King Kamehameha I of Hawaii
Hawaiian legend told of a great ruler who would unite the islands.
Aug 16, 2008 William Silvester
The Prophecy
Keoua and Keku’iapoiwa, parents of a newborn child whom they named Pai’ea, (the exact date of his birth is unknown but it is assumed to be 1758 due to the legend) correctly anticipated that the king would order their baby killed. They gave the child to the care of Nae’ole who spirited Pai’ea away in the night. Five years later, Alapa’inuiakauaua, learned that the child was still alive and possibly regretting his actions, invited Pai’ea to return to the family.
The young lad came to learn the ways of the Hawaiian court, of diplomacy and war. During this time he was given the name Kamehameha (the lonely one) due to his dour disposition.
Captain Cook
It was in the position of aide to the new king, Kalani’opu’u, that Kamehameha went to Waimea Harbor in January 1778 to greet the newly arrived Captain James Cook. Cook was thought to be the personification of Lono, the god of fertility arriving in his great vessel according to legend. Captain Cook named his discovery the Sandwich Islands and sailed away in his two ships to continue his search for the Northwest Passage.
His search was unsuccessful and Cook returned to Hawaii in February 1779. His welcome was not as joyous the second time as Cook and his men had worn their welcome rather thin after the first visit. An incident over a stolen boat brought events to a critical point, culminating in the English taking a hostage and the killing of a chief. Kamehameha was apparently on the beach at Kealakekua Bay when the disgruntled Hawaiians attacked the English and killed Cook.
Ruler of Waipi’o
Kamehameha’s star was on the ascendant. With the death of King Kalani’opu’u in 1782 he was given the prestigious position of guardian of Kuka’ilimoku, the god of war and was made ruler of the district of Waipi’o by his cousin the new king, Kiwala’o. However, Kamehameha was more popular amongst some of the chiefs and when they offered him the kingship in Kiwala’o’s stead, he accepted.
Battles for Power
The rivals for the throne clashed in battle of Moku’ohai where Kamehameha dispatched his cousin and assumed control of Kohala, Kona and Hamakua. Kamehameha marched into Puna in 1790 and deposed Kiwala’o’s uncle, Keawema’uhili.
Meanwhile, Keoua raised Hilo in rebellion and ravaged Kamehameha’s lands on the northeastern side of the island. Kamehameha reacted quickly, bringing Keoua to battle on the Waimea Plain and defeating him. During his retreat Keoua’s forces passed near the Kilauea Crater on Mauna Loa just as it erupted killing a third of Keoua’s force. Kamehameha saw this as a sign from Pele, the volcano goddess, that he was the favoured one. Apparently, Keoua felt the same way for when Kamehameha offered to meet him and discuss peace, Keoua agreed. Exactly what Kamehameha had intended at the meeting is open to debate but the end result was that Keouna and his bodyguards were slain and Kamehameha was now ruler of the island of Hawaii.
Having secured his position on Hawaii, Kamehameha began casting covetous eyes upon the other islands nearby. With the assistance of two Europeans Kamehameha’s army was trained in the use of firearms which he had purchased from British and American traders. Word had reached him that the islands of Maui and Oahu had been embroiled in a bloody war of succession that had substantially weakened them.
Capturing Islands
In 1795, leading a massive army of 10,000 men in a fleet of 1,200 war canoes, Kamehameha crossed to Maui which he quickly captured. The lightly defended island of Molokai fell next and preparations were made to attack Oahu. Kamehameha divided his force in two, one contingent landing at Waikiki and the other at Waialae.
Having been warned of the attack, Kalanikupule had dug in on the Nu’uanu Pali mountain ridge, digging gunports for his rifles and cannon which wracked havoc with Kamehameha’s troops. He therefore sent two divisions of his best men to climb the Pali. The tactic was successful and the invaders captured the heights and the cannon driving many of Kalanikupule’s troops off the steep 1,200 foot cliffs of the Pali. Kalanikupule was captured to be sacrificed at a later date.
Now only the islands of Kauai and Niihau remained outside of Kamehameha’s control.In 1796 he led his army 70 miles across the Kauai Channel but was forced to withdraw when the Governor of Hawaii, rebelled against him. He spent the next few years stabilizing his position and expanding his fleet and army before making another attempt in 1803. This time it was disease that defeated his attempt and Kamehameha was forced to return to Hawaii to recover.
Kaumualii, king of Kauai, having had a glimpse of the mighty force arrayed against him decided that negotiations with Kamehameha would be more successful than battle. In 1810 Kaumaualii recognized the sovereignty of Kamehameha over the entire chain of the Hawaiian Islands.
King of all the Islands
Kamehameha now proceeded to cement his control over the islands. He promoted the sandalwood trade with the Europeans and Americans but prohibited them from owning land. The islands were divided amongst his high chiefs to assure their loyalty and decrease the possibility of rebellion.
By 1812, Kamehameha had returned to live out his life on Hawaii, spending the remainder of his days in Kailua. An avid fishermen he scheduled his affairs of state around the running of his favorite fish.
By the time of his death May 8, 1819 Kamehameha had left behind a lasting legacy. The body of the man known as Kamehameha the Great and the Napoleon of the Pacific was buried in secret in north Nona and his final resting place remains unknown.
Bibliography
History of the Hawaiian Kingdom – Norris Potter – Bess Press – 2003
A Brief History of Hawaii – George T. Armitage – Hawaiian Service Inc – 1945
Encyclopedia Brittanica
King Kamehamehe I
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