John Papa 'I'i did not merely witness the dramatic cultural and societal shift in Hawai'i that transpired with the arrival of Christian missionaries and the subsequent influence of outside interests on the Hawaiian monarchy, he preserved it in a collection of writings invaluable to historical understanding of the period.
'I'i, born in 1800, was raised for a life of service to the royal court, acting as a personal attendant to Liholiho and as childhood guardian for Victoria Kamamalu. (He is also known for carrying Kamehameha's royal spitoon.)
'I'i received training at Lahainaluna Seminary, where the Rev. Sheldon Dibble and others encouraged Native Hawaiians to record their history.
With rare insight into the workings of the monarchy as well as the common people, 'I'i did just that, contributing regularly to the Hawaiian language publication Ka Nupepa Ku'oko'a from 1866 until his death in 1870.
The articles — first-hand accounts of life under the Kamehamehas and detailed descriptions and observations on cultural practices, events, social interactions and other topics — were collected and translated by Mary Kawena Pukui and Dorothy Barre in the 1959 publication "Fragments of Hawaiian History," a standard resource for historians and students.
