Histories: Mateo, Minnie - Explanation of adoption by Hawaiian family

Mateo, Minnie - Explanation of adoption by Hawaiian family

From Gilbert Petersen (26 November 2009):

Growing up, we were told that grandma Eugene had a total of 17-children and that six of them were from a different person by the name of John Mateo. The first born was Minnie (Mateo) and the last born was my our mother Nora (Eugene).

Early census records lists Minnie as being the daughter of John Paniolo Mateo and a Hawaiian woman by the name of Kauhupuna. Hawaii birth record archives list a "Marie" (Maria, our grandma) as being Minnie's mother. Further investgation revealed that Minnie was adopted (Hawaiian style - "hanai"). Other stories

I've heard concerning our grandma being very young when Minnie was born and that she was raised by "Hawaiians" seems to help put the puzzle together but may shed unfavorable light on both John Paniolo and my grandma.

For example, if John Mateo was Minnie's father and Maria was her mother, why did Kauhupuna become her hanai mother? That would mean Minnie was born illegitimately and that John and grandma had relations while his wife Kauhupuna was still alive. Or, is there another explanation?

Owner of original	G. Petersen
Date	29 Apr 2012 / 26 Nov 2009
Linked to	Minnie Mateo

Minnie Mateo