Keliʻiahonui was born May 13, 1869 at Kaʻalaʻa at the mouth of the Pauoa Valley, in Honolulu, on the old homestead of his aunt Queen Kapiʻolani. His genealogy centered mainly on his ancestry as an heir of his great-grandfather Kaumualiʻi, the last ruling King of Kauaʻi. His mother Princess Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike was sister of Queen Kapiʻolani.
His father was High Chief David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi, first cousin of King Kalākaua.
He was baptized by Bishop Thomas Nettleship Staley of the Saint Andrew"s Cathedral. He shared his name with his great-uncle Kealiʻiahonui who was sometimes called the last prince of Kauaʻi. Keliʻiahonui was initially educated at Saint Alban"s College (now ʻIolani School) and Punahou School.
In 1874 the Kalākaua Dynasty ascended to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, ending the Kamehameha Dynasty.
He was elevated to fourth-in-line to the throne after Princess Likelike"s death seven months before his own. The three brothers were known as the Piʻikoi Brothers or the "Three Princes".
Being the middle son he was in a difficult position. He also fought illness more frequently.
In 1887, Keliʻiahonui was sent home ill with typhoid fever from school in California.
He died of typhoid fever at ʻIolani Palace shortly after arriving home on September 21, 1887, aged eighteen. He was buried in the Kalakaua Crypt, Royal Mausoleum called Mauna ʻAla in Nuʻuanu Valley, Oʻahu. Prince Edward Street in Waikiki is named after him.
