High Chief Gideon Laʻanui Kaʻilipalaki was the son of High Chief Gideon Peleʻioholani Laʻanui and the High Chiefess Theresa Owana Kaheiheimalie. He was the great grand nephew of King Kamehameha I, born of high aliʻi rank at the home of his father's Waialua estate in January of 1839. 

 

He was named after his fathers baptismal name of Gideon and his father's Hawaiian name Laʻanui, his middle name Kaʻilipalaki o Kinaʻu was given as a result of him brushing the skin of the Princess Kinaʻu with a brush when he was an infant. 

 

He attended the latter Royal School with his other cousins and his older sister Princess Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau who was eligible to the throne by decree of H.M. King Kamehameha III and became the Head of the Royal House after the death of H.M. Queen Lili'uokalani in 1917.

 

Gideon Kaʻilipalaki Laʻanui married Kamaikaopa, granddaughter of Keohokālole (mother of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani) and on May 1,1860, had one child, Princess Theresa Owana Kaʻōhelelani Laʻanui.  His daughter became the the Head of the Royal House of Hawaiʻi from 1928 to 1944 after the death of his sister, Princess Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau Laʻanui.  

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​ Gideon Kaʻilipalaki Laʻanui died on July 26, 1871 at the age of 32 and 3 months, his wife Kamaikaopa died the year before him. His daughter was only 11 years old at the time and was adopted by his sister, Princess Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau Laʻanui and she became her only heir.

 

Gideon Kaʻilipalaki Laʻanui is buried at their old Haleʻiwa estate with his father at the now Liliʻuokalani Church and Cemetery.