Leleiohoku
Encyclopedia
Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku II, born William Pitt Leleiohoku Kalahoolewa (1854–1877), was a prince of the Kingdom of Hawaii
and member of the reigning House of Kalākaua
. He is remembered for composing the Hawaiian war chant
, used by the Hawaiian sovereignty movement
today. Leleiohoku means "Fled in the time of Hoku" in Hawaiian
and commerates the day Kamehameha I
died on the Hawaiian calendar.
who named him after her late husband High Chief William Pitt Leleiohoku
. Princess Ruth also named Leleiohoku II heir to her vast holding of most of the Kamehameha lands but he predeceased her. He was educated at Saint Alban's College. An accomplished musician, he founded several royal choral societies that survive today including the Kawaihao Church Singing Club. He was named the Crown Prince by his brother Kalākaua in 1874, with the consent of the House of Nobles
and granted the title of Prince and style of "His Royal Highness". He became a member of the Privy Council and House of Nobles and ruled as Prince-regent when Kalākaua visited the United States.
. Because Leleiohoku was unmarried and had no children, his brother King Kalākaua named their sister Liliuokalani, Crown Princess. It was said that Princess Keelikolani had wished that Kalākaua had chosen her instead of Liliuokalani, but making her heir would make Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop
next in line to the throne. He is buried in the Royal Mausoleum 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...
and member of the reigning House of Kalākaua
House of Kalakaua
The House of Kalākaua, or the Kalākaua Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the assumption of King David Kalākaua to the throne in 1874 and the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893. Liliuokalani died in 1917, leaving only cousins as heirs...
. He is remembered for composing the Hawaiian war chant
Hawaiian War Chant
"Hawaiian War Chant" was an American popular song whose original melody and lyrics were written in the 1860s by Prince Leleiohoku. The original title of the song was Kaua I Ka Huahua`i or "We Two in the Spray." It was not written as a chant, and the Hawaiian lyrics describe a clandestine meeting...
, used by the Hawaiian sovereignty movement
Hawaiian sovereignty movement
The Hawaiian sovereignty movement is a political movement seeking some form of sovereignty for Hawai'i. Generally, the movement's focus is on self-determination and self-governance, either for Hawaiʻi as an independent nation, or for people of whole or part native Hawaiian ancestry, or for...
today. Leleiohoku means "Fled in the time of Hoku" in Hawaiian
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
and commerates the day 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...
died on the Hawaiian calendar.
Life
Leleiohoku was the youngest brother of Prince Moses Kapaakea, Prince James Kaliokalani, King David Kalākaua, Queen Liliuokalani, Princess Anna Kaiulani, Princess Kaiminaauao, Prince Kinini Kapaakea, and Princess Miriam K. Likelike. At birth he became the hānai (adopted son) of Princess Ruth KeelikōlaniKeelikolani
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...
who named him after her late husband High Chief William Pitt Leleiohoku
Leleiohoku I
William Pitt Leleiohoku I was a Hawaiian noble during the Kingdom of Hawaii who married two notable princesses and served as Royal Governor of Hawaii island. On King Kalākaua's trip around the world, he noted that the Sultan of Johor resembled Leleiohoku.Leleiohoku was born on March 31, 1821 in...
. Princess Ruth also named Leleiohoku II heir to her vast holding of most of the Kamehameha lands but he predeceased her. He was educated at Saint Alban's College. An accomplished musician, he founded several royal choral societies that survive today including the Kawaihao Church Singing Club. He was named the Crown Prince by his brother Kalākaua in 1874, with the consent of 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...
and granted the title of Prince and style of "His Royal Highness". He became a member of the Privy Council and House of Nobles and ruled as Prince-regent when Kalākaua visited the United States.
Death
On April 10, 1877 at the age of 23, Prince Leleiohoku died of rheumatic feverRheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
. Because Leleiohoku was unmarried and had no children, his brother King Kalākaua named their sister Liliuokalani, Crown Princess. It was said that Princess Keelikolani had wished that Kalākaua had chosen her instead of Liliuokalani, but making her heir would make Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop , born Bernice Pauahi Pākī, was a Hawaiian princess, philanthropist, alii, and direct descendant of the royal House of Kamehameha. She was the great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha I and last surviving heir...
next in line to the throne. He is buried 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:...
.