Curtis P. Iaukea

Curtis Piʻehu ʻIaukea
Governor of Oʻahu
In office October 4, 1886 – August 5, 1887
Monarch	Kalākaua
Acting Governor of Hawaii
In office December 30, 1919 – March 30, 1920
Governor	Charles J. McCarthy
Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 15th district
In office 1913–1915
Personal details
Born	December 13, 1855 Waimea, Kingdom of Hawaii
Died	March 5, 1940 (aged 84) Territory of Hawaii
Nationality	Kingdom of Hawaii Republic of Hawaii United States
Political party	Independent Democrat
Spouse(s)	Charlotte Kahaloipua Hanks
Relations	King Curtis Iaukea (great grandson)
Children	Lorna Kahilipuaokalani Frederick Hanks Nalaniahi
Occupation	Diplomat, Envoy, Politicians
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Hawaii
Service/branch	Royal Guards
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Prince’s Own

Curtis Piʻehu ʻIaukea (1855–1940) served as the chief diplomat of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi during the reigns of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani. His great grandson is wrestler King Curtis Iaukea.

Life

Curtis Piʻehu ʻIaukea was born December 13, 1855 in Waimea. His father was J. W. ʻIaukea and mother was Lahapa Nalanipo. At an early age he was sent to live with adoptive parents Kaihupaa (his mother's brother) and Keliaipala to live in the building of the former Royal School. The building had been turned into a home for royal retainers known as kahu. His uncle Kaihupaa, who had been an assistant to King Kamehameha III, fell into a well trying to save ʻIaukea when he was only about six. He was intended to be a companion for Prince Albert Kamehameha but the prince died in 1862.^[1]

He married Charlotte Kahaloipua Hanks in 1877. They had a daughter Lorna Kahilipuaokalani and son Frederick Hanks Nalaniahi.^[2]

In November 1878 he was made Colonel of the King Kalākaua's person staff. From 1880 to 1881 he was Secretary in the Foreign Office.^[3]

As the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, ʻIaukea was the most travelled member of the Hawaiian administration after Kalākaua. He served as the administration's envoy to the coronation of Tsar Alexander III of Russia and accompanied Queen Kapiolani to Washington, DC to meet with President of the United States Grover Cleveland. He accompanied her again to the United Kingdom to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Having developed a close friendship with the British Crown, he returned to the United Kingdom to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, representing the newly created Republic of Hawaiʻi.^[2][4]

After annexation

When the United States annexed the republic and established the Territory of Hawaiʻi, ʻIaukea became involved in local politics as a Democrat. He served as Sheriff of Honolulu 1907–1909.^[5] He also served as trustee of the Queen's Medical Center 1905-1909.^[6][7] He died in March 5, 1940.^[4]

He served in the Territorial Senate 1913–1915, Secretary of State from 1917 to 1921, and Acting Governor of the Territory from December 30, 1919 to March 30, 1920.^[3]

References

1. Curtis Piʻehu ʻIaukea (1930). "Reminiscences of the court of Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma". Hawaiian Journal of History. Hawaiian Historical Society: 17–27. hdl:10524/961.
2. Siddall, John William, ed. (1921). Men of Hawaii: a biographical reference library, complete and authentic, of the men of note and substantial achievement in the Hawaiian Islands. The Story of Hawaii and its builders. 2. Honolulu, HI, USA: Honolulu Star-Bulletin. pp. 215–216. LCCN 22017988. OCLC 80553001, 32127632, 16326675. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
3. "Iaukea, Curtis Piehu office record". state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
4. Will Hoover (July 2, 2006). "Curtis I'aukea". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
5. "About HPD". The Roots of the Honolulu Police Department. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
6. Curtis Piʻehu ʻIaukea; Lorna Kahilipuaokalani Iaukea Watson (1988). Niklaus Rudolf Schweizer, ed. By royal command: the official life and personal reminiscences of Colonel Curtis Piʾehu Iaukea at the court of Hawaii's rulers. Honolulu, HI, USA: Hui Hanai. p. 232. ISBN 9780961673864. OCLC 659186491, 16006083. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
7. Journal of the Senate of the ... Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii. Honolulu, HI, USA. 1907. p. 303. OCLC 38985965, 39393381. Retrieved December 3, 2012.