sick man's couch, and after delivering the blessing of God he turned and addressed his guest thus:
The old gentleman died a few hours later and Elizabeth and her brother received their father's inheritance excluding those already lost to Laanui's other former retainers and the lands of Hana, Kipahulu, Kaupo, and Waimea lost to Kamehameha. All descendants of Kalokuokamaile had no luck at landholding; each one being robbed from first to the last. Eventually the Laanui Estate at Waialua, Oahu was lost and torn down to build the Haleiwa Hotel.
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
in 1810. From him descends the House of Laanui
House of Laanui
The House of Laanui is a family of heirs to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii collateral to the House of Kamehameha. Both houses are branches of the House of Keōua Nui.- History:...
.
Early life
Peleioholani Laanui was probably born at the District of Waimea on the island of HawaiiHawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
in 1797. His mother was Chiefess Kaohelelani
Kaohelelani
-Life:She was born in the District of Hāna on the island of Maui in the mid to late 18th century. Her mother was High Chiefess Kaloiokalani of the royal family of Kahikinui and Honuaula...
, formerly heir to Hana, Kipahulu and Kaupo, and daughter of High Chief Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile , was a Hawaiian chief and first-born son of Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui and half-brother of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. He was the progenitor of the House of Kalokuokamaile.- Biography :He was born on the island of Maui...
and High Chiefess Kaloiokalani
Kaloiokalani
Kaloiokalani, a Hawaiian chiefess of Maui descent, was the only known wife of Prince Kalokuokamaile and therefore the matriarch of the still-surviving House of Kalokuokamaile. Her great-great-great-great-granddaughter, Princess Myrtle Kaloiokalani Kinau Wilcox , was her namesake...
. His father was the High Chief Nuhi, ruler of Waimea and son of Chief Hinai of Waimea, by his wife, Kupapa-a-i. Nuhi had survived the 1792 battle at Puukoholā Heiau where 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...
unified the island of Hawaii. His only sibling was his sister Kekaikuihala.
When Laanui was a boy, Kamehameha was still trying to control the District of Waimea; if not in battle, through a matrimonial alliance. His failure to accomplish this through his niece Kaohelelani was a sting to the old warrior's pride, and now he chose a new agent by inviting Laanui to his court. The invitation was accepted, and the visit lasted for months. Kamehameha and Queen Kaahumanu arranged a marriage between Piia
Namahana Piia
Lydia Namahana Piia was a wife of King Kamehameha I of Hawaii. She was the daughter of Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi, and her sister Kaʻahumanu was also Kamehameha's wife. Kamehameha and Kaʻahumanu later arranged Piia to marry Gideon Peleioholani Laanui, who was ten years her junior...
and Laanui.
Marriage to Namahana
Namahana Kekuwai-Piia was the youngest sister of Queen Kaahumanu and formerly one of the queens of Kamehameha. Piia is described as being a person heavily built and not prepossessing in appearance like her sisters Kaahumanu and Kaheiheimalie. At last the preposition was put to Laanui, that it was the united wish of the king and queen that the marriage should take place. To wed a woman very many years his senior was not his desire. Yet realizing that it might be perilous to defy the powerful monarch, Laanui quietly consented "to take the bitter pill."The couple lived at Waialua, one of the divisions of land which Piia had received from her father Keeaumoku Papaiahiahi
Keeaumoku Papaiahiahi
Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi was a Hawaiian high chief and the father of Kaahumanu. He was the principal agent in elevating Kamehameha I to the throne of Hawaii and served in a capacity similar to commander in chief or Prime Minister...
's large estate. Soon after Kamehameha I's death in 1819, Kaahumanu became 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 Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
became king. After this the first party of missionaries arrived. He and Piia, together with Queen Kaahumanu and several other chiefs, were among the first converts to Christianity. They were the first couples to be married by Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham, formally Hiram Bingham I , was leader of the first group of Protestant missionaries to introduce Christianity to the Hawaiian islands.-Life:...
in a Christian ceremony. Their favorite dwelling was Waialua, Oahu. They visited Honolulu only when necessary. Unfortunately Piia's corpulence did not inure to healthfulness and before long she sickened and died. On her deathbed she said to her husband:
"Laanui, I wish to divulge a secret in my hear to you. It was not my work that you gave up your patrimonial inheritance to me. It was at the instigation of Kamehameha that I played coyly toward you in order to gratify his selfish motives. For your cheerful sacrifice of what was so dear to your hear I feel it is my duty to repay you. Therefore in return for great kindness I leave this dear Waialua to you, as well as all the other lands which I own, for my token of love for you. I cannot die happy without making this reparation while the breath is in my body. Forgive me for the part I took in the wrongful measure."
