Abner Pākī

Abner Kuho'oheiheipahu Pākī 1808 - 1855 was a Hawaiian high chief and noble man of high political status during the reign of Kamehameha III and also being father of Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki founder of Kamehameha Schools.

Early life

He was born ca. 1808 on the island of Molokai. He was son of the High Chief Kalani-hele-maiiluna Paki, the grandson of Kamehamehanui Ailuau the 24th Mo'i of Maui, and of his wife Kahooheiheipahu. [The Memoirs of Hon. Bernice Pauahi Bishop By Mary Hannah Krout, Page 6]

He was a closed intimate friend of Kamehameha III, the reigning Hawaiian king. He served his king as Privy Councillor, Chamberlain to the King, Judge of the Supreme Court, acting Governor of Hawaii. The most prominent feature of his character was his firmness; when he took a stand he was immovable. [The Memoirs of Hon. Bernice Pauahi Bishop By Mary Hannah Krout, Page 6-8]

Marriages

He married first the High Chiefess Kuini Liliha but their marriage produce no children. He later married Kamehameha III's niece the Princess Laura Konia, daughter of Kamehameha III's half-brother Pauli Kaoleioku. Laura and Abner were married at Kawaihao Church in Honolulu on December 5, 1828. All Kamehameha III's high chiefs were there, including pillars of the church, Queen Kaahumanu and Hoapili. Lauara's childhood playmates, including Ruth Keelikolani, Harriet Nahienaena, Elizabeth Kinau, Kuini Liliha, and other members of the court-Kuakini and Kekauonohi, sat on chairs in the front rows. Even Boki risked being seen in a Protestant church. First, a group of eight men and women sang hymns of Zion. Abner and his witness, John Papa I'i, stood at the altar, which was adorned by two large brass candlesticks and three red kahili; Laura, dressed in a white satin and embroidered silk gown and wearing a le po'o of pale yellow feathers, came down the center isle followed by her witness, the High Chiefess Kapiolani and Kale Davis. Reverend Hiram Bingham conducted the ceremony and Lauar and Paki repeated their vows of devotion. Following the holy matrimony was a simple reception. [The Love Remains By Katherine Smith. Page 161-162]

Konia and Paki lived at Lahaina when that was the capital, and the King and the Premier, Auhea, had their residence there. Some interesting reminiscences of Konia and Paki at Lahaina have been gleaned from the diaries of Mr. Gorham D. Oilman, later moving to Boston, who in his youth engaged in mercantile pursuits in Honolulu, and made tours through the various islands, either on business, or for his own pleasure and enlightenment. Of his kind friends he writes as follows, at that time setting out on a tour around the island of Maui. The Memoirs of Hon. Bernice Pauahi Bishop By Mary Hannah Krout, Page 7] :::::::::::::::::"Sabbath, June 26 (1845). "::::::::::::::::::"LAHAINA.""In the evening called on my old friends. Paki and Konia. As I expected, they invited me to occupy a room in their fine new house, which I was happy to do."

At this time he also writes:

"Called on Paki and Konia, the parents of Bernice and the foster-parents of Lydia, and the first of the nobility that I became acquainted with. They have always been very kind to me, she (Konia) calling me her 'keiki' (child). The Premier has also done so. Konia conferred quite a favor on me by lending me a nice travelling calabash, not wishing to take my trunk, being too heavy." "

At this time Lahaina was the capital and the favorite residence of King Kamehameha III. It was an important port, being thronged during the season by vessels engaged in the whaling trade, the families of the officers often accompanying them and spending the winter in this pleasant place. The King finally realized that it was necessary to transfer the seat of government to Honolulu and did so, Paki and Konia accompanying him. The change was made by the King very reluctantly, for, as Mr. Gilman observed, he much preferred the retirement and leisure which he could command at Lahaina. [The Memoirs of Hon. Bernice Pauahi Bishop By Mary Hannah Krout, Page 8]

