Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Jr.

Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Jr. (May 7, 1874 – December 20, 1943) was a Native Hawaiian politician, historian, and educator. He was the last official interpreter of the Hawaii Supreme Court during the Kingdom of Hawaii and was the first professor of Hawaiian language at the University of Hawaii.

Biography He was born on May 7, 1874, in Honolulu, the son of Frederick William Kahapula Beckley Sr. and Emma Kaili Metcalf. He was descended from chiefly lineages from both his parents, and his ancestors included High Chief Hoʻolulu and Captain George Charles Beckley, both advisors of King Kamehameha I. His father died in 1881 and his mother remarried in 1887 to Moses Kuea Nakuina, who became Beckley's stepfather. At an early age, he became interested in Hawaiian language and history. He was educated at Saint Louis School, Kamehameha Schools, and Oahu College. While in the legislature, he served as Vice-Speaker in 1901 and 1902 was Speaker of the House from 1903 to 1904. He later joined the Hawaii Republican Party.

In later life, he became an educator. He taught Hawaiian history and language at McKinley High School and served as the first professor of Hawaiian language at the University of Hawaii in 1922. Beckley died on December 20, 1943.