Charles Kanaʻina

Kanaʻina's wife, Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi, co-ruled as Kuhina Nui, styled as Kaʻahumanu III from April 5, 1839 to June 7, 1845

In 1810 the monarch of the independent Island of Kauaʻi, Kaumualii (c. 1778–May 26, 1824), negotiated a peaceful agreement that allowed Kauaʻi to become a part of Kamehameha I's new Hawaiian Kingdom, while still allowing Kaumualii to remain the islands ruler until his death. The agreement established Kamehameha's son Liholiho as supreme monarch after Kaumauii's death.[16] After Kamehameha I's death, a council was held in July 1821 with Kaumualii and Liholiho, now styled as "Kamehameha II" along with the top chiefs and advisors, including Charles Kanaʻina.[17] Kamehameha II decided to continue his father's arrangements. For this, Kaumualii asked the new monarch to take some Kauaʻi lands for his wives, to appease Liholiho's guardians. While Kamehameha II refused to do so—stating that his father had left no instructions about the land, only that he should be the supreme monarch—he did take Kaumualii's wife Kekaihaʻakūlou as one of his own wives and gave his wife Kekāuluohi to his most trusted advisor, Kanaʻina, as a way to please the chiefs. It is believed the council decision displeased the new Kuhina Nui, Kaʻahumanu. A year later, she would take Kaumualii and later his son Kealiiahonui as her husbands, using the teachings of the missionaries on marriage, to make herself their heirs.[18] Kanaʻina married Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi that same year on Kauaʻi.[19] Kekāuluohi had been one of several wives of both Kamehameha I and Kamehameha II. She became co-ruler of the Hawaiian Kingdom with Kamehameha III in 1839 as Kuhina Nui (co-regent), styled as Kaahumanu III.[20]

The Pohukaina property of Kekāuluohi and Charles Kanaʻina included the Royal Tomb (bottom left) as well as the two story brick house (to the right) where Lunalilo was born

Kanaʻina and Kekāuluohi lived near Kekūanaōʻa, who had his home just west of theirs called Haliimaile. The homes were in the area called Pohukaina. This area was a sacred burial site for aliʻi.[21][21] Their home was similar to that of the other estates in the neighborhood consisting of small buildings used for different purposes. The sitting and sleeping area had a folding door entrance of green painted wood under glass upper panels. The house had two rooms separated by a festooned tent door of chintz fabric and was carpeted with hand crafted makaloa mats. In the front was a lounge area opposite a sideboard and mirror. In the middle they placed a semi circle of armchairs with a center table where the couple would write. Four matching cabinet-bookshelves with glass doors were set in each corner of the room with silk scarves hanging from each.[22] In his book, A visit to the South Seas, in the U.S. Ship Vincennes: during the years 1829 and 1830, Charles Samuel Stewart states:

"They both write with great readiness; and the husband with a freedom and command of hand that would class him among good penman anywhere. Both are among the most studious and improving of their compeers".[23]

Next to their home was an old estate that had been demolished called Hanailoia.[24] This was the spot of an ancient heiau called Kaahaimauli. In July 1844 Kekūanaōʻa began building a large home here as a gift to his daughter Victoria Kamāmalu. Instead, Kamehameha III would buy the estate and use as his Royal Residence after moving the capitol of the kingdom to Honolulu. It would become the Iolani Palace.[21] As older aliʻi died, the lands were passed down and concentrated into fewer hands.[25] Kekāuluohi's lands were passed down to her from the Kamehameha family. When she died, she left her accumulated lands and wealth to her son, not her husband Kanaʻina however, Lunalilo predeceased his father.[26] Kanaʻina served as a member of the House of Nobles of Kamehameha III[27] from 1841 to 1876, on the Privy Council from July 29, 1845, to 1855, and on the Supreme Court from when it was first founded on May 10, 1842. In the tradition of European royalty, he was granted the style (manner of address) of "His Highness".[28]

Kanaʻina's son, William Charles Lunalilo ruled as king from January 8, 1873 to February 3, 1874

