► Piianaia Family, Queen's Relatives

Hawaii Star Bulletin
June 27, 1953
Clarice B. Taylor's Tales About Hawaii

Piianaia Family, Queen's Relatives

No. 11, Hidden Alii

     When Fanny Malulani Kaho'alii, daughter of the hidden alii, met Abraham St. Chad Piianaia, she became acquainted with another branch of Queen Emma's family.

     Abraham St. Chad Piianaia was a junior member of the senior branch of the family which reckoned its geneology straight back to the kings who ruled the Big Island between the 11th and 18th centuries.

     The name Piianaia has two meanings. Literally, it means "the season when the mullet break from the water." Sybolically, it means "the men who follow the beautiful women."  The name is also the answer to the Hawaiian riddle, "men or fish."

KAMEHAMEHA'S NEPHEW

     The first modern Piianaia was a son born to Keliimaikai, full brother of Kamehameha I, and his wife Nunehiwaokalani. Piianaia was a half brother of Kekuaokalani, last defender of the ancient faith and Kaoanaeha, wife of John Young and grandmother of Queen Emma.

     Most important was the fact that he was a paternal nephew of Kamehameha I; his grandfather Keoua being the father of Kamehameha. 

     The geneolgy of the first Piianaia's mother Nunehiwaokalani has been lost, but her name tells us she was the daughter of a high priest. Her name means that at the time fo her birth their were whisperings of scandal and that her family was not afraid of scandal.

     They name the child "the whisperings" and so dared the scandal-mongers to talk openly about her.

     Piianaia had two daughters by a wife Kina whose real name was Kekupuo-i-kamai-kalani (The offspring of Kamai). The daughters were Kalilioku and Ulaloha.

THE FAMILY

     Abraham St. Chad Piianaia was the second of Kalilioku's six children. His brothers and sisters were:Ulualoha (Offspring of Love) who was named for her childless aunt Ulualoha; Alexandria Kalilioku, called Alania. Kiakiakoi (Master Priest of an Order of Physicians); Keliihooluhi (The Weary and Overburdened Chief); and Kamoonohu (God of the Nohu, a small fish living in sea rocks).

     Kalilioku was an old family name meaning "The Pride of Kalilimoku." Several members of the family had been guardians of the national war god Kukalilimoku. The name was given either a boy or a girl in each generation of the family.

     No one outsde the family could use the name.

Next: Chinese husband.

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Source: https://familysearch.org/patron/v2/TH-300-43958-0-84/dist.pdf?ctx=ArtCtxPublic