he was the youngest with victoria kamāmalu and lydia kamakaʻeha, both being four years older. he was chosen by kamehameha iii to be eligible for the throne of the kingdom of hawaii. he was taught in english by american missionaries amos starr cooke and his wife, juliette montague cooke, alongside his royal cousins. during their sunday procession to church it was customary for boys and girls to walk side by side, kīnaʻu would walk beside lydia kamakaʻeha, the future queen liliʻuokalani of hawaii. in liliʻuokalani's memoir, he is mentioned as john kīnaʻu pitt.