Kanaʻina and Kekāuluohi had two sons. Their first son Davida, died young.[29][30] Their surviving natural son, William Charles Lunalilo was born on January 31, 1835, at Pohukaina. He was considered the grandnephew of Kamehameha I, and second cousin to King Kamehameha V, King Kamehameha IV, and Princess Victoria Kamāmalu, through his mother, Kekāuluohi, who was the cousin of Elizabeth Kīnaʻu (later called Kaʻahumanu II). Lunalilo was declared eligible to succeed by the royal decree of King Kamehameha III and sent to the Chief's Children's School (later called the Royal School) when it was founded by missionaries Amos Starr Cooke and Juliette Montague Cooke.[31] They had several hānai (informal adoption) children including Kalama, the daughter of Iʻahuʻula (Kanaʻina's sister) and Naihekukui. Kalama became the queen consort and wife of Kamehameha III. Kanaʻina and Kekāuluohi also hānai adopted Kalama and Kamehameha III's second son Keaweaweulaokalani II.[32]

Kanaʻina acted as trustee of the royal lands that had been inherited by his wife while his son was a minor, and after his son's death. When Kanaʻina died, the court appointed nine trustees, six of which would take part in the militia that overthrew the monarchy and also take part in the new provisional government. Dole himself had been on the record as supporting the break up of crown lands to promote American style farming in his newspaper in 1872. Various lawsuits ensued over the property including a suit questioning the validity of the will due to Lunalilo being under the guardianship of his father when he made it out. Lunalilo had requested in his will to use the estate to fund a charity. The trustees favored splitting up the estate by selling it off, while others claimed the value of land was underestimated, and an endowment to run the charity could have been funded by lease income.[33] For example, Kanaʻina leased (and later his heirs would sell) thousands of acres of land on the island of Hawaii to businessman (and son of missionaries) William Herbert Shipman.[34]

A petition was filed by King David Kalakaua, his sisters and brother-in-law, Lydia K. Dominis, Miriam K. Cleghorn and Archibald Scott Cleghorn, with a hearing set by Justice Lawrence McCully.[37] In July 1878, Justices Harris, Judd and McCully heard Kalakaua's appeal. While the Justices felt that the claim of Kalakaua and his sisters had not been proven, they were impressed with that of Kilinahe (Kanaʻina's first cousin) and other claimants based on testimony and witnesses. The court decreed that the estate be split into four equal shares: one quarter to go to Haalilio (k), Haalelea (k) and Kahukaiola (k); one quarter each to Pahua (w) and Kaahua (k); and one quarter to the widow and children of Kilinahe, who had died before the adjudication of his claim.[38]

Claimants from the line of Moana Wahine made petitions to the court under the act of 1874 to quite land titles. The act was later deemed unconstitutional and a new decree of heirship was made. By December 1879 disbursement of land in trust with William Cooper Parke, (Marshal of Hawaii from 1853 to 1884) and owned by heirs, could not be agreed upon for settlement. Most supported the sale of the lands, so an order was made and all land sold at auction.[39]

Final adjudication of probate found a total of eight parties or groups of relatives, most of whom were descended from Moana and her four husbands, as heirs to the Kanaʻina estate splitting a total of 9 shares, with 2 shares going to one party. The probate records include a great deal of information from the four years of litigation. A great number of people petitioned the courts to claim title as heirs after the initial 1878 judgement.[40] In the final adjudication, Bernice Pauahi Bishop received two of the nine shares. The remaining seven of the nine shares were divided equally in 1/9th and distributed to Ruth Keelikōlani, Haalilio and Haalelea (namesakes of the historic figures), Kilinahe (Whose grandmother was the older sister of Kanaʻina's mother[41] and 5 other parties.[42] The first three trustees included John Mott-Smith and Sanford B. Dole.[43]

The Hawaii public archives building, built in 1906 on the ʻIolani Palace grounds, in a section that was formerly the Kanaʻina's estate, was dedicated as the Kanaʻina building. It originally held the public archives but today hold the administrative offices of Friends of ʻIolani Palace.[44]