He was a grandson of two of the five Kona chiefs who supported Kamehameha I in his uprising against Kiwalaʻo: Kameʻeiamoku (one of the "royal twins" on the coat of arms of Hawaii) and Keawe-a-Heulu. His family was of high rank and were distant cousins of the House of Kamehameha. He was considered to be of the Keawe-a-Heulu line, his mother's line, and this line is what his grandchildren followed by.[2]
He had one daughter, Keohokālole by Kamaʻeokalani, and probably one son, William Luther Moehonua by Mary Napuaelua.[3][4]
ʻAikanaka asked his servant Keaweamahi to take Napuaelua and son Moehonua. Moehonua later served as Governor of Maui, and other offices.[5] His daughter Keohokālole by Kamaeokalani served as a member of the House of Nobles.[6] His final wife was Alika Kuaiohua or Kaiahua.[7]
He was listed amongst the members of the Council of Chiefs (ʻAha Aliʻi) of Kamehameha III.[8]
He was in charge of the Punchbowl gun battery and his home was under the Punchbowl hill.[9] His compound included grass structures for cooking, eating, gathering, and retainers' quarters where his daughter gave birth to his two grandchildren: future Queen Liliʻuokalani and King Kalākaua.[10][11]
He was the hānai (adoptive) father of his eldest grandson Kaliokalani. ʻAikanaka died in 1837.[12]
He owned vast tracts of land and they were split in half between his son and daughter, and then his daughter's in thirds to her remaining children.