Her father was Ernest Kaipoleimanu Kinney (1906–1987) and mother was Esther Kauikeaulani Kaʻulili (1913–1979).Her maternal grandparents were Solomon Kamaha Kaʻulili and Kawena Ah Chong. Her paternal grandparents were William Kihapiʻilani Kinney (1868–1953) and Mary Francesca Vierra (c. 1879–1915).[1]Her paternal great-grandfather was William Kinney (1832–1915) who came to theHawaiian Islands fromNova Scotia.She was named for the mineralrubellite which is more commonly calledtourmaline.Her grandfather was also known as K. W. Kinney[2] to avoid confusion with his half-brotherWilliam Ansel Kinney who became a prominent lawyer and then betrayed the Queen in legal representation on behalf of the Kingdom of Hawaii.[3]Another of her grandfather's half-brothers,Ray Kinney (1900–1979), became a popular Hawaiian musician.[4] She was born on the island ofKauaʻi.[5]She married geophysicist Rockne H. Johnson, and had four children: Dane Aukai, Moanilehua, Kaleihanamau and Lilinoe.[6] She has 11 grandchildren.
From 1967 to 1993 she was on the faculty of theUniversity of Hawaii, where she helped establish its Hawaiian studies program. She then becameProfessor Emeritus of Hawaiian Language and Literature and continued to publish. She researched the history of theKumulipo, a sacred chant ofHawaiian mythology, and early newspapers in theHawaiian language.[7]
Armando M. Da Silva; Rubellite Kawena Johnson (May 1982). "Ahu a ʻUmi Heiau: A Native Hawaiian Astronomical and Directional Register".Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.385:313–331.doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1982.tb34272.x.
Rubellite Kawena Johnson (1983).Ahu a 'umi in the symbolic frame of cosmic time.
^"Testimony by Rubellite Kawena Kinney Johnson"(PDF).U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on S. 147. US Government Printing Office. March 1, 2005. pp. 113–117. RetrievedAugust 15, 2010.
