Koa Tree - Pue, Alakiki & Kahahawai

Rose Pue
Great Grandmother

Rose was born on August 20, 1901 in Lahaina . Her Father was John Pue and her mother was Annie Alakiki. Rose was the mother our grandmother Annie Makekau. Rose gave birth to two keiki, Mabel the elder, & Annie our grandmother, the younger. Rose passed away September 1975.

John Pue
3rd Grandfather


John Pue was born in 1882 his parents were Pue & Hoomana of Lahaina Maui, Hawaii. John Pue was the father of our 2nd grandmother Rose Pue. According to their Marriage Certificate at the Hawaii State Archives, John Pue & Annie Alakiki were married on January 20, 1905.

Annie Nuukia Alakiki
3rd Grandmother

Annie Alakiki also known as Ane Nuukia was born in 1882 her parents were Alakiki & Nuukia of Lahaina. Annie Alakiki was the mother of Rose Pue & also how we are related to the Kai's. This picture shows Kupuna wahine Annie holding cousin Isabella at Kamokela Lane Housing @ Palama Settlement, Oahu.

Mahalo cousin Alice for the picture of Kupuna wahine.

Alakiki
4th Grandfather

Annies father Alakiki was born at Lahaina, Maui in the year 1850. Alakiki contracted leprosy and was transfered to Kalawao, the original site of the leper colony where he died July 25, 1887. Eventually the settlement was moved from Kalawao on the windward side of the peninsula to Kalaupapa on the leeward side to provide protection against the harsh tradewinds.

John Kahahawai
aka John Kai

On December 15, 1917 Annie Alakiki remarried John Kahahawai, the brother of Joseph Kahahawai. John Kahahawai would eventually shorten his name to John Kai.


Gabby Pahinui
Charles Kapono Kahahawai Jr.

John & Joseph had brother named Charles Kapono Kahahawai married to Madeline Keahi Kapana. They and their 19 keiki lived in Kakaako, but after the passing of Madeline, the keiki were sent to live with other families. Gabby & two of the sisters were taken in by the Pahinui ohana. Eventually he became a legend in Hawaiian music, Gabby Pops Pahinui, "The Governor of Waimanalo".

Mahalo to cousin Clfford Kapono for your manao on Uncle Gabby &
Hawaiian Music Hall of fame for the photo of Uncle Gabby.


Joseph Kahahawai

The most famous crime case in Hawai'i occurred on September 12, 1931. After a night of heavy drinking in Waikiki, Thalia Massie, a young Navy wife, left a party and was found by passers-by two hours later, her face bruised, mouth bleeding, and jaw broken. In a separate traffic incident the same night, police picked up five young local men. The police repeatedly took them to Mrs. Massie's hospital room until she finally identified them, alleging that they had abducted and raped her. The police never looked for anyone else.

The case made national headlines. Newspapers pictured a territory unsafe for white women with subhuman native brutes on the prowl. The local dailies editorialized on the efficiency of lynch law. In the trial, jurors deadlocked because Mrs. Massie's clothing was intact, and who beat her was in question. One of the men involved was subsequently seized and severely beaten. A second, Joseph Kahahawai, was forced into a car, shot, and killed. Police caught Kahahawai's assailants--Mrs. Massie's mother, husband, and two sailors.

Clarence Darrow, the famous criminal lawyer, defended the murderers, but the jury found them guilty, and they were sentenced to terms of hard labor of 4 to 10 years. Gov. Lawrence Judd, however, commuted the sentences to one hour each in his chambers. A shocked public reconsidered the case. Few could abide lynch law. A new police chief was hired and the criminal justice system reorganized. The Massie case to this day has the power to arouse strong emotions.



Thalia Massie (dressed in white) was a relative of Alexander Graham Bell & Teddy Roosevelt. Thalia alleged she was raped by five young locals in the year 1932. The false accusations led to the brutal murder of Joseph Kahahawai.

The five charged in Thalia Massie's alleged rape were from left, David Takai, Horace Ida, Henry Chang, Benny Ahakuelo, & Joe Kahahawai. Joe Kahahawai's lifeless body was found hidden in the trunk of a car near the blowhole at Makapuu. Thalias mother was driving, her husband & the two sailors were passengers in the car.

Mahalo Honolulu Star Bulletin for the pictures


Sources; State of Hawaii Archives, Familysearch.org, 1900 Census, 1910 Census


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