Jonah Piikoi

Ionah (Jonah) Piokinaikoi (1809 - 1859) was Hawaiian high chief, being grandfather of Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, Edward Abnel Keliiahonui, and David Kawananakoa. He was a chief of Kauaian descent.

He once owned a large section of the land between Waikiki and Honolulu called the Kewalo area on the island of Oahu. He had built the first two-story wooden house in that area near the present McKinley High School [Pocket Place Names of Hawai'i By Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert. Page 58]

He had served in the Hawaiian House of Nobles and the Privy Council along with many Hawaiian royals and high chiefs. He advised the Hawaiian kings and vote on matter of law. Prior to serving the Kamehameha III he was believed to be a commoner or at least a lesser chief who began public service as a tobacco lighter of Kaumualii of Kauai and later Kamehameha II. Credit for parcelling of the mahele lands have been assumed by Jona Piikoi in his autobiography. Pi'ikoi Street in Honolulu is named after either him or his son. He probably adopted the name Jonah when he convert to Christianity like many Hawaiian chiefs and Hawaiianized it making it "Ionah". His grandson Kuhio Kalanianaole was named after his Christian name.

He married the High Chiefess Kekahili, daughter of Kamokuiki, and half-sister of High Chief Caesar Kapaakea. This marriage made him brother-in-law to Kapaakea who was the father of David Kalakaua. He married again to Kamakee and had a daughter named Lilia or Lydia Piikoi. He had only one son from his marriage to Kekahili, the High Chief David Kahalepouli Piikoi. Jonah Piikoi died at Honolulu, Oahu, April 20, 1859, at the age of 50. [ [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Hawaii/kauai.htm KAUAI ] ]

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