Mataio Kekūanāoʻa (1791–1868) was descended from the high chiefs of the island of Oʻahu. His first name is the Hawaiian form of Matthew. Kekūanāoʻa translates as "the standing protection" in the Hawaiian language.

Kekūanāoʻa was born sometime around the year 1791. In the book: "An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origins and Migrations, and the Ancient History of the Hawaiian People to the Times of Kamehameha", Abraham Fornander states in his notes section on page 223; "Pupuka, an Oahu chief of considerable importance, was father of Inaina, the wife of Nahiolea, and mother of Kekuanaoa, late governor of Oahu".John Papa ʻĪʻī's uncle Nāhiʻōleʻa, the ali'i that took Kalanikapule's side against Kamehameha I and was killed by his cousins, was listed in the newspaper, "Ke Au Okoa" as Kekūanāoʻa's father however, in the chant for Nakanealoha, the name of Kiʻilaweau is mentioned as a "makua". This makes some believe he had two fathers, a tradition called poʻolua. At his death, his parents were identified as Nāhiʻōleʻa and Inaina however, on March 14, 1879, writing in his opinion for the Hawaiian Supreme Court over a probate matter, Justice C.J. Harris wrote: "With regard to Ruth Keelikolani, it appears to me pretty clear that Keawe, No. 3 of Moana’s husbands, was the father of Kanaina the first by Moana ; that this Kanaina had a son, Kiilaweau, who was the father of Kekuanaoa, and Kekuanaoa was the father of Keelikolani". Genealogist differ on the correct line with some believing that Nāhiʻōleʻa and Inaina were his parents and others believing it to be Kiʻilaweau and Moana Wahine's daughter, Kahoowaha.

Kiʻilaweau was an ali'i of the highest rank. While Kekūanāoʻa's children were not as high ranking as Kamehameha II or Kamehameha III, Kekūanāoʻa descends from Keawehanauikawalu and his line was considered high-ranking.

He was the Royal Governor of Oʻahu 1839–1864. On December 21, 1863 he was made the sixth Kuhina Nui, replacing his daughter who became Crown Princess and heir apparent to the throne. For most of his reign as Kuhina Nui he supported his son Kamehameha V's view of abolishing the position. He held the position until 1864 when the Constitution of 1864 abolished it. He also served as a member of the House of Nobles from 1841–1868, Privy Council 1845–1869, and as President of the Board of Education from 1860. In 1866, Mark Twain wrote of Mataio Kekūanāoʻa: "[A] man of noble presence.." and "[S]eemingly natural and fitted to the place as if he had been born to it...."

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