In his unpublished sketches of the "Chiefs of Honolulu," at the court of Kamehameha III., Mr. Gilman has thus written of Paki in details:

"A. Paki is one of the conspicuous personages in the (audience) room, being upwards of six feet-six feet four inches-in height, and weighing about three hundred pounds. Although of this colossal size, he is of equal and fine proportions-no one feature being more prominent than another. He generally stands to receive the visitors and exerts himself to be attractive and affable His is of high rank by birth, as well as stature, and, it is said, at one time had more land and tenants than his Majesty himself, which, for some political eruption, were taken from him and the other concerned. And for the same reason, he had never received any appointment of influence other thn he hold as one of the superior judges. Be this as it may, he seems to be now in full favor and truly loyal, and is receiving again some of the lands formerly held. He is one of his Majesty's aides and alway accompanies him on visits to different parts of his Kingdom. As Chamberlain, he presides over the internal economy of the palace, the expenditure of funds,etc., and one sight of the whole premised shows that every attention has been bestowed (on them.) He speaks English but litte, tho' he often attempts it. He is a member in the regular standing of the Mis. Ch, (Kawaiahao) as well as his wife, a chiefess of direct descent from the Kings of Hawaiii, and noted for her kind heartendness and hospitality. Tho' not figuring conspicuously at Court in Honolulu, she is known and regarded as one of those who are patterns. Miss Bernice is their daughter, in whom they feel a justifiable pride."

[The Memoirs of Hon. Bernice Pauahi Bishop By Mary Hannah Krout, Page 7-9]

To this may be added a reminiscence of Mrs. Rice, one of the pioneer teachers of Hawaii. She recalled paki as a man of towering height and proportionate strength of which she one witnessed a remarkable exhibition. He had driven down to the beach upon the sailing of a vessel and the horses attached to his carriage became frightended and attempted to run away. Paki did not try to check them with the reins, but threww himself across the plunging animals and held them by main force, as he might have held a pair of unruly dogs, and so succeeded in quieting them. [The Memoirs of Hon. Bernice Pauahi Bishop By Mary Hannah Krout, Page 11]

Issue

From his union with Konia, they had daughter, the Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki. She was hanaied (adopted) at birth to the Premier, Kinau. He and his wife arranged a marriage between her daughter and, Kinau's and Kekuanaoa's son, Prince Lot.

His daughter opposed her parent's decision. She wished to married for love and say their was no love between her and Lot beside the love of a brother toward his sister. He, his wife, and Governor Kekuanaoa told Bernice it was her duty as a high chiefess to marry a high chief of rank. Her daughter later married Charles Reed Bishop, an American. He never attended his daughter's wedding at Royal School.

He and Konia had a "hanaied" daughter, Lydia Paki. "Hanai" was a tradition of giving up ones child, practiced by the Hawaiian chiefs and commoners alike, to a close relative or friend. It was to strengthen family ties and the ohana. The missionaries condemned "hanai" as immoral and wrong, stating that you don't give up your child like puppies. [http://files.usgwarchives.org/hi/keepers/koc62.txt] Their foster daughter was the natural daughter of Analea Keohokalole and Caesar Kapaakea. Lydia grew up on Paki's residence in Honolulu, on King Street. The estate was called Haleakala, or House of the Sun, and the residence received the name of Aikupika; but both these are forgotten now in that of the Arlington Hotel. The residence was build by Paki himself from the original grass hut at the site.

Death

On the death of Kamehameha III, Paki prophesied he would only outlive his master for a few month. He died on Oahu, 13th June 1855 at his estate of "Haleakala". He had planned on giving all his land and estates to his foster daughter Lydia but changed his mind and left all his properties to her daughter Bernice. Liliuokalani would always feel disappointment that her foster sister, Bernice, had not willed her their father estate of "Haleakala" where she grew up as a child and from which she was married to her husband John Owen Dominis. [ [http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/liliuokalani/hawaii/hawaii.html#XVII Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen ] ]

References