Nāmākēhā

Infobox Hawaiian Royalty
name =Nāmākēhā
title =High Chief of Hawaii


imgw =
predecessor =
successor =
spouse =Esther Kapiolani
issue =
full name =Benjamen Nāmākēhāokalani
titles =Noble
"HE" The Governor of Maui
"Alokinai" Chief
royal house =House of Kamehameha
royal anthem =
father =Kealiimaikai
mother =Princess Kekaulike Kinoiki of Kauai
date of birth =c. 1799
place of birth =Hilo, Hawaiokinai
date of death =death date and age|1895|10|22|1839|4|7|df=yes
place of death =Kalihi Valley, Oahu
place of burial =Mauna Ala Royal Mausoleum|

Bennett, Beneli, Beniki, or Benjamin Nāmākēhā-o-kalani (1799 - 1860) was a Hawaiian high Chief and nephew of Kamehameha the Great.

His father was Keliimaikai and his mother was Kaliko-o-kalani. His father was the son of High Chief Keoua Kalani-kupu'uapai-kalani-nui Ahilapalapa by his second wife the High Chiefess Kekuiapoiwa II, and also Priest of Io and Kane. His sister was Kaoanaeha and his brother was George Naea. The latter was father of Queen Emma of Hawaii and the former was her grandmother. His name was the same as the high chief who rebell against Kamehameha during the end of his millitary career. His name was similar to Kamakaeha and probably meant "sore eyes".

He was a member of the "House of Nobles" and his duties was to vote on Laws, work on Kingdom economy, and be advisors to the king. He was also one of the man that served as governor of Maui succeeding Hoapili. By 1851 the House of Nobles consisted only of petty chiefs called "Kaukaualiokinai". Namakeha was among these chiefs and was inferior to the alii nuis. Kaukaualiis were only descended from famous fathers and, alii nuis claim parentage of mother of the highest rank. The only alii nui in 1851 was the Princess Konia. These were what remain of the once powerful "Council of Chiefs" back in the days of Kamehameha and Kaahumanu. [Dismembering Lahui By Jonathan Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio. Page 80]

In March 8, 1852, he married the chiefess Esther Kapiolani, daughter of Chief Kuhio of Hilo and Chiefess Kekaulike of Kauai. His wife was 35 years his senior and through that marriage she became Queen Emma's aunt. He and his wife never had issues though his own heir was Hinau, his son and sole heir. For his health the young couple voyaged for months by "The Morning Star", a missionary vessel, among the Gilbert Islands, but in vain, for Namakeha died in December 27, of 1860, at Honolulu. He was buried at Wylie Tomb at Mauna Ala, the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii. His wife later remarried to Kalakaua and became the Queen consort of Hawaii. [Sanford Ballard Dole and His Hawaii by Ethel Moseley Damon. Page 336]

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