Charles Kanaʻina (Kanaʻina II May 4, 1798 – March 13, 1877), was an aliʻi (hereditary noble) of the Kingdom of Hawaii, prince consort of Kuhina Nui, Kaʻahumanu III and father of William Charles Lunalilo, the 6th monarch of the Kamehameha Dynasty. Kanaʻina was a descendant of several figures from ancient Hawaiian history, including Liloa, Hakau and Umi-a-Liloa of Hawaii Island as well as Piilani of Maui. He served on both the Privy Counsel and in the House of Nobles. He was named after his uncle Kanaʻina, a name that means "The conquering" in the Hawaiian Language. This uncle greeted Captain James Cook in 1778 and confronted the navigator before he was killed.
His wife Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi was a widow and niece of Kamehameha I. She was also married to Kamehameha II before he converted to Christianity and gave up all but one wife. Kanaʻina and Kekāuluohi lived in a traditional aliʻi style home in a sacred neighborhood in Honolulu called Pohukaina near Kekūanaōʻa, Kaʻahumanu and their offspring. The compound would eventually become the Iolani Palace (the official Royal Residence of the Hawaiian Royal Family) and Palace Walk when Kekūanaōʻa built Hale Aliʻi in the center of the families estates as a gift to his daughter Victoria Kamāmalu. Kanaʻina kept his property at the palace until his death and would be the only original owner to do so while the Palace was in use, living there through five monarchs, from the 1820s to 1877. Kanaʻina's son, William Charles Lunalilo, was named by Kamehameha III as an heir to the throne of the kingdom and ascended in 1873 while his father still lived. Lunalilo died only a year later, three years before his father's death on March 13, 1877. Having not re-written his will, which left everything to his son who had predeceased, Kanaʻina died intestate. Probate hearings proceeded for 5 years. On final adjudication his property was auctioned with the proceeds going to several of Kanaʻina's cousins including Ruth Keelikōlani and Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
Birth, early life and marriage
Charles Kanaʻina Eia was born about May 4, 1798 to his mother Kauwā and father Eia, at Napoʻopoʻo, Hawaiʻi, although the year has been dated as late as 1812.
There was speculation Kanaʻina was not a High Chief by birth, however recent research has identified his father to be Eia Kalaikuʻahulu, making him a descendant of the first aliʻi nui Liloa through both sons, Umi-a-Liloa and Hakau. Abraham Fornander states in his 1916-17 publication; "Fornander Collection of Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-lore" that C. Kanaina was descended from Kanealai, aliʻi nui wahine (female ruler) of Molokai, through a grandmother named Kaha. Fornander records that Kanealai was one of the recognized wives of Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku with whom she had four children, including Kumukoa (k) who became the father of Kalaikuʻahulu who is connected to Molokai.
In the 2000 publication; "Kamehameha's Children Today", authors Charles Ahlo, Rubellite Kawena Kinney Johnson and Jerry Walker state that Kanaʻina's maternal grandfather, Palila Nohomualani was Kamehameha I's grandson through the monarch's first born child named Kahiliopua, a daughter of Kalola-a-Kumukoa. This genealogy is based on previously unpublished family trees compiled by the DeFries family. Eia and Kauwā's other four children were named Naʻea, Iʻahuʻula, Kahele and Kaikumoku.
He was named Kanaʻina, after the nickname of his uncle Kalaimanokahoʻowaha, the Native Hawaiian drawn by artist John Webber, who greeted Captain James Cook and was present at the navigator's death at Kealakekua Bay. In the Hawaiian language, ka naina means "the conquering". Kanaʻina was part of the kaukau aliʻi class, which was one of five levels of kānaka maoli (ʻōiwi) (Native Hawaiian) aliʻi (hereditary noble) status that served the ruling class as close relatives.