Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Sr.


Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Sr. was a Hawaiian high chief, who served as Governor of Kauaʻi from 1880 to 1881.

Biography

He was born at Waimea, on November 26, 1845 to William Charles Malulani Kaleipaihala Beckley and Kahinu o Kekuaokalani i Lekeleke. His father was one of the sons of Captain George Charles Beckley, a British sea captain and advisor of King Kamehameha I, who married the High Chiefess Ahia. His mother Kahinu was the daughter of the High Chief Hoʻolulu. His siblings were Maria Beckley Kahea and George Moʻoheau Beckley. He received a good education.
On December 3, 1867, Beckley married part-Hawaiian Emma Kaili Metcalf and had a total of seven children including son Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Jr. and daughter Sabina Beckley Hutchinson. His wife remarried to Moses Nakuina and was later appointed curator of the Hawaiian National Library and Museum.
He worked as a purser on the steamship Kilauea and was later appointed second clerk in the land office after King Kalākaua's accession in 1874. Upon the death of Edwin Harbottle Boyd in 1875, he was appointed the Royal Chamberlain which he served for a time before resigning to pursue business in the booming sugar business on Molokai. In 1880, he ran successfully as a representative for Molokai and Lanai. After John E. Bush resigned to assume the post of Minister of the Interior, Beckley was appointed to succeed him as the Governor of Kauaʻi by King Kalākaua in August 16, 1880, a position he held until his death.
After a period of illness, Beckley died on January 7, 1881, in Honolulu, from dropsy, at the age of 36.
Beckley Street in Kalihi, Honolulu is named after him.