Mela (Miller) was the name Native Hawaiians called Alexander (Alika) Miller Sr., the foreign mason of Kamehameha I and chief builder of the Brick Palace who was on Oahu before the Battle of Nuʻuanu in 1795.
Brick Palace
Before the Battle of Nuuanu a number of foreigners were living on Oahu under the rule of Kalanikūpule. Among these settlers were Oliver Holmes, Shomisona, Mr. Lele, Mr. Mela [Miller] and Mr. Keakaʻeleʻele [Black Jack]. After Kamehameha I conquered Oahu they all pledged oaths to the new alii. [1] A letter from William Richards to Reverend Levi Chamberlain dated September 18, 1830, describes "Miller" as a Mason living in Lahaina. Richard also notes that "Miller" likes rum. [2]
Mela, along with Mr. Keka'ele'ele (Black Jack), possibly the first African American in Hawaii, built the Brick Palace for Kamehameha I's favorite wife, Kaʻahumanu. [1] [3] The palace was the first western-style structure built in the Hawaiian Islands, serving as the first Royal Palace. [4] Located at Lahaina, Maui, the site became the seat of government and capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii until 1845. [5] William Richards would later receive the land the Brick Palace was built on. [2]
John Papa ʻĪʻī
Mela was the kahu (royal attendant) of John Papa ʻĪʻī, who writes of the occasion when, as a young boy who didn't wish to walk on a long journey, his attendants, either Mela or Kiwalao, scared him into walking by pointing to foreigners and telling the young boy; "Here come the haoles, who do not like children who cry too much". [6]
Family, descendants and legacy
Mela's English name was Alexander (Alika) Miller Sr. [7] Alexander wed or cohabitated with Kānekapōlei and had two children, a girl named Kahinu (w) and a son named Alika (Alexander) Mela (Miller) Jr. [2] While Mela was originally gifted with several lots of land from Kamehameha I, his son Alika had to relinquish all but one, Opaeula ahupuaa in Lahaina, Maui. [7]
Alika married Kanuha Kaialiilii, sister of Captain J.H. Mahiai, in 1855. Kanuha and Mahiai were two of 9 children of Kaialiilii and Poimoa. [2] Alika and Kanuha had eight children; [2]
- Kale [Sarah] (w)
- John Mahiʻai (born Miller) Kāneakua
- Hale
- Kahalea
- Kanekapolei (w)
- Isabel/Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Desha (née Miller) (w)
- Noa
- Kalimahana
Sarah Miller is said to have married or cohabitated with a Mr. Harvey Raymond but there was no issue from the union. Sarah did have 4 children with Charles Makee, [2] including a son named Charles Miller. [8] John Mahiʻai was hanai adopted by James Kāneakua. [9] [10] He married twice. His first marriage produced no issue however, his second marriage to Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings produced ten children. [10]
Family tree
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Key- Subjects with bold titles and blue bold box= Aliʻi line. Bold title and grey bolded box= Lower ranking Aliʻi line. Bold title and un-bolded box= European nobility. Regular name and box= makaʻāinana or untitled foreign subject.
Notes:
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Citations
- ^ a b Kamakau 1992, p. 174.
- ^ a b c d e f Barrère 1994, p. 458.
- ^ Jackson 2004, p. 11.
- ^ Benson & Balfour 2013, p. 732.
- ^ Ring, Watson & Schellinger 2013, p. 315.
- ^ Ii 1983, p. 20.
- ^ a b Barrère 1994, p. 457.
- ^ Chinese Historical Society of America 1988, p. 175.
- ^ Staff writer 1900, p. 3.
- ^ a b Walk, Kaʻanoʻi (September 2013). "Kāneakua, John Mahiʻai". Ka‘iwakīloumoku Virtual Archive. Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
References
- Barrère, D.B. (1994). The King's Mahele: The Awardees and Their Lands. D.B. Barrère. OCLC 31886789.
- Benson, Sara; Balfour, Amy C (1 August 2013). Lonely Planet Hawaii. Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 978-1-74321-788-7.
- Chinese Historical Society of America (1988). Chinese America, History and Perspectives. Chinese Historical Society of America. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-9614198-1-3.
- Jackson, Miles M. (2004). Social Process in Hawaii. Department of Sociology, University of Hawaii at Manoa. ISBN 978-0-8248-2965-0.
- Ii, John Papa (1983). Fragments of Hawaiian History. Bishop Museum Press. ISBN 978-0-910240-31-4.
- Kamakau, Samuel Manaiakalani (1992). Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii. Kamehameha Schools Press. ISBN 978-0-87336-014-2.
- Ring, Trudy; Watson, Noelle; Schellinger, Paul (5 November 2013). The Americas: International Dictionary of Historic Places. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-25930-4.
- Woodson, Carter Godwin; Logan, Rayford Whittingham (1934). The Journal of African American History. Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. ASIN B06XNVQRMP.
- Staff writer (1900). "Obituary". The Independent. The Independent.