Read this article in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
Keōua Hale was glorious to behold as it stood on the grounds of Kaʻaʻōpua, Honolulu. That royal residence was built for Ruth Keʻelikōlani on the site of the recently renamed Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani Middle School at 1302 Queen Emma Street.
The palace was completed in 1883 and was larger than ʻIolani Palace which was completed in 1882. Even though a grand feast was held for its completion, the princess never lived in Keōua Hale because she fell ill after the celebration, then went to Kona to recuperate. Sadly, she passed in May of 1883. Her wake was held in Keōua Hale then the house passed to her cousin, Pauahi. In 1884, Princess Pauahi passed away in Keōua Hale. Aloha nō.
When Keʻelikōlani lived in Kona, as during her tenure as governor of Hawaiʻi Island, she lived in the royal residence of Huliheʻe. Huliheʻe is a two-story wooden structure built by J.A. Kuakini, that was passed on to William Pitt Leleiohoku, the husband of Keʻelikōlani. That is how it was conveyed to Ruth. While living at Huliheʻe, she preferred sleeping in a thatched house in a corner of the property.
When Keʻelikōlani lived in Honolulu, such as when she waited for Keōua Hale to be built, she lived in Pālama at Mauna Kamala. The house was between Asylum Road (now Pālama Street) to the west, King Street to the south, and Liliha Street to the east. Mauna Kamala sat squarely on what is now Kanoa Street and in front of a large banyan tree since cut down. Therefore, Mauna Kamala was located near and behind of what is now Kaumakapili Church.
As with Keōua Hale, Mauna Kamala passed to Pauahi upon Ruth’s death. After Pauahi’s death, her trutees leased the house to Joseph Nāwahī, the patriot from Puna and representative for Hilo in the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.
After the overthrow, his home was raided by the traitor rebel forces of Thurston and he was wrongfully taken to the prison in Iwilei called the Foreigner’s Castle. It was there that Nāwahī contracted tuberculosis.
This was such a loss because he did nothing wrong, Nāwahī went to San Francisco to recuperate but found no cure and passed away. At his funeral on the grounds of Mauna Kamala, the throngs of people who greatly loved him swelled. His body was taken to his beloved Hilo.
In the next issue we will read about the homes of Liliʻuokalani. Mahalo for reading this column. Long live the name of Keʻelikōlani.
