Kakaolu Pe'elua

A Centenary Figure

Written: April 5, 1920

When the centennial of the landing of the first missionaries is celebrated in Honolulu next week, one of the most conspicuous and interesting figures among the thousands taking part in the program will be Mrs. Kakaolu Heneli Pe‘elua, who was born on August 25, 1820, and will be a century old in August. Mrs. Peelua will be one of the guests of honor and will be present at the more important functions of the nine-day celebration.

This centenarian is a living link connecting the early days following the landing of the first missionaries in Hawaii and the present time, bridging the most eventful century in the history of the islands.

She was born at Kawela, Moloka‘i, four months and 25 days after the pioneer missionaries landed at Kailua Kona, Hawaii, March 30, 1820, and less than a year after the Great Kamehameha died.

Her earliest recollection is the death of Keopulani who died at Lahaina, Maui, on September 16, 1823, when she was a little more than three years old.

The parents of Mrs. Pe‘elua were Maiku‘i Paliouwela and Kaila‘a. She married at the age of 30, her husband died in 1902. The Pe‘eluas had no children, but adopted a boy and a girl as their own, these being Henry Hapipa Pe‘elua, who was named after Mrs. Pe‘elua’s husband, and Mrs. Esther K. Bishaw of 22547 Lemon Road, Waikiki, with whom the centenarian is making her home.

Mrs. Pe‘elua, while nearing the century mark, is possessed of all her faculties. Her eyes are bright and keen and she reads without the aid of glasses.

There is no question of Mrs. Pe‘elua’s age. Among others, Rev. Samuel K. Kamaiopili of the Oahu Hawaiian Evangelical Association has looked up whatever available records there are and he vouches for the fact that she will be 100 years old next August.