► A. St. Chad Piianaia

Honolulu Star Bulletin. June 17, 1953 - Tales About Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor 

THE OXFORD GRADUATE
A. ST. CHAD PIIANAIA

HIDDEN ALII, No. 2

     Almost everyone called him an "limey or Limejuicer" because he spoke with an English accent and he dressed like an Englishman. They didn't call him "Limey" to his face, for no one would think of using a nickname when addressing an alii of such courtly manners.

     He signed his name "A. St. Chad Piianaia" so people forgot his real name was Abraham Piianaia.

     This Mr. Piianaia was the first to carry the name Abraham. He was born June 7, 1868 during the reign of Kamehameha the VI in Lanai City and was brought to Honolulu in early life to be educated at English church school by Queen Emma.

     As a boy, he showed promise of his alii blood and was one of those selected by King Kalakaua to be sent to Europe for an education so that he could take a place in government.

THE NAME ST. CHAD

     Abraham Piianaia attended Oxford and received a degree from St. Chad, one of the colleges that made up Oxford University.

     He majored in law, so he took the Temple Bar examinations in London and received his license. Then he returned to Hawaii.

     It was then that he adopted the St. Chad in memory of his alma mater and began to sign his name A. St. Chad Piianaia.

     Instead of practicing law, Mr, Piianaia became and educator. He taught at Iolani School when the unknown boy, Sun Yat Sen, was a student there. He joined the public school system and taught in several rural schools, including Ulupalakua on Maui.

     Then in midlife he changed his occupation and became a court interpreter. He still had time to carn a pension when he went to work for the Navy Yard. He retired in 1935 and died at the age of 73 in 1941.

PIIANAIA FAMILIES
     Mr. Piianaia raised three families. The first was his wife Fanny Malulani Kamaikui. The second included two school teacher daughters whom his second wife, Louise Kahoaloha Kalama brought into his home.

     The third was his granson, his namesake, who was the child of his oldest daughter and the first grandchild born into the family. Hawaiian style he adopted the boy as his own.

     Pershaps is was the influence of A. St. Chad Piianaia and the urging of the school teacher stepdaughters that gave the scond Abraham his huner for knowledge. His home was a place of learning similar to the schools conducted by his alii ancestors.

Next: The Hidden Alii, No. 3