Aloha. We are the Kinimaka 'Ohana (family). Welcome to our family Web site. We created this special place on the Web to share our lives with you. We hope this site will enable our family and friends, near and far, to stay connected and bring 'ohana kupuna (several generations in a place). We look forward to sharing our family news and precious memories with you for years to come! Feel free to use our contact page to contact us.

Mahalo for visiting!

Our Story

Colonel David Leleo Kinimaka c.1880's

Our 'ohana has a long and proud history, that reaches back centuries in Hawaiian culture. From the very beginnings of the polynesian voyagers, to today's modern and fast paced world - the Kinimaka name has been associated with many of the iconic events in Hawaiian history.

This website is dedicated to carrying on the memories of our kupuna (ancestors) who are with us today, or who have passed on from this earth but have never left our hearts. The Kinimaka story is not unlike that of many native Hawaiian families today, who recognize the need and urgency for rallying our large and dispersed family in an effort to pass on to our mo'opuna (descendants) the stories of who we are and what we as Kinimaka's have accomplished.

One such accomplished Kinimaka was none other than Brevet Lieutenant Colonel David Leleo Kinimaka (pictured above). The son of Chief Keaweamahi and Pai Kinimaka (High Chief of Honolulu), Lt. Colonel David Leleo has left us all a legacy of strength, integrity, humility and a fierce loyalty to our Monarchy that has forever consolidated his place in Hawaiian history, as a man who brought much Ho'ohanohano (honor) to our family name. His life and legacy will be covered in depth on the following pages, as this site is developed. See another photograph taken in the 1870's (in his uniform as head of the Royal Guards/Household Troops) on Family Photos page.

-K. Kinimaka

Sept 2008

The Royal Seal of High Chiefess Kahikoloa of Maui

The above is the Royal Seal of High Chiefess Kahikoloa of Maui.  She was the wife of Kameeiamoku who is one of the twin warriors portrayed on this seal.  The person responsible for making this seal may never be known, but there is no doubt that it was intended to honor Kahikoloa and represent her royal status.  Kameeiamoku and his twin brother Kamanawa were two of the four uncles of Kamehameha I. 

Bishop Museum Archives’ Microfiche reel 232.1 – Hawaii Board of Genealogy Records, imparts one version pertaining to the history of Hawaii’s Coat of Arms:  That in the time of Kalaniopuu and Kamehameha – Kameeiamoku held the Ipu kuha (spittoon) and Kamanawa the Kahili; that these were once the royal emblems, from the time of Umi and even before that back to the time of Pilikaaiea; that in the year 1810 the spear was then substituted to take the place of the spittoon, as seen on the Coat of Arms of Kamehameha III, IV, V, Lunalilo I and King Kalakaua. 

Hawaiian Genealogies, Vol. II, page 99, is one source (there are others) which verifies that High Chiefess Kahikoloa joined in another union with High Chief Kapiiwi of Ka’u, ka moku o Keawe (Island of Hawaii), and they begat Keaweamahi Kinimaka.                                                                                                                      

Mary Ha’aheo Kinimaka-Atcherley, eldest daughter of Hannah Keola and David Leleo Kinimaka, contributed to our present day awareness of this seal when she put pen to paper in the year 1917 and used stationery which displayed the Royal Seal of Kahikoloa, her very own great-grandmother.  In 2006, dedicated family researchers discovered Mary Atcherley’s letters which had been stored for over 87 years in Canadian Naval Archives. 

Watch this space for updates or go to OHA link