Jonah Piikoi
Encyclopedia
Ionah Piikoi (1809–1859) was a Hawaiian high chief, distantly descended from the King of Kauai
. He was patriarch of a family of future nobles of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
He served in the House of Nobles
1845–1859 and on the Privy Council 1852–1855. Prior to serving King Kamehameha III
he was believed to be a commoner, or at least a lesser chief who began public service as a tobacco lighter of King Kaumualii of Kauai
and later King Kamehameha II
. Credit for parcelling of the mahele lands was assumed by Piikoi in his autobiography. Piikoi Street in Honolulu is named after either him or his son. He probably adopted the name Jonah when he converted to Christianity
, using the Hawaiian spelling spelling Ionah. His grandson Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole took his Christian name.
He once owned a large section of the land between Waikiki
and Honolulu called the Kewalo area on the island of Oahu
. He built the first two-story wooden house in that area near the present McKinley High School
His first wife was Kamakee and they had two daughters named Lilia or Lydia Piikoi and Maria Piikoi Cummins. Maria was married to Thomas Jefferson Cummins and had three daughters. He married later to the High Chiefess Kekahili, daughter of Kamokuiki
, and half-sister of High Chief Caesar Kapaakea. This marriage made him brother-in-law to Kapaakea who was the father of David Kalākaua
. He had only one son from his marriage to Kekahili, the High Chief David Kahalepouli Piikoi
. Piikoi died at Honolulu, Oahu, April 20, 1859, at the age of 50.
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
. He was patriarch of a family of future nobles of the Kingdom of Hawaii
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...
.
He served in the House of Nobles
Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
The Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom was the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A royal legislature was first provided by the 1840 Constitution and the 1852 Constitution was the first to use the term "Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom", and the first to subject the monarch to...
1845–1859 and on the Privy Council 1852–1855. Prior to serving King Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
he was believed to be a commoner, or at least a lesser chief who began public service as a tobacco lighter of King Kaumualii of Kauai
Kaumualii
Kaumualii was the last independent Alii Aimoku of Kauai and Niihau before becoming a vassal of Kamehameha I of the unified Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810...
and later King 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...
. Credit for parcelling of the mahele lands was assumed by Piikoi in his autobiography. Piikoi Street in Honolulu is named after either him or his son. He probably adopted the name Jonah when he converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, using the Hawaiian spelling spelling Ionah. His grandson Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole took his Christian name.
He once owned a large section of the land between Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
and Honolulu called the Kewalo area on the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. He built the first two-story wooden house in that area near the present McKinley High School
His first wife was Kamakee and they had two daughters named Lilia or Lydia Piikoi and Maria Piikoi Cummins. Maria was married to Thomas Jefferson Cummins and had three daughters. He married later to the High Chiefess Kekahili, daughter of Kamokuiki
Kamokuiki
Kamokuiki was grandmother of the last two ruling monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:She was born about 1795. She married High Chief Kamanawa II and had son Caesar Kapaakea with him...
, and half-sister of High Chief Caesar Kapaakea. This marriage made him brother-in-law to Kapaakea who was the father of David Kalākaua
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
. He had only one son from his marriage to Kekahili, the High Chief David Kahalepouli Piikoi
David Piikoi
David Kahalepouli Piikoi was father of three royal princes of the Kingdom of Hawaii.He was born in 1845. His father was High Chief Jonah Piikoi, descended from the ancient Kings of Kauai. His mother was Kehakili, the daughter of High Chiefess Kamokuiki and High Chief Alapaimaloiki...
. Piikoi died at Honolulu, Oahu, April 20, 1859, at the age of 50.