he was married in november 25, 1835, to the princess nāhienaena when he was only 14; the princess was 6 years his senior. the marriage had been arranged by the missionaries to halt a sibling marriage between king kamehameha iii and nāhienaena. their christian wedding was held in wainee church. it was not a happy union. he inherited little of his father's land because kalanimoku, shortly before his death, made a verbal will leaving his entire property to his niece kekauōnohi, the previous queen of king kamehameha ii. kekauōnohi, although only a cousin of leleiohoku, was regarded according to ancient hawaiian customs as his sister. it appears that kalanimoku made a verbal disposition of his property to her (who was older than leleiohoku) and willed that he should be the "kanaka" living under her.