Jonatana Napela
| Jonatana Napela | |
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1869 in Salt Lake City
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| Born | September 11, 1813 |
| Died | August 6, 1879 (aged 65) |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine "Kitty" Keliʻikuaʻāina Richardson |
| Children | Harriet Panana Kaiwaokalani Napela Parker |
| Parent(s) | Wiwiokalani Hawaiʻiwaaole |
| Relatives | Samuel Parker (son-in-law) |
Jonatana Napela or Jonathan Hawaii Napela (first name also spelled Iohatana, full name Napelakapuonamahanaonaleleonalani) (September 11, 1813 – August 6, 1879) was one of the earliest Hawaiian converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Hawaii, joining in the 1830s. He helped translate the Book of Mormon into the Hawaiian language, as "Ka Buke a Moramona," working with missionary George Q. Cannon. Napela was appointed to serve as a superintendent of the colony at Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi, which he did for several years. He had accompanied his wife there after her diagnosis with leprosy. While at the settlement, he led LDS Church members and collaborated with Roman Catholic priest-missionary Father Damien to serve all the people of the settlement. Most were Protestant.
Napela was born September 11, 1813, to Hawaiʻiwaaole and Wiwiokalani; his father descends from Kuahaliulani, one of the numerous sons of Kekaulike, king of Maui at the beginning of the 18th century. He was educated at Lahainaluna School.
Napela was trained as a lawyer. He was serving as a judge in Wailuku, Hawaii, when he met American George Q. Cannon, a member of the LDS Church on a missionary trip to Hawaiʻi. After Napela's conversion in the 1830s to the LDS Church, the government forced the judge to resign from his position. The LDS Church was regarded with suspicion.
LDS Church historian Andrew Jensen said that Napela "did splendid missionary work for the Church." Napela was sent on a specific mission in 1853 but, as was common in the early church, spent much of his time before that preaching the gospel. His faith inspired others. On one occasion, Cannon and other American elders had prayed for good weather but, thinking the weather would be poor, walked to hold the meeting in a building. Napela, who had been present at the prayers, expressed surprise at their lack of faith; they followed his lead and held the meeting in a grove of trees.
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