Series M498 - Nancy Bannick Manuscript Collection

Curtis Piʻehu Iʻaukea was born in the district of Waimea, island of Hawaiʻi on December 13, 1855 to J. W. and Lahapa [Nalanipo] Iʻaukea. Curtis was given in hānai (raised) to his uncle Kaihupaʻa, a royal retainer to Mōʻī (King) Kauikeaouli [Kamehameha III], who raised him to follow in his footsteps as a royal retainer. Being under the care of Kaihupaʻa, Iʻaukea lived near the palace grounds in Honolulu and grew up among the royal family. The education of Iʻaukea was sponsored by Mōʻī Alexander Liholiho [Kamehameha IV]. He attended St. Albanʻs in Paoua Valley, Oʻahu and Luaʻehu School in Lāhainā, Maui, both of which were Anglican schools founded in 1863 by order of Mōʻīwahine (Queen) Emma and were the fore-runner to ʻIolani School. In 1870, Iʻaukea returned to Honolulu and worked as a steward on the staff of Mōʻī Lota Kapuāiwa [Kamehameha V]. In 1872 Iʻaukea was sent to Maui to work at West Maui Sugar Plantation; his time there was a brief, five months. In 1874, at the request of Mōʻī David Kalākaua, Iʻaukea returned to Honolulu and resumed his service to the Royal Family. He began his new service as a personal aide to Kamaliʻikāne (Prince) Leleiohoku--heir apparent to the throne--then a year later received a commission as Captain in the Prince's Own Corps., followed by numerous other positions in the following years as stated below in the Historical/Biographical Chronology section. During this time, Iʻaukea met Charlotte Kahaloipua Hanks, daughter of Akini Tai Hoon and Frederick Leslie Hanks. They married on April 7th, 1877 in Honolulu and had 2 children, Frederick Hanks Nalaniahi and Loma Kahilipuaokalani. After the death of Mōʻī Kalākaua in 1891. Iʻaukea continued to work for the monarchy under Mōʻīwahine Liliʻuokalani. Following the 17 January coup that deposed the Queen, Iʻaukea continued in a number of government roles throughout the Provisional Government, Republic, and Territory of Hawaiʻi governments. Iʻaukea's travels took him to several countries, including organizing the Hawaiian legation to Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1897 and accompanying President Dole and his wife to Washington D.C. as secretary and military attache in 1898. Iʻaukea received several decorations from foreign dignitaries as well as Hawaiian Royal Orders from Mōʻī Kalākaua. Iʻaukea also served for a time as business agent for Mōʻī Liliuokalani in Her later years and as managing trustee of the “Liliuokalani Trust” from 1909 to 1923. Iʻaukea served as Secretary of the Territory of Hawaiʻi from 1917 to 1921; then Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission from 1933 to 1935; and as a member of the Archives Commission from 1937 until 1940. On March 5, 1940, Curtis Piʻehu Iʻaukea passed away in Honolulu.