Keoni Ana
Encyclopedia
John Kaleipaihala Young II sometimes called Keoni Ana Opio (1810–1857) was a politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii
, serving as Kuhina Nui of the Hawaiian Islands and Minister of Interior.
, the English sailor who became a trusted adviser to King Kamehameha I
, by his second wife Kaōanaeha
, the niece of Kamehameha I. He was elder brother of Jane Lahilahi Young, younger brother of Fanny Kekelaokalani Young and Grace Kama'iku'i Young, and younger half-brother of James Kanehoa Young and Robert Young
, sons of Young and Namokuelua. He, his siblings, and Isaac Davis
' children, grew up on their father's homestead granted to them by the king, overlooking the Kawaihae Bay.
It is now part of the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
. Keoni Ana held several government positions, including service in the House of Nobles
1841–1856, the Privy Council 1845–1857, as a Supreme Court justice, royal governor of Maui
, and as chamberlain of Kamehameha III’s household. He aided in communication between native Hawaiian and foreign elements in the community.
On June 10, 1845 he was appointed Kuhina Nui
by King Kamehameha III. because Victoria Kamāmalu
, the designated successor of her mother, Elizabeth Kinau, was still a minor.
He succeeded Miriam Auhea Kekauluohi as Kuhina Nui. After Keoni Ana became Kuhina Nui the Legislative Assembly passed several acts that organized the executive ministries and departments of the government. This legislation provided that the Kuhina Nui served also as Minister of the Interior. More far-reaching was the creation of the Board of Commissioners to Quiet Land Titles, which would forever change the system of land tenure in Hawaii in what would be known as the Great Mahele
. Keoni Ana served on a committee to assist the king and chiefs in defining their rights and interests in the lands within the kingdom. As a very close friend and ally of the Kauikeaouli, Keoni Ana recognized that the Kuhina Nui’s authority challenged the King’s prestige and power. Keoni Ana supported Kamehameha III and IV in their attempt to abolish the office.
His position as Kuhina Nui was not renewed in 1855 by Kamehameha IV
who chose his sister as the new Kuhina Nui but he remained Minister of the Interior.
house, but they were childless. His second marriage, most likely after Alapai's passing, was to the High Chiefess Hikoni, and his third marriage was to Princess Elizabeth Kekaaniau's first cousin, the High Chiefess Ulu-maheihei, daughter of High Chief Waipa, by his wife, High Chiefess Kekaikuihala, daughter of Alii Nuhi of Waimea, and High Chiefess Kaohelelani of Hana. Through these other marriage he remained childless. He adopted his nephew Peter Kaeo
, son of his sister Jane Lahilahi
. He bought Hānaiakamālama in an auction and willed it to his niece Emma Rooke who became Queen Emma and used at it as her summer palace. He died 1857 and was buried at the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna Ala
. His only heirs were his niece Emma and nephew Peter.
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...
, serving as Kuhina Nui of the Hawaiian Islands and Minister of Interior.
Early life
Keoni Ana was born March 12, 1810 in Kawaihae, Hawaii. He was the only son of John YoungJohn 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...
, the English sailor who became a trusted adviser to King 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...
, by his second wife Kaōanaeha
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. He was elder brother of Jane Lahilahi Young, younger brother of Fanny Kekelaokalani Young and Grace Kama'iku'i Young, and younger half-brother of James Kanehoa Young and Robert Young
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...
, sons of Young and Namokuelua. He, his siblings, and Isaac Davis
Isaac Davis
Isaac Davis was a gunsmith and a militia officer who commanded a company of Minutemen from Acton, Massachusetts, during the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. In the months leading up to the Revolution, Davis set unusually high standards for his company in terms of equipment,...
' children, grew up on their father's homestead granted to them by the king, overlooking the Kawaihae Bay.
It is now part of the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
Politics
He grew up as the favorite companion of Prince Kauikeaouli, who took the throne as King Kamehameha IIIKamehameha 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...
. Keoni Ana held several government positions, including service 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...
1841–1856, the Privy Council 1845–1857, as a Supreme Court justice, royal governor of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, and as chamberlain of Kamehameha III’s household. He aided in communication between native Hawaiian and foreign elements in the community.
On June 10, 1845 he was appointed 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 :...
by King Kamehameha III. because Victoria Kamāmalu
Kaahumanu IV
Victoria Kamāmalu Kaahumanu IV , was Kuhina Nui of Hawaii and its crown princess. Princess Kamāmalu is one of Hawaii's less notable historical figures...
, the designated successor of her mother, Elizabeth Kinau, was still a minor.
He succeeded Miriam Auhea Kekauluohi as Kuhina Nui. After Keoni Ana became Kuhina Nui the Legislative Assembly passed several acts that organized the executive ministries and departments of the government. This legislation provided that the Kuhina Nui served also as Minister of the Interior. More far-reaching was the creation of the Board of Commissioners to Quiet Land Titles, which would forever change the system of land tenure in Hawaii in what would be known as the Great Mahele
Great Mahele
The Great Mahele or just the Mahele was the Hawaiian land redistribution act proposed by King Kamehameha III in the 1830s and enacted in 1848.-Overview:...
. Keoni Ana served on a committee to assist the king and chiefs in defining their rights and interests in the lands within the kingdom. As a very close friend and ally of the Kauikeaouli, Keoni Ana recognized that the Kuhina Nui’s authority challenged the King’s prestige and power. Keoni Ana supported Kamehameha III and IV in their attempt to abolish the office.
His position as Kuhina Nui was not renewed in 1855 by 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:...
who chose his sister as the new Kuhina Nui but he remained Minister of the Interior.
Marriages
He married three times, all Hawaiians of noble birth. He married Julia Alapai, elder daughter of Nahili, by his wife, High Chiefess Kauwaa, younger daughter of Alapainui, the girl's namesake. Their union is sometimes given as 1823, but this would mean John would only have been 13 years old and Alapai was 8 years his senior being born in 1802. Keoni Ana seemed to love Alapai the most; a portrait of the chiefess can still be seen at the HānaiakamālamaHanaiakamalama
Hānaiakamalama , or Queen Emma Summer Palace, served as a retreat for Queen Emma of Hawaii from 1857 to 1885, as well as for her husband King Kamehameha IV, and their son, Prince Albert Edward. It is a now a historic landmark, museum, and tourist site located at 2913 Pali Highway, less than a...
house, but they were childless. His second marriage, most likely after Alapai's passing, was to the High Chiefess Hikoni, and his third marriage was to Princess Elizabeth Kekaaniau's first cousin, the High Chiefess Ulu-maheihei, daughter of High Chief Waipa, by his wife, High Chiefess Kekaikuihala, daughter of Alii Nuhi of Waimea, and High Chiefess Kaohelelani of Hana. Through these other marriage he remained childless. He adopted his nephew Peter Kaeo
Peter Kaeo
Peter Young Kaeo Kekuaokalani was a Hawaiian noble and politician of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Peter was born March 4, 1836 at Paloha, Honolulu on the island of Oahu. His mother was Jane Lahilahi, the youngest daughter of John Young Olohana, the advisor to Kamehameha I, and Chiefess Kaōanaeha...
, son of his sister Jane Lahilahi
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...
. He bought Hānaiakamālama in an auction and willed it to his niece Emma Rooke who became Queen Emma and used at it as her summer palace. He died 1857 and was buried at the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna Ala
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:...
. His only heirs were his niece Emma and nephew Peter.