Leleiohoku II

Leleiohoku II
Leleiohoku II
Crown Prince of the Hawaiian Islands
Full name
William Pitt Leleiohoku II Kalahoʻolewa
House House of Kalākaua
Father Caesar Kaluaiku Kapaʻakea
Mother Analea Keohokālole
Ruth Keʻelikōlani (hānai)
Born January 10, 1854(1854-01-10)
Honolulu, Oʻahu,
Died April 9, 1877(1877-04-09) (aged 23)
Honolulu, Oʻahu,
Burial April 18, 1877(1877-04-18)[1]
Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum
Signature

Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku II, born William Pitt Leleiohoku Kalahoʻolewa (1854–1877), was a prince of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and member of the reigning House of Kalākaua.[2] He is remembered for composing the Hawaiian war chant, used by the Hawaiian sovereignty movement today. Leleiohoku means "Fled in the time of Hoku" in Hawaiian and commerates the day Kamehameha I died on the Hawaiian calendar.[3]:212

Contents

Life

PrinceLeleiohoku.jpg

Leleiohoku was the youngest brother of Prince Moses Kapaʻakea, Prince James Kaliokalani, King David Kalākaua, Queen Liliʻuokalani, Princess Anna Kaiulani, Princess Kaiminaauao, Prince Kinini Kapaʻakea, and Princess Miriam K. Likelike. At birth he became the hānai (adopted son) of Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani who named him after her late husband High Chief William Pitt Leleiohoku. Princess Ruth also named Leleiohoku II heir to her vast holding of most of the Kamehameha lands but he predeceased her. He was educated at Saint Alban's College. An accomplished musician, he founded several royal choral societies that survive today including the Kawaihaʻo Church Singing Club. He was named the Crown Prince by his brother Kalākaua in 1874, with the consent of the House of Nobles and granted the title of Prince and style of "His Royal Highness". He became a member of the Privy Council and House of Nobles[4] and ruled as Prince-regent when Kalākaua visited the United States.

Death

On April 10, 1877 at the age of 23, Prince Leleiohoku died of rheumatic fever. Because Leleiohoku was unmarried and had no children, his brother King Kalākaua named their sister Liliʻuokalani, Crown Princess. It was said that Princess Keʻelikolani had wished that Kalākaua had chosen her instead of Liliʻuokalani, but making her heir would make Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop next in line to the throne. He is buried in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii.

Compositions

He composed many songs (many based on folk tunes), and was included in the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.[5]

Ancestry