Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku II

Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku II, born Kalahoʻolewa, was a significant figure in the Hawaiian Kingdom, serving as heir apparent to his brother King Kalākaua. Born on January 10, 1855, in Honolulu, Oʻahu, his birth name, Kalahoʻolewa, translates to "the day of the funeral," a poignant reference to the royal funeral of King Kamehameha III, which occurred on the same day. His adopted name, Leleiohoku, meaning "Fled in the time of Hoku," commemorates the day Kamehameha I died on the Hawaiian calendar in 1819. He held the titles of Prince and His Royal Highness, and was also known for his roles as Regent, Privy Councilor, member of the House of Nobles, and Captain of the Leleiohoku Guards.

Leleiohoku II was the biological son of High Chief Caesar Kaluaiku Kapaʻakea and High Chiefess Analea Keohokālole, making him a member of the esteemed House of Kalākaua. His lineage connected him to the highest ranks of Hawaiian nobility, including collateral relations to the House of Kamehameha, sharing descent from the 18th-century aliʻi nui, Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku. His parents were political advisors to Kamehameha III and IV, and his ancestry also included Keaweaheulu and Kameʻeiamoku, royal counselors to Kamehameha I. His biological siblings included James Kaliokalani, David Kalākaua, Liliʻuokalani, Anna Kaʻiulani, Kaʻiminaʻauao, and Miriam Likelike. In accordance with Hawaiian custom, Leleiohoku was hānai (informally adopted) at birth by Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani, who later legally adopted him in 1862. This adoption made him the heir to her extensive land holdings, which further increased after the deaths of her half-brothers. He remained unmarried and had no children throughout his life.

His education began at St. Alban\'s College in Honolulu, a precursor to the modern ʻIolani School. After completing his formal education in 1872, he embarked on a career in public service, working as a clerk in the governmental Foreign Office. He also served as an officer on the personal military staff of King Lunalilo. Following Lunalilo\'s death without an heir, Leleiohoku\'s brother, David Kalākaua, was elected king on February 14, 1874. King Kalākaua, being childless, soon after named Leleiohoku as his heir apparent, granting him the title of Prince and the style of "His Royal Highness." This appointment solidified his position as a central figure in the Hawaiian Kingdom\'s political landscape. He actively participated in governance as a Privy Councilor and a member of the House of Nobles in the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A significant period of his political life was his regency from November 17, 1874, to February 15, 1875, during which he governed the kingdom while King Kalākaua was in the United States negotiating the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875. He also served as Captain of the Leleiohoku Guards, a volunteer cavalry company in the Hawaiian army.

Beyond his political duties, Prince Leleiohoku II was a celebrated cultural figure, particularly renowned for his musical talents. He was an accomplished musician and composer, considered by many, including his sister Liliʻuokalani, to be the most talented among the royal siblings. He founded the Kawaihau Glee Club, a royal choral society that engaged in friendly musical rivalries with similar groups led by his sisters. His compositions, often love songs, were deeply influenced by Henri Berger, the bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band, incorporating elements of folk tunes from various foreign settlers. Among his most famous works are "Kāua I Ka Huahuaʻi," which was later adapted into the popular American song "Hawaiian War Chant," and "Adios Ke Aloha," considered his finest composition. He was also an expert guitarist. Today, he and his siblings are collectively recognized by the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame as Na Lani ʻEhā, or "The Heavenly Four," for their profound contributions to Hawaii\'s musical culture and history.

Prince Leleiohoku II\'s life was tragically cut short at the age of 22. He died on April 9, 1877, at ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu, Oʻahu, from acute rheumatic fever that affected his heart. His death was a profound loss for the nation, as he was widely regarded with high hopes and expectations as the future monarch. The United States Minister to Hawaii, Henry A. Peirce, remarked on his potential, stating, "Of correct morals, well-educated and accomplished, the late prince promised to become, had he lived to ascend the throne, a wise and popular sovereign." His untimely passing led to his sister Liliʻuokalani being named the next heir apparent, a pivotal moment in the kingdom\'s history. His legacy is remembered through his significant musical contributions, his role as a promising heir, and the deep mourning that followed his death. In 1875, the Hawaiian postal service issued a postage stamp featuring his portrait, a testament to his public recognition. His life was also dramatized in the Hawaiian play "Almost a King" by Clarence Waipa, further cementing his place in Hawaiian cultural memory. His contributions to Hawaiian music continue to be celebrated, and his potential as a leader remains a subject of historical reflection, highlighting a period of both promise and vulnerability for the Hawaiian Kingdom.