# Mela (Miller)

Mela (Miller) was the name Native Hawaiians called Alexander (Alika) Miller Sr., the foreign mason of Kamehameha I and chief builder of the Brick Palace who was on Oahu before the Battle of Nuʻuanu in 1795.

## Brick Palace

Before the Battle of Nuuanu a number of foreigners were living on Oahu under the rule of Kalanikūpule. Among these settlers were Oliver Holmes, Shomisona, Mr. Lele, Mr. Mela [Miller] and Mr. Keakaʻeleʻele [Black Jack]. After Kamehameha I conquered Oahu they all pledged oaths to the new alii. A letter from William Richards to Reverend Levi Chamberlain dated September 18, 1830, describes "Miller" as a Mason living in Lahaina. Richard also notes that "Miller" likes rum.
Mela, along with Mr. Keka'ele'ele (Black Jack), possibly the first African American in Hawaii, built the Brick Palace for Kamehameha I's favorite wife, Kaʻahumanu. The palace was the first western-style structure built in the Hawaiian Islands, serving as the first Royal Palace. Located at Lahaina, Maui, the site became the seat of government and capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii until 1845. William Richards would later receive the land the Brick Palace was built on.

## John Papa ʻĪʻī

Mela was the kahu (royal attendant) of John Papa ʻĪʻī, who writes of the occasion when, as a young boy who didn't wish to walk on a long journey, his attendants, either Mela or Kiwalao, scared him into walking by pointing to foreigners and telling the young boy; "Here come the haoles, who do not like children who cry too much".

## Family, descendants and legacy

Mela's English name was Alexander (Alika) Miller Sr. Alexander wed or cohabitated with Kānekapōlei and had two children, a girl named Kahinu (w) and a son named Alika (Alexander) Mela (Miller) Jr. While Mela was originally gifted with several lots of land from Kamehameha I, his son Alika had to relinquish all but one, Opaeula ahupuaa in Lahaina, Maui.
Alika married Kanuha Kaialiilii, sister of Captain J.H. Mahiai, in 1855. Kanuha and Mahiai were two of 9 children of Kaialiilii and Poimoa. Alika and Kanuha had eight children;
* Kale [Sarah] (w)
* John Mahiʻai (born Miller) Kāneakua
* Hale
* Kahalea
* Kanekapolei (w)
* Isabel/Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Desha (née Miller) (w)
* Noa
* Kalimahana
Sarah Miller is said to have married or cohabitated with a Mr. Harvey Raymond but there was no issue from the union. Sarah did have 4 children with Charles Makee, including a son named Charles Miller. John Mahiʻai was hanai adopted by James Kāneakua. He married twice. His first marriage produced no issue however, his second marriage to Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings produced ten children.

## Family tree

vteBeamer, Desha, Kāneakua, Miller family tree :
| Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | | | | | | | | | Kaialii | Kaialii | Kaialii | Kaialii | Kaialii | Kaialii | | | Poimoa | Poimoa | Poimoa | Poimoa | Poimoa | Poimoa | | | | | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | | | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | | | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | | | Ai | Ai | Ai | Ai | Ai | Ai | | | Namakalele | Namakalele | Namakalele | Namakalele | Namakalele | Namakalele | | |
| Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | | | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | | | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | | | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | | | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | | | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Noa Miller | Noa Miller | Noa Miller | Noa Miller | Noa Miller | Noa Miller |
| Charles Miller | Charles Miller | Charles Miller | Charles Miller | Charles Miller | Charles Miller | | | | | | | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | | | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | | | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | | | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | | | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | | | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha |
| | | | | | | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | | | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | | | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | | | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | | | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | | | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | | | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer |

## Citations

* 1 2 Kamakau 1992, p. 174.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Barrère 1994, p. 458.
* ↑ Jackson 2004, p. 11.
* ↑ Benson & Balfour 2013, p. 732.
* ↑ Ring, Watson & Schellinger 2013, p. 315.
* ↑ Ii 1983, p. 20.
* 1 2 Barrère 1994, p. 457.
* ↑ Chinese Historical Society of America 1988, p. 175.
* ↑ Staff writer 1900, p. 3.
* 1 2 Walk, Kaʻanoʻi (September 2013). "Kāneakua, John Mahiʻai". Ka‘iwakīloumoku Virtual Archive. Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 15 January 2014.