The Hon. J. A. Nahaku.

In the deep purple morning of this past Thursday, the 24th of this past month, at Honuakaha, here in Honolulu, the Almighty Father was pleased to take the last breath of our dearly beloved father, and leave him behind to sleep the eternal sleep at his last home in Makiki. And left behind were tears of grief on this side of the grave. And he passed after being troubled with sickness for the long period of seven years.

The Hon. John Nahaku was born at Mahukona, Kohala, Hawaii, on the 18th of September, 1830, from the loins of Kaoiokalani (f) and Namaka (m) and until  his recent passing, he was aged 56 years, 5 months, and 6 days.

J. A. Nahaku was educated at the district school of Kohala, and in the year 1850, he entered into the school of Rev. E. Bond, at Iole, and in 1852, he entered into the Hilo Boarding School, and in 1854, he entered into Lahainaluna College under the tutelage of W. P. Alexander, and in 1857, he graduated from Lahainaluna and returned to Kaanapali where he married his wife, Mrs. Ruth Keliiokahekili, and there he resided and in 1860 he was appointed Sheriff of Kaanapali. In 1864, he was elected as a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention. And in 1866, he was elected as the Representative for the district of Kaanapali, and in 1868, he was reelected, and in 1870 he was appointed as census taker [Luna helu] for the district of Molokai and Lanai. In 1875, he was appointed as Census taker for the district of Lahaina, and in 1876 he was elected as Representative for the district of Kaanapali, and in the same year he was chosen as Tax Assessor for the district of Makawao.

He served again as Tax Assessor for Makawao in 1857—75—and in 1879, he was chosen as Tax Assessor for the districts of Molokai and Lanai.

In 1880, he was reelected as Representative for the district of Kaanapali, and that was his last term in the Legislature.

In 1881, he was selected as assistant Judge [hope Lunakanawai] for the district of Lahaina, as an assistant to D. Kamaiopili.

In 1882, he was chosen as secretary for the Board of Genealogy of Hawaiian Chiefs [Papa Mookuauhau o na Alii Hanau o Hawaii nei], and it while serving at this post that he passed on.

In 1883, he was chosen as Tax Assessor for the district of Lahaina, and this was the last year which he filled a government post.

As a Lawyer, he began serving as a full Attorney in the year 1866, until that day mentioned above, when he left behind all the work of this life.

J. A. Nahaku was a greatly trusted man by his friends, and he was highly prized by our greatly loved King, and he was a friend to everyone all around Maui.

He was a loving father, he was kind, welcoming, he recognized the great and the small, and his friends most likely shall not forget him.

He was a tireless father to us children, and his grandchildren, and so too to all of his family; he never grew weary of us, even if weakness constantly attacked [?? hooiao ?? hoohao] his body, and thus he persevered the hardships of this life until he passed on.

We ask the powers of heaven to lighten our heavy hearts. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Amen. [E hoonani ia ke Akua ma na lani kiekie, he malu ma ka honua, he aloha no i kanaka. Amene.]”

John K. Nahaku, Jr.

(Kuokoa, 3/5/1887, p. 3)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XXVI, Helu 10, Aoao 3. Maraki 5, 1887.