According to tradition, Kalaniʻōpuʻu hanged his kahuna Naonaoaina after the latter was unable to dig freshwater from the cliffs of Mōʻīlele, near Kalae in the district of Kaʻū.

[7] Canadian-born Thomas R. Foster had emigrated to Hawaii in 1857, married Mary Robinson, and joined her family's shipbuilding trade.

Ena moved to Honolulu, and found employment clerking for Foster, investing a portion of his wages in company stock.

[18][19] The monarchy was overthrown on January 17, 1893, by the Committee of Safety, with the support of United States Minister John L. Stevens and the landing of American forces from the USS Boston.

[21] Under the Provisional Government, Ena served on the Advisory Council to president Sanford B. Dole, as well as on the Board of Health, and the Bureau of Agriculture and Forestry.

[22][note 3] After Dole was named as the president of Republic of Hawaii, Ena was among the same advisors who were carried over in their positions from the Provisional Government.

[24] With his second wife Mary Kahoʻoilimoku Lane (1859–1890), sister of future Mayor of Honolulu John C. Lane, he had nine children, including Mary Kapualahaole, Clara Keaolani, Thomas Foster Kaalokaiaokalani, Daisy Miliakalani, Ana Ululani, John Kalanikauhema and Mabel K. Two daughters Daisy Kekuakapulani and Violet died in infancy.

[5][2][25] After Mary died in 1890, he subsequently married his wife's younger sister Maria Kealaulaokalani Lane (1862–1924), who survived him.

[26][27] By the time of Ena's death in Long Beach, California[26] on December 12, 1906, he had amassed considerable wealth through commerce and real estate holdings.

He owned multiple residences in Hawaii, waterfront property in Honolulu and Waikiki, a farm, and varied extensive acreage throughout Oahu.

He was laid to rest next to his mother Kaikilani, his second wife Mary Lane, and their infant daughters: Daisy and Violet.