Monthly Archives: January 2014

Joseph Heleluhe, 1900.

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THE GENEALOGY OF JOSEPH HEWAHEWA KAIMIHAKULANI HELELUHE.

FROM HIS KUPUNA, ALONG WITH HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Keakealani was the man. Kalehuna was the woman. Born was Keawemainui (m).

Keawemainui was the man. Kaleikumaielani was the woman. Born was Kuhailiilii (f).

Kuhailiilii was the woman. Alapai was the man. Born was Keaweopala (m).

This was Alapai, the King of Hawaii. The one who crushed a number of Rulers [Alii Aimoku]. Alapai died at Kikiakoi, Kawaihae, in the year 1753, and Keaweopala his child became the ruler of the districts [okana] of Kona, Kohala, Hamakua, and Hilo, in 1753.

Keaweopala was the man. Namoe was the woman. Born was Kanekoa (m).

Kanekoa was the man. Molao was the woman. Born was Kanoa (f), Kanepipi (f), and Kapela (m).

Kanoa was the woman. Heleluhe was the man. Born was Keoki (f), Kaioewa (f), Joseph Hewahewa Kaimihakulani Heleluhe (m), Kanoa (f), and Ana (f).

Joseph Hewahewa Kaimihakulani Heleluhe was educated in the district schools of Puna, his land of birth, and educated at Hilo Boarding School [Kula Hanai o Hilo].

He graduated, and then lived in Kau, and did physical labor. He moved to Honolulu and lived with King Kalakaua, and after Kalakaua was done, he then lived with Queen Liliuokalani as her Steward [Puuku], and remained in that capacity until they went to America in 1896.

On that journey to America, upon him was also placed the duty of secretary to Queen Liliuokalani.

He received that position because of his propriety, and his meticulousness.

They went once again to America in 1899 and returned home to the aina on June 4, 1900; he left behind his labors and hardships of life in this world on July 8, 1900.

He left behind him, his Royal Mistress [Haku Alii], his wife, his mother, a number of sisters, his children, and his friends.

He was an amicable man with an open heart, and the voice of his Queen was important to him.

He was a true patriot, and he was an envoy from the Hawaiian nation to America.

He was born in Kapoho, Puna, Hawaii, on June 2, 1855. He made 45 years old and 16 days.

(Aloha Aina, 7/28/1900, p. 1)

MOOKUAUHAU O JOSEPH HEWAHEWA KAIMIHAKULANI HELELUHE.

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke VI, Helu 30, Aoao 1. Iulai 28, 1900.

Contemporary reactions to “Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen”? 1898.

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There was a question posed as to what sort of reaction the Hawaiian-language translation of “Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen” was getting. What indeed were the people saying about it and the book in general in the “Aloha Aina” and the other papers, both Hawaiian and English (as well as in the papers outside of Hawaii)?

Now that might be a nice Master’s thesis, or perhaps someone receiving funding might consider this as a project for which to do in-depth research! Any takers?

[In the new edition of “Hawaii’s Story,” see also David Forbes’ introduction for coverage on this topic.]

Wakeke Heleluhe to take the place of Kia Kahele Nahaolelua, 1897.

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Returning Home.

It is heard that Mrs. Kahele Nahaolelua is returning on the steamer Monowai this coming Thursday and left behind the Queen [Aliiaimoku]. The reason for this return is unclear to us, however, there are all sorts of rumors; some say she is sick, some say that she misses her family, some say that she has urgent business, and so forth; the truth will be known only when she returns. And because she is coming home, in her stead will be Mrs. Wakeke Heleluhe, who will leave on the steamship Australia of this coming Wednesday. Her departure is certain, for her wardrobe is being made for her trip to foreign lands. So this is a confirmation of the truth of Captain Palmer’s words that it is unclear when the Queen will return and her stay there is not limited.

[The Queen states:

In the early part of May it became necessary for my companion, Mrs. Kia Nahaolelua, to return to Honolulu. Three months was the length of time I had expected to be absent when I asked her to accompany me; but five months had passed away, and her husband and large family of children needed her. So I sent her to San Francisco under the charge of Captain Palmer, where he was to meet Mrs. Joseph Heleluhe, and conduct her to Washington.

See another article on Mrs. Heleluhe’s departure.]

(Makaainana, 5/3/1897, p. 8)

E Huli Hoi Mai Ana.

Ka Makaainana, Buke VII—-Ano Hou, Helu 18, Aoao 8. Mei 3, 1897.

Wakeke Ululani Heleluhe passes away, 1921.

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QUEEN LILIU’S TRAVEL COMPANION DIES.

After being ill for some time, Mrs. Wakeke Ululani grew weary of this life, at six in the evening of this past Monday [11/21/1921], at her home on 13th Avenue in Kaimuki, being eighty or so years old.

Mrs. Wakeke Ululani Heleluhe was born on Maui, however, for thirty years, she was a companion to Queen Liliuokalani, from the Queen’s young days, until Liliu passed on.

In the last days of the Queen’s life, Mrs. Heleluhe was constantly before her, watching over her care, just as the days when Liliu was reigning as monarch of Hawaii nei, and everywhere that the Queen went, she went as well.

Once when the Queen went to Washington, Mrs. Heleluhe was in her retinue.

