Abner Kaʻehu Pākī

Beyond the Scope of Bernice Pauahi

Bishop

Modern Scholarship

• Secondary Sources on Pākī scarce

• Majority frames Pākī as Pauahi’s

father

– He pua milimili na ke aliʻi Pākī / A he lei

hulu nani na Konia

Reframing Pākī

• Brings light to the political/social climate of the time

of his most pertinent influence: late 1840s-early

1850s

• Analysis of official government documents

and letters demonstrates two perspectives of

interest: 1. the relationships he held as a

gov’t official/aliʻi 2. political/social themes

of religion, ʻāina, and govt.

He aliʻi maoli

• Father, Kalanihelemaiiluna, nephew

of Kahekili

• Mother, Kawao, shares genealogical

line with Kamehamehas as

descendants of Keawe.

He aliʻi aupuni

• Member of the House of Nobles, Privy

Council, Supreme Court, and

Chamberlain to the King

– Chamberlain: presides over internal

economy of palace, expenditure of

funds, etc.

Pākī to W.C. Wyllie. Oct 21, 1847“Ma ke kauoha ana mai a ka Moi, ke olelo aku nei au ia oe e haawi mai oe I

mau dala $85 I mea e uku ai no ka hana ana o ka Hale Bele ma

Kawaiahao…”

Religion

• “Kauoha” for funding of church

• Government-driven

• Possible indicator of eagerness by

aliʻi to promote Christianity

Pākī to Kanehoa, Gov. of Maui. March 1, 1850

“E like me ke Kanawai no laila ke hai aku nei au I ko maua

mau aina mai Maui a me Molokai I na ia maua I manao ai

no maua iho e like me ka olelo ma ka Pauku 4 I ka puke

elua o ke Kanawai…”

Pākī to Keoni Ana. April 20, 1852 (2 separate letters)

“Ke hai aku nei au ia oe no na ia o ko ka Moi mau aina iau ka hana e like

me ke Kanawai…”

“Eia hou mai keia aina aole nae no’u ponoi a eia nae hoi iau ka hana a me

ka malama no Keelikolani nae ma ka mahele o Wm. P. Leleiohoku”

ʻĀina

• Pākī clarifies not only his lands, but

those over which he has steward ship

BY LAW

• No longer is aliʻi rights to ʻāina

validated by solely genealogy.

• Codified laws become a part of “aliʻi”

Pākī to W.C. Wyllie, Sept 1, 1849

“Ke hoouna aku nei au ia Kahonu e hele aku i mua ou o kekahi Hae o

ko kaua Moi aia no i luna o Kamehameha moku e hoouna aku oe iaia

e kii aku me ka palapala pu aku I loaa mai no ka mea ua lilo hoi ka

moku I Palani o ka Hae keia ia Akona Kapena e pono ke hoihoi mai.”

Timoteo Keaweiwi to Pākī and ʻĪʻī, July 18, 1845

“O na kanaka aole e pau ko kakou makau aia no a pau ka

noho luna ana o na haole a me ka hoohiki I kanaka maoli a

laila pau ke kaumaha o ka naau I ka makau o ia ka manao

o na kanaka a me ka hoopii hou aku no”

Government

• Haole occupy government positions

– ie. Wyllie, Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Makaʻāinana are concerned (makaʻu)

Eia ka puana a i lohe ia

• Through Pākī’s relationships established through

official government correspondences, three

themes emerge that inform us of the

political/social climate of the time.

– 1.Religion: Christianity-gov’t driven

– 2.ʻĀina: Ali’i rights codified, redefining ali’i status

– 3. Government: concern for haole-occupied gov’t

positions