Laanui, in the presence of friends, relatives and retainers, pronounced forgiveness. A few days later Piia died.
Marriage to Owana
After Piia's death, he married High Chiefess Theresa Owana Kaheiheimālie Rives. She was one of the twin daughters of Jean Baptiste RivesJean Baptiste Rives
Jean Baptiste Rives was a French adventurer who served in the court of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His first name was sometimes spelled John and last name Reeves by English speakers. Some sources give other middle names.-Life:...
, the French secretary of Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
, whose Hawaiian name was Luahine ("Old Woman"). Owana's mother was Chiefess Holau II, descendant of Kaihikapumahana, the only daughter of Lonoikamakahiki Kapuokalani and his wife Kaikilanialliwahine o Puna and sister sister of Keawehanauikawalu, ancestor of Kekuanaoa, father of the last line of the Kamehamehas. His wife and her sister Virginia Kahoa were hānai (adopted) daughters of the Queen Kaahumanu and were spoken by Mrs. Gerrit P. Judd
Gerrit P. Judd
Gerrit Parmele Judd was an American physician and missionary to the Kingdom of Hawaii who later became a trusted advisor and cabinet minister to King Kamehameha III.- Life :...
as becomingly pretty. Laanui was almost twice the age of his young wife.
They lived at Waialua in the Laanui Estate, by the Anahulu River. Their town residence became owned by the James Campbell estate. In time a daughter was born. Friends from Honolulu brought offerings to mingle with those of Waialua and were entertained by Laanui and Owana.
They named their child Elizabeth Kekaaniauokalani. "Elizabeth" after the baptismal name of Queen Kaahumanu, the child's foster grandmother and step-aunt, and the Hawaiian name after one of Laanui's sister, the firstborn of Kaohelelani and Nuhi, who died at the age of five years. For five years they hoped for a male heir. They named their son Gideon Laanui II after his father and Kailipalaki o Keheananui (after the high alii Kinau II).
Death
On September 12, 1849, Laanui died at his favourite home at Waialua. Princess Elizabeth Kekaaniau was still a minor and attending school as the time. His two children still had some living members of their mother's family: Owana's twin sister and two brothers, who took them to their home. Before this could be arranged notice had to be given to the king and chiefs that, owing to failing health, Amos Starr CookeAmos Starr Cooke
Amos Starr Cooke was an educator and businessman in the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was patriarch of a family that influenced Hawaii during the 20th century.-Life:Amos Starr Cooke was born in Danbury, Connecticut, December 1, 1810....
with his family was going to close the Royal School.
Eventually a guardian was appointed: John Papa Īī who was also administrator of Laanui's estate. Upon arriving at maturity Elizabeth was advised to claim her portion of her father's estats. When she called on Ii for this purpose, he astounded her with the information, "There is not much property that I know of which belonged to your father." Being young and unsuspicious she turned toward home little suspecting the wrongs inflicted on her and her brother. How they had been wronged remained a mystery until several years afterward, when a very confidential retainer of Laanui's took sick and fearing that death might overtake him at any moment, despatched a boy to Princess Elizabeth urging her to come to his bedside, as he wished to see her once more before the end came. The next morning, in company with her uncle, she went to the old gentleman awaiting their arrival in great anxiety. After they had partaken of some food the household was summoned to evening prayers as usual, by the sick man's couch, and after delivering the blessing of God he turned and addressed his guest thus:
"My dear you Alii, I have been a traitor to you and your cause. I have been false to my haku, your beloved father, who brought us to this new residence aside from our own loved land of Waimea, the birthplace of your dear father and his ancestors before him. He placed in my hands a book, which you will find in your room, containing a list of lands to be presented to the Land Office just newly created to secure the legal award of title as ordained by law. I did not follow your father's command, but listend to the tempter. All the lands that I possess as presents from your father it is my wish that they be returned to you after the death of my wife."
The old gentleman died a few hours later and Elizabeth and her brother received their father's inheritance excluding those already lost to Laanui's other former retainers and the lands of Hana, Kipahulu, Kaupo, and Waimea lost to Kamehameha. All descendants of Kalokuokamaile had no luck at landholding; each one being robbed from first to the last. Eventually the Laanui Estate at Waialua, Oahu was lost and torn down to build the Haleiwa Hotel.