William Pitt Kinau

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John William Pitt Kinaʻu was a Hawaiian prince son of Princess Ruth Keelikolani and High Chief William Pitt Leleiohoku I.

He was born December 21, 1842. He descended from King Kamehameha the Great through his mother and was Kamehameha's only great-great grandchild. His mother's parentage has been disputed but she remain a Kamehameha by the virtue of her mother Kalanipauahi. Through his father he descended from King Kekaulike of Maui.^[1] He was grandson Prime Minister Kalanimoku, also known as The Iron Cable of Hawaii. His name William Pitt was that of his father and grandfather being chosen by his grandfather Kalanimoku to matched himself with Prime Minister William Pitt of England. His Hawaiian name Kinau was also that of Kaahumanu II the Kuhina Nui also known as Elizabeth Kinau. He had a brother who died in infancy.

He entered Royal School in February 26, 1844 at the age of 2, being its sixteenth and last pupil. He was the youngest with Victoria Kamamalu and Lydia Kamakaeha four year older. He was chosen by Kamehameha III as one who would be eligible to sit on the throne of Hawaii with the approval of the Privy Council. He was taught by American missionaries Amos Starr Cooke and his wife, Juliette Montague Cooke. During their Sunday procession to church it was customary for boys and girls to walk side by side, John would walk beside Lydia Kamakaeha, the future Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii.^[2] He was taught in English. He studied and boarded with his other royal cousins. The boarding school discontinued in 1848 and tragedy struck his family when his father died of measles also his classmate and cousin Moses Kekuaiwa died. He inherited all his father's property, including Hulihee Palace, but sadly died at age 17 on September 9, 1859 at Kohala, Hawaii Island. ^[3]