Kalanimoku

William Pitt Kalanimoku was a Hawaiian High Chief and the prime minister of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the reign of Kamehameha I, Kamehameha II and the beginning of Kamehameha III's reign. Kalanimoku, function Hewahewa, the last high priest of the Pa'ao lineage.

Honourable Ali'i William Pitt Kalanimoku was born at Kauiki, Maui, circa 1768. His father was Kekuamanoha and his mother was Kamakahu-kilani the niece of his father. Through his father, he was a grandson of Kekaulike Alii Aimoku of Maui. Through his mother, he was great-grandson of Kekaulike. He was cousin of Queen Elizabeth Kaahumanu, Queen Miriam Kalakua, and Queen Lydia Namahana, Governor John Adams Kuakini of Hawaii, Governor George Cox Kahekili Ke'eaumoku II of Maui, and his brother was Governor Boki of Ookinaahu.

He was usually called Karaimoku by the Hawaiians and sometimes Kalaimoku. Foreigner spelled his name as Crymoku or Crimoku or gave it a similar form. He himself adopted the name William Pitt after his comtempary the Prime Minister of Great Britain, William Pitt the Younger. He was frequently addressed as Mr. Pitt or Billy Bitt. He served as Kamehameha chief minister and treasurer succeeding his uncle Keeaumoku Papaiahiahi. He was a man of great natural ability in governmental and business affairs. He was well liked and respected by the foreigners, who learned from experience to rely on his words. He was called "the iron cable of Hawaiokinai because of his abilities. [Kuykendall , Ralph Simpson . Hawaiian Kingdom: Foundation and Transformation, 1778-1854, Vol. 1. University of Hawai‘i Press, January 1938.] [Potter, Norris W, and Kasdon, Lawrence M and Rayson, Ann. History of the Hawaiian Kingdom . Bess Press, 2003.]

He baptized a Roman Catholic in 1819 aboard the L‘Uranie, in the presence of Kuhina Nui (Premier) Ka‘ahumanu and King Kamehameha II. The scene was painted by Jacques Arago (1790—1855), the ship‘s artist, who wrote and illustrated accounts of the Hawaiian Islands during the French expedition.

He served as regent to Kamehameha III alongside Kaahumanu, who was Kuhina nui, after Kamehameha II tragic death in London.

In his later year his vision dimmed and one of his eye was defective. He suffered from dropsy through 1826 and the disease became alarming in the following year. He died at Kamakahonu, Kailua Kona, Hawaii Island, February 7, 1827. He had only one son William Pitt Leleiohoku I who married Princess Ruth Keelikolani.

Reference

External links

* [http://www.pacificworlds.com/kawaihae/visitors/mission.cfm The baptism of the Prime Minister of the King on board L'Uranie]
* [http://www.pacificworlds.com/kawaihae/visitors/images/kalanimoku.jpgDrawing of Kalanimoku]