J. W. H. Kou

Born in ‘Ewa, O‘ahu; educated at Lahainaluna; married Mary Kapo prior to their baptism in Honolulu in spring 1853; converted by the preaching of William Uaua and J. W. H. Kauwahi; appointed clerk of conference held at Kane‘ohe, O‘ahu, in March 1854; appointed clerk at various conferences until his death; served a mission to Maui in April 1856; responsible for branches on O‘ahu following closure of Hawaiian mission in 1858; appointed secretary to Walter Murray Gibson in 1861; called as one of Gibson’s twelve apostles; penned letter to Brigham Young that resulted in return of elders from Utah to Hawai‘i in 1864; moved to La‘ie, O‘ahu, following Gibson’s excommunication; served as mission recorder during last years of his life; fulfilled mission to Big Island shortly before his death. (See Spurrier, Sandwich Islands Saints, 163–66, 179–83; MMH, Apr. 8, 1856; Oct. 3, 1864; GQC journal, Mar. 13, 1854.)