Elia Kapinao-'ula-halolani Pinao-a-Naihe

He was the son of Naihe, Kamehameha I's councilor and chief orator. At birth he was given the name, Ka-pinao-'ula-halo-lani some have maintained it as Ka-pinao-'ula-hale-lani. Naihe and his mother Ululani were closely associated with the Pinao Heiau in Hilo. Infact it was Naihe that took Kamehameha to the Pinao Heiau to lift the Naha stone.

His father having been converted to Christianity also gave him Elia (Elias) as a Biblical name.

Consequently he was referred to as Elia and/or a shortened version of his name "Pinao".

The use of a family name or surname did not come into effect until the Session Laws of 1860, which stated that; 'All children born in wedlock should have their father's name as a family name. They shall, besides have a Christian name suitable to their sex.'

Hawaiians of that era, knowing his father also referred to him as Pinao-a-Naihe or Pinao-o-Naihe (translated as Pinao son of Naihe).

Elia was also recorded on various documents and family histories under the following names:

-Elia Pinao Naihe,

-Elia Naihe Kapinao

-Pinaoulahalolani.

Prior to family names/surnames being accustomed in Hawaii, Elia's last name were interchanged often between Pinao, Kapinao, and Naihe. However, according to the Session Laws of 1860 his children all recieved his name as their surname, Pinao or Kapinao.

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Elia married Ali'i Kapeka (Elizabeth) Martin, the daughter of the popular Jeremiah Martin (pronounced by Hawaiians as Ieremia Makini), who was highly favored by many of the Ali'i of the day, as well as Chiefess Kapiolani (Naihe's most popular and last wife). Jeremiah built a house of stone for Naihe and Kapiolani that stands today at Kuapehu Ka'awaloa, Hawai'i.

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On his maternal side (Mauka'a), Elia belonged to a;

"family of stiff necked chiefs of the Ka'u district of the Big Island, who were just as proud and haughty as the Kamehamehas.

These chiefs ruled the most independent, proud people in the Islands, people who were famous for attachment to their chiefs and for uprisings against their own chiefs who did not treat them well.

The people of Ka'u will tell you today that Kamehameha never conquered them in battle. He won Ka'u by intrigue after years of fighting against their hero, Keoua-kuahu-ula."

("Little Tales About Hawaii" by Clarice B. Taylor)