Governors of Maui

The Governor of Maui was the royal governor or viceroy of the Island of Maui in the Kingdom of Hawaii. The Governor of Maui resided at Lahaina and was usually a Hawaiian chief or prince and could even be a woman. The Governor had authority over four of the eight islands: Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe. It was up to the governor to appoint lieutanant governors to assist them. The governor had replaced the old Moʻi of Maui, but sovereignty remained with the king.

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Role

The 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii stated:

There shall be four governors over these Hawaiian Islands - one for Hawaiʻi - one for Maui and the Islands adjacent - one for Oʻahu, and one for Kauaʻi and the adjacent Islands. All the governors, from Hawaiʻi to Kauaʻi shall be subject to the King.

The prerogatives of the governors and their duties, shall be as follows: Each governor shall have the general direction of the several tax gatherers of his island, and shall support them in the execution of all their orders which he considers to have been properly given, but shall pursue a course according to law, and not according to his own private views. He also shall preside over all the judges of his island, and shall see their sentences executed as above. He shall also appoint the judges and give them their certificates of office.

All the governors, from Hawaiʻi to Kauaʻi shall be subject not only to the King, but also to the Premier.

The governor shall be the superior over his particular island or islands. He shall have charge of the munitions of war, under the direction of the King, however, and the Premier. He shall have charge of the forts, the soldiery, the arms and all the implements of war. He shall receive the government dues and shall deliver over the same to the Premier. All important decisions rest with him in times of emergency, unless the King or Premier be present. He shall have charge of all the King's business on the island, the taxation, new improvements to be extended, and plans for the increase of wealth, and all officers shall be subject to him. He shall also have power to decide all questions, and transact all island business which is not by law assigned to others.

When either of the governors shall decease, then all the chiefs shall assemble at such place as the King shall appoint, and shall nominate a successor of the deceased governor, and whosoever they shall nominate and be approved by the King, he shall be the new governor.

When Hawaii was annexed by the United States of America, the same islands became administered by the Maui County government.

List of Governors of Maui

# Name Picture Birth Death Assumed Office Left Office Years in office Notes Monarch
1 Keʻeaumoku Pāpaʻiahiahi circa 1736 March 21, 1804 circa 1795 March 21, 1804 9 Kamehameha I
2 George Cox Kahekili Keʻeaumoku II circa 1784 March 23, 1824 March 21, 1804 March 23, 1824 20 Kamehameha I
Kamehameha II
3 Kahakuhaʻakoi Wahine Piʻo circa 1826 circa 1824 circa 1826?? 2? Kamehameha III
4 Ulumāheihei Hoapili circa 1776 January 3, 1840 circa 1826??? January 3, 1840 14? Kamehameha III
5 Miriam Hoapiliwahine Kalākua Kaheiheimālie circa 1778 January 16, 1842 January 3, 1840 January 16, 1842 2 Governor Hoapili's widow Kamehameha III
6 James Young Kānehoa August 7, 1797 October 1, 1851 circa 1842 October 1, 1851 9 Kamehameha III
7 Paul Nahaolelua circa 1806 September 15, 1875 December 3, 1852 February 3, 1874 22 Governor Kānehoa's Deputy Kamehameha III
Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha V
Lunalilo
8 John Makini Kapena 1843 October 23, 1887 February 23, 1874 December 15, 1876 2 Kalākaua
9 William Luther Kealiʻi Moehonua May 5, 1824 September 8, 1878 December 15, 1876 September 8, 1878 2 Kalākaua
10 John Owen Dominis March 10, 1832 August 27, 1891 September 9, 1878 circa 1886 2 Kalākaua
11 Robert Hoapili Baker I circa 1847/50 April 4, 1913 October 4, 1886 circa 1888 2 Kalākaua
Interregnum
12 Thomas Wright Everett November 4, 1823 September 4, 1895 May 17, 1892 February 28, 1893 1 previously Sheriff of Maui Liliʻuokalani

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