House of Keoua

The House of Keōua Nui "(Hale O Keōua Nui)" or the simply Keōua rather than Keōua Nui (Keōua the Great), was a non-ruling noble family of the Big Island from which the reigning family of Kamehameha I and Kalaimamahu branched from. Sadly, the royal bloodline of Keoua's children are gone, except for one line. Today, the only surviving line of Keoua's children is the royal line of his first son, Prince Kalokuokamaile. [http://www.keouanui.org/Keouanui]

Origins

A younger branch of the Reigning Family of Keaweikekahialiiokamoku (from Big Island of Hawaii), the dynastic line was established by Prince Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui, surnamed Ahilapalapa, who was the father of Kamehamehea. He was the only son of Keeaumoku the Great and High Chieftess Kamaka'imoku. [Pratt, Elizabeth K. (March 27, 2000). Keoua : Father of Kings . Ke Ali'i Pub.]

Keōua's paternal lineage derives from a branch of the Hawaiokinai alii aimoku family. His father, the High Chief Keeaumoku-nui of Kohala and Kona, was the second son of Keaweikekahialiiokamoku, King of Hawaii Island and his half-sister bride, Kalanikauleleiaiwi. He was a "pio" chief and of the highest rank. Even outranking his elder brother Kalaninuiamamao, from which descends the Houses of Kalakaua and Kawananakoa. It was because of these two brother, who contested for the succession to the kingship of the island of Hawaii after Keaweikekahialiiokamoku death, that the island was dissolved into a handful independent warring fractions.

The ancestry of Kalokuokamaile’s mother, the High Chiefess Kamaka'imoku, daughter of Alii Ku'a Nu'uanu, Oahu district chief descended from the Alii of Hilo who were the descendant of King Umi's youngest son Kumalae, first Alii of Hilo. His mother was also mother of Kalaniopuu, by Kalaninuiamamao, making him half-brother of Kalaniopuu and uncle of Kiwalao. Kamaka'imoku was also the half-sister of Heulu (through their mother Umiula-a-kaahumanu), the father of Keawe-a-Heulu, another ancestor of House of Kalakaua.

In 1795, Kamehameha, member of the House of Keoua Nui, conquered the separate islands uniting them under a single monarchy. He established his own royal house, the House of Kamehameha. His siblings' houses were considered a part of the royal family.

Branches of the House of Keōua Nui

Male Line

*House of Laanui-Kalokuokamaile
**Through Prince Kalokuokamaile, eldest son by Kahikikala
***Survives today
*House of Kamehameha (reigned 1795-1872)
**Through Kamehameha the Great, second son and first son by Kekuiapoiwa II
***Last surviving descendants were Ruth Keelikolani, Bernice Pauahi, and Albert Kunuiakea (illegitimate)
*House of Kealiimaikai
**Through Prince Kealiimaikai, his third son, second son by Kekuiapoiwa II
***Last surviving descendants were Peter Young Kaeo, Emma Kaleleonalani, wife of Kamehameha IV; and Albert Kunuiakea, also of the House of Kamehameha.
****"(Possible descendants through Emma's alleged illegitmate daughter, Emma Keliikekukahilikaleleokalahikiolaokalani Smith)"
*House of Kalaimamahu (reigned 1873-1874)
**Through Prince Kalaimamahu, his fourth son, by Kamakaeheikuli
***Last surviving descendant was King William Charles Lunalilo.

Female Line

*Kekuiapoiwa Liliha, daughter by Kalola,
**Last surviving descendant, Keopuolani, married into House of Kamehameha and mother Kamehameha II and III
*Ki'ilaweau, daughter by Manona
**Last surviving descendant, Kekuaokalani, also of the House of Kealiimaikai

Citations