Benjamin Nāmākēhā
| Bennett Nāmākēhā | |||||
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| Born | c. 1799 | ||||
| Died | December 27, 1860 Pauoa Valley, Honolulu, Oahu |
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| Burial | December 31, 1860 Pohukaina Tomb October 30, 1865 Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum |
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| Spouse | Halauwai Lydia Piʻia Kapiʻolani |
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| Issue | Hinau Kahaekalaunu |
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| Father | Kamaunu | ||||
| Mother | Kukaeleiki | ||||
| Full name | |
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| Bennett Nāmākēhāokalani |
Bennett Nāmākēhā-o-kalani (c. 1799–1860) was a Hawaiian high chief, uncle of Queen Emma of Hawaii, and first husband of Queen Kapiolani. His first name is often given as Benjamin, Beneli, or Beniki.
He and his brother George Naea were sons of High Chief Kamaunu and High Chiefess Kukaeleiki, the daughter of Kalauawa from the royal line of Kauaian chiefs. Kukaeleiki was also cousin of Queen Keōpūolani. Nāmākēhā was also said to have been descended from Kalanawaʻa of Oahu and High Chiefess Kuaenaokalani of Maui who held the exalted kapu rank of Kekapupoʻohoʻolewaikalā (a head so sacred that it could not be exposed to the sun except at dawn). His name was the same as the high chief who rebelled against Kamehameha I during the end of his military career in 1796. His brother Naʻea was the father of Queen Emma.
He was a member of the House of Nobles from about 1848 through 1855. By 1851 the House of Nobles consisted only of petty chiefs called Kaukaualiʻi. Nāmākēhā was inferior to the aliʻi nui (High Chiefs). Kaukaualiʻi were only descended from famous fathers while aliʻi nui claim parentage of mother of the highest rank.
Prior to 1852, he was married to Halauwai and later Lydia Piʻia, daughter of Kekaikuihala, the daughter of Nuhi and Kaohelelani. With Halauwai, he had a son Hinau who married Kamakaaiau, an attendant of Queen Emma. With Piʻia, he had another son named Kahaekalaunu, who died in infancy. On March 8, 1852 he married Kapiʻolani, daughter of Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole and Kinoiki Kekaulike. His second wife was only eighteen years old while he was more than thirty years her senior. Through that marriage she became Queen Emma's aunt and nurse to her son Prince Albert Edward Kauikeaouli. Nāmākēhā and Kapiʻolani had no children. For his health the couple voyaged for months on The Morning Star, a missionary vessel, among the Gilbert Islands, but in vain, for Nāmākēhā died on December 27, 1860, at Honolulu. His widow later remarried to Kalākaua and became the Queen consort of Hawaii in 1874.
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