He was born July 5, 1851, at Palaueka,
Holualoa, Hawaii, and was
hānai half-brother to King
Kalākaua. The practice of hānai within the Hawaiian culture is an informal adoption between closely connected families. Kalakaua's hānai parents were Keaweamahi Kinimaka and his first wife High Chiefess
Haʻaheo Kaniu. After Haʻaheo Kaniu died, Keaweamahi Kinimaka married Pai, a descendant of Tahitian royalty. She gave birth to David Leleo, a daughter Haʻaheo Kaniu and another son Kaikala. The daughter Haʻaheo Kaniu married
William P. Lumaheihei (or Ulumaheihei) who became a member of Kalakaua’s staff. His paternal grandparents were High Chief Kapiiwi of
Kaʻū and High Chiefess Kahikoloa of
Maui. Kahikoloa (with
Kameʻeiamoku) was mother to
Hoʻolulu, who, along with his half-brother
Hoapili, helped
conceal the bones of King Kamehameha I in a secret hiding place after the ruler's death. Kinimaka was educated by Archdeacon George Mason, of the Anglican
Church of Hawaii, at the St. Alban's College on Oahu, and at Luaʻehu School, in Lahaina, Maui. These institutions were a precursor of the present-day
ʻIolani School in Honolulu. His classmates included
Leleiohoku II (Kalākaua's younger brother),
Curtis P. Iaukea,
Samuel Nowlein,
Robert Hoapili Baker, and other future Hawaiian leaders. ==Career==