A member of one of Kaua‘i’s oldest kama‘aina families, Henry K. Blake was born in Wailana, Koloa on July 31, 1874 — the 18th day of the Hawaiian lunar month — one of four children of Alva and Kaonohiulaokala Kuaalu
A member of one of Kaua‘i’s oldest kama‘aina families, Henry K. Blake was born in Wailana, Koloa on July 31, 1874 — the 18th day of the Hawaiian lunar month — one of four children of Alva and Kaonohiulaokala Kuaalu Blake.
Blake was educated at Koloa School, Hilo Boarding School and Malumalu School, Kaua‘i, which was founded by Dr. Jared Smith and his sister, Juliette Smith, in 1890. Until it was razed in 1920, Malumalu School stood on the south side of Hulemalu Road, about a quarter-mile east of the intersection of Puhi and Hulemalu roads.
Blake also attended Kamehameha Schools and graduated with its second graduating class in 1893. Since that time, four successive generations of his descendants have attended Kamehameha Schools.
Following his graduation, Blake taught school at Keone‘ula Correctional School in Kapalama, O‘ahu for one year before returning to Kaua‘i, where he was appointed Deputy Tax Assessor and Collector in Koloa (1894-1904) and Superintendent of Koloa Water Works (1900-1912).
From 1906 to 1916, he was elected to successive terms as Deputy Sheriff of Koloa District. In 1919 he was elected as auditor of the County of Kaua‘i. Thereafter, he successfully petitioned the courts to grant him an attorney’s license and subsequently became a longtime judge for the Koloa District.
Throughout his life, Blake was a member of the old Koloa Hawaiian Church. His father was one of the carpenters who built the original church in 1859.
Henry K. Blake was also a lifelong friend and confidant of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Piikoi. He and Prince Kuhio would spend many an afternoon on the spacious lanai of Blake’s Koloa home, talking, smoking cigars and drinking ale.
He and his first wife, Eunice Kameeualani Manoi, had one daughter, Kealoha Blake.
His second marriage was to Margaret Kahaipiilani Miller of Koloa in 1902.
They had six children: Eleanor Kaaikauilani, Emma Kaleimakalii, Juliette Kaonohiulauokala, Bernard Kahikonamoku, Hartwell Kawahinehelelani and Charles Kaumualii.
Judge Henry K. Blake died in September of 1948.
