John Adams Kiʻiapalaoku Kuakini (1789–1844) was an important adviser to Kamehameha I in the early stages of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

[1] His father was Keʻeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi, an aliʻi (noble) from the island of Hawaiʻi, and his mother was NāmāhānaʻiʻKaleleokalani, the widow queen and half-sister of the late king of Maui, Kamehameha Nui.

With Keouawahine, he had one son Keoua, who died in infancy, and with Haʻaheo, he had one daughter Mele Kaʻauʻamoku o Kamānele (1814–1834).

His sister Queen Regent Kaʻahumanu appointed him Royal Governor of Oʻahu after Kuini Liliha, the leader of the rebellion, he resided at Fort Honolulu serving as the Commander in Chief.

He extended a series of low walls that were originally used as Ahupuaʻa (traditional land division) barriers for pigs, because the cattle left behind by George Vancouver were wandering through the village of Kailua.

In the village he built Huliheʻe Palace in the American style out of native lava, coral lime mortar, koa and ʻohiʻa timbers.

He made official visits to all ships that arrived on the island, offering them tours of sites such as the Kīlauea volcano.