Keoni Ana

John Kaleipaihala Young II sometimes called Keoni Ana ʻOpio (1810–1857) was a politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii, 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 Young, the English sailor who became a trusted adviser to King Kamehameha I, by his second wife Kaʻōanaʻeha, 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.^[1] 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 III. Keoni Ana held several government positions, including service in the House of Nobles 1841–1856, the Privy Council 1845–1857,^[2] 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.^[3]

On June 10, 1845 he was appointed Kuhina Nui by King Kamehameha III.^[1] because Victoria Kamāmalu, the designated successor of her mother, Elizabeth Kinau, was still a minor.^[3] 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.^[3]

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.

Marriages

He married three times, all Hawaiians of noble birth. He married Julia Alapaʻi, elder daughter of Nahili, by his wife, High Chiefess Kauwaʻa, 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 Hānaiakamālama 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 ʻUlu-maheihei, daughter of High Chief Waipa, by his wife, High Chiefess Kekaikuihala, daughter of Aliʻi 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 ʻAla.^[1] His only heirs were his niece Emma and nephew Peter.

Family tree

References