Though his parents moved to Maui around 1819, his grandfather had been a chief at Ka’ū on Hawaii, and his family was distantly related to King Kamehameha I.
Soon after their marriage, the couple was introduced to George Q. Cannon, a missionary from the LDS Church, by Kaleohano’s cousin and schoolmate, Jonathan Napela.
His education in the Hawaiian oral tradition made him a powerful speaker, and his noble lineage allowed him to facilitate connections for the missionaries wherever they traveled.
Kaleohano was so proud of his newborn daughter that he led the procession to church with Lucy in his arms, feeling "as important as the King on his throne," according to Elder Ephraim Green.
He spoke in favor of a plan for the Hawaiian Latter-day Saints to gather to Lanai and oversaw various aspects of the move.
It is likely that the future president of the church, fifteen-year-old Joseph F. Smith stayed with the Kaleohano family upon his arrival in Hawaii.
Joseph F. Smith, who later became president of the Church, was one of the early missionaries to live in Kaleohano's home, forging a friendship that lasted a lifetime.
[15] Kaleohano was also well-known for organizing and directing choirs and exhibitions of "Hawaiian amusement" including mele and hula for a number of church conferences and community activities.
In August 1871, Kaleohano and Jonatana Napela were once asked to give a priesthood blessing to King Kamehameha V.[20] Later, in April 1874, when King Kalākaua and Queen Kapi’olani visited Lā'ie on their first round the island tour, Kaleohano received the official notification of the upcoming visit.
Several visits followed, and the king and queen and other members of the royal family regularly stayed with Kaleohano and Kaahanui or with their daughter Lucy.