Battle of Kepaniwai
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Kepaniwai ("Battle of the Dammed Waters of Īao" or Kauwaupali, "Battle of the Clawed Cliffs") was fought in 1790 between Hawaii Island
and Maui
. The forces of Hawaii were led by Kamehameha I
, while the forces of Maui were led by Kalanikūpule
. It is known as one of the most bitter battles fought in Hawaiian history.
While Maui's king Kahekili II
was on Oahu
, Kamehameha's war fleet landed in Kahului a few kilometers from the base of Īao Valley. An army consisting of around twelve hundred skilled warriors led by Kamehameha and Kekuhaupio, advanced on Kahekili's son Kalanikūpule and other Maui chiefs blocking the Īao valley. The two armies were evenly matched and neither side broke after two days of fighting. On the third day Kamehameha's army was helped by the use of two cannon
s (named "Lopaka" and "Kalola") operated by John Young
and Isaac Davis
, two of Kamehameha's royal advisors. Although none of Maui's major chiefs were killed, many people died resulting in the "damming of the waters" by the corpses floating in the river. It was said that the river "ran red with the blood of the dead." Chiefess Kalola and her granddaughter Keopuolani
were able to escape west through the valley to Olowalu and north to Lahaina.
After the battle, Kalola offered her 11-year-old granddaughter to Kamehameha as a future wife.
Meanwhile, Keōua Kuahuula
, the last independent chief on the Island of Hawaii, was raiding Kamehameha's territory, so he quickly returned to the Big Island. This resulted in the 1790 battles of East Hawaii
and the 1791 battle of Kawaihae.
Kahekili II resumed his rule of Maui and also acquired cannon.
In 1791, Kahekili tried to invade the island of Hawaii, but was defeated in a naval battle called Kepuwahaulaula.
Kamehameha had to wait for the civil war that broke out in 1793 after the death of Kahekili II, and the battle of Nu'uanu
to finally win control of Maui.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
and Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. The forces of Hawaii were led by Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
, while the forces of Maui were led by Kalanikūpule
Kalanikupule
Kalanikūpule was the 27th Mōī of Maui and King of Oahu. He was the last king to physically fight with Kamehameha I over the Hawaiian Islands. Kalanikūpule was the last of the longest line of Alii Aimoku in the Hawaiian Islands.- Early life :...
. It is known as one of the most bitter battles fought in Hawaiian history.
While Maui's king Kahekili II
Kahekili II
Kahekili II, full name Kahekilinuiahumanu, was the twenty fifth King of Maui. His name was short for Kāne-Hekili after the Hawaiian god of thunder. Because Kāne-Hekili was believed to be black on one side, Kahekili tattooed one side of his body from head to foot.-Family:He was born about...
was on Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, Kamehameha's war fleet landed in Kahului a few kilometers from the base of Īao Valley. An army consisting of around twelve hundred skilled warriors led by Kamehameha and Kekuhaupio, advanced on Kahekili's son Kalanikūpule and other Maui chiefs blocking the Īao valley. The two armies were evenly matched and neither side broke after two days of fighting. On the third day Kamehameha's army was helped by the use of two cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s (named "Lopaka" and "Kalola") operated by John Young
John Young (Hawaii)
John Young was a British subject who became an important military advisor to Kamehameha I during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was left behind by Simon Metcalfe, captain of the American ship Eleanora, and along with a Welshmen Isaac Davis became a friend and advisor to Kamehameha...
and Isaac Davis
Isaac Davis (Hawaii)
Isaac Davis was a Welsh advisor to Kamehameha I and helped form the Kingdom of Hawaii. He arrived in Hawaii in 1790 as the sole survivor of the massacre of the crew of The Fair American. He along with John Young became friends and advisors to Kamehameha...
, two of Kamehameha's royal advisors. Although none of Maui's major chiefs were killed, many people died resulting in the "damming of the waters" by the corpses floating in the river. It was said that the river "ran red with the blood of the dead." Chiefess Kalola and her granddaughter Keopuolani
Keopuolani
Kalanikauikaalaneo Kai Keōpūolani-Ahu-i-Kekai-Makuahine-a-Kama-Kalani-Kau-i-Kealaneo was a queen consort of Hawaii and the highest ranking wife of King Kamehameha I.-Early life:...
were able to escape west through the valley to Olowalu and north to Lahaina.
After the battle, Kalola offered her 11-year-old granddaughter to Kamehameha as a future wife.
Meanwhile, Keōua Kuahuula
Keoua Kuahuula
Keōua Kuahuula was an Alii during the time of the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii.His name means Keōua of the "red altar"....
, the last independent chief on the Island of Hawaii, was raiding Kamehameha's territory, so he quickly returned to the Big Island. This resulted in the 1790 battles of East Hawaii
1790 Footprints
The 1790 Footprints refer to a set of footprints found near the Kīlauea volcano in present-day Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii...
and the 1791 battle of Kawaihae.
Kahekili II resumed his rule of Maui and also acquired cannon.
In 1791, Kahekili tried to invade the island of Hawaii, but was defeated in a naval battle called Kepuwahaulaula.
Kamehameha had to wait for the civil war that broke out in 1793 after the death of Kahekili II, and the battle of Nu'uanu
Battle of Nu'uanu
The Battle of Nuuanu , fought in May 1795 on the southern part of the island of Oahu, was a key battle in the final days of King Kamehameha I's wars to unify the Hawaiian Islands...
to finally win control of Maui.