Mrs. Wakeke Heleluhe was a member of the Kaahumanu Society [Ahahui Kaahumanu]. Her husband, Joe Heleluhe, who passed long ago, was the Queen’s secretary during her reign.

Surviving her is a son and daughter of theirs; the son, Jack Heleluhe, is working in America singing, and when the steamship Hawkeye State arrived in Honolulu some weeks ago, he was one of the people on the ship, on his way to Baltimore.

As for the daughter, Mrs. Myra Iona, she is one of the women who attended Queen Liliu while she was living, and she went along twice with the Queen to Washington.

At 3:30 in the afternoon of this past Tuesday, her funeral was held, from William’s Mortuary her earthly body was laid to rest at the cemetery in Kamoiliili.

[The Queen writes of her stay in Washington D. C. in 1897:

“In the early part of May it became necessary for my companion, Mrs. Kia Nahaolelua, to return to Honolulu. Three months was the length of time I had expected to be absent when I asked her to accompany me; but five months had passed away, and her husband and large family of children needed her. So I sent her to San Francisco under the charge of Captain Palmer, where he was to meet Mrs. Joseph Heleluhe, and conduct her to Washington.”

The Mrs. Joseph Heleluhe sent for here is Wakeke Ululani Heleluhe.]

(Kuokoa, 11/25/1921, p. 4)

MAKE KA HOAHELE O KA MOIWAHINE LILIU.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LIX, Helu 47, Aoao 4. Novemaba 25, 1921.

Another Nawahi painting! 1877.

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[Found under: “Na Nu Hou Kuloko.”]

The artist Joseph Nawahi was commissioned to accompany the Editor of the Kuokoa to paint the Lava at the seaside of Keei, and to send it to the Bookstore of Whitney.

[With the two paintings mentioned in the previous post, this makes at least three on the subject of lava done by Nawahi in 1877: one in Hilo, one at the volcano, and the last at Keei. None of them are known today! Anyone have any ideas?]

(Kuokoa, 3/10/1877, p. 2)

Ua kauohaia ke kaha kii...

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XVI, Helu 10, Aoao 2. Maraki 10, 1877.

Two paintings by Joseph Nawahi, 1877.

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[Found under: “NA ANOAI.”]

When it was made known that Lava was erupting once again, along with it came the painting done by our good friend, the Hon. J. Nawahi; seen is the fiery red from Hilo, lighting up the walls of the heavens; and that painting can be seen in Whitney’s [bookstore] window. But this past Thursday, our famous seer artist did a painting of the fires of that woman of the pit, with the many Hiiaka aumakua igniting that fiery hot imu. Perhaps this is what some of our readers are saying; “the lava has reignited because of the aumakua;” that is ignorant. See this painting right outside of the printing office of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser [Kalepa].

[After that Antique Roadshow episode in 2007, nearly everyone knows about that painting of Hilo done by Joseph Nawahi now hanging up at Kamehameha Schools. I believe that these two however are not known today. Anyone have any ideas?]

(Lahui Hawaii, 2/22/1877, p. 3)

I ka wa i hoike ia mai ai...

Ka Lahui Hawaii, Buke III, Helu 8, Aoao 3. Feberuari 22, 1877.

A mele by Joseph Nawahi for his wife Emma Aima, 1936.

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A HAWAIIAN MELE.

Some day later, we were asked at our Hoku publishing office, of the songs which were sung at the funeral of Mrs. Aima Nawahi on the last Sunday of this past year. The mele sung on that day were famous songs in “Leo Hoonani a me Hoku Ao Nani.”¹ They were not all shown and there were others, like “Mai Kuu Kaumaha Luuluu a Po,” and the young girls of Haili sang those songs with beautiful lyrics.

There were also hymns sung by some girls who were close to Aunty Aima, and they were sung with such sweetness. The mele sung by the Kaahumanu Society was this one. “Ma ko Iesu mau lima,” and some others as well.

The main reason that this question was asked, was because of the great admiration for the hymns composed by the devout in years gone by. There is someone writing down some old mele in a book to be distributed, and these hymns are wanted by this person writing down Hawaiian mele as something new for him. Another admired mele sung at the funeral of Mrs. Nawahi was that mele composed by Mr. Nawahi before their marriage. Here are the lines of that mele that are recalled partially, and recalled at that time.

Nana aku iluna
He star e alohi ana
Ua like me sweet rose
Me Fairy Puakoolau.

Hui
Aheahe mai ke kehau of the twilight
Pa mai ke ala onaona oia of my dear
Please wau e kiss i ke ala oia pua
And not Forgetting the sweet Lei Lehua

Hoi iho au e moe
Hiki ana o sweet rose
E naue ae kaua
I kuu home iuiu.

This is a mele that was sung all the time by the women of those days, and the lyrics are beautiful. There are many other lovely mele by Hawaiians that we remember, but when it is thought to sing it, we totally forget the words.

¹Leo Hoonani a me Hoku Ao Nani. Honolulu: Ka Papa Hawaii, 1902.

[This mele is printed earlier in Hoku o Hawaii on 1/3/1936 and the article itself is a reprint from 1/7/1936.]

(Hoku o Hawaii, 1/15/1936, p. 3)

HE MELE HAWAII

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Buke XXVII, Helu 29, Aoao 3. Ianuari 15, 1936.