Kapeau was greatly trusted by King Kamehameha III, who said, "He understands the work very well, and I wish there were more such men."
Around February 1849, the English traveler Samuel S. Hill paid a visit to Kailua and met Governor Kapeau: Kailua, now the capital of Owhyhee, was the seat of the government of the group after the conquests of the renowned Kamehameha I., who, it will be remembered, died here.