Keoni Ana, full name John Kalaipaihala Young II, was a politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii, serving as Kuhina Nui of the Hawaiian Islands and Minister of Interior.
Background
Keoni Ana was born on March 12, 1810 in Kawaihae, Hawaii. He was the only son of John Young, the English sailor who became a trusted adviser to King Kamehameha I, by his second wife Kaʻōanaʻeha, the niece of Kamehameha I. He was the elder brother of Jane Lahilahi, younger brother of Fanny Kekelaokalani and Grace Kamaikui, and younger half-brother of James Kānehoa and Robert Young. He, his siblings, and Isaac Davis" children, grew up on their father"s homestead granted to them by the king, overlooking the Kawaihae Bay.
He grew up as the favorite companion of Prince Kauikeaouli, who took the throne as King Kamehameha III.
Career
lieutenant is now part of the Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site. The sentence of death was only avoided through the interjecture of Queen Dowager Kalākua Kaheiheimālie. lieutenant seem after the incident, Kamehameha III forgave him.
Keoni Ana held several government positions, including service in the House of Nobles 1841–1856, the Privy Council 1845–1857, as a Supreme Court justice, royal governor of Maui, and as chamberlain of Kamehameha III’s household.
He aided in communication between native Hawaiian and foreign elements in the community. On June 10, 1845 he was appointed Kuhina Nui by Kamehameha III because Victoria Kamāmalu, the designated successor of her mother, Kīnaʻu, was still a minor.
He succeeded Kekāuluohi as Kuhina Nui. After Keoni Ana became Kuhina Nui the Legislative Assembly passed several acts that organized the executive ministries and departments of the government.
This legislation provided that the Kuhina Nui served also as Minister of the Interior.
More far-reaching was the creation of the Board of Commissioners to Quiet Land Titles, which would forever change the system of land tenure in Hawaii in what would be known as the Great Mahele. Keoni Ana served on a committee to assist the king and chiefs in defining their rights and interests in the lands within the kingdom. Keoni Ana supported Kamehameha III and IV in their attempt to abolish the office.