Battle of Moku'ohai
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Mokuōhai, fought in 1782 on the island of Hawaii
, was a key battle in the early days of Kamehameha I
's wars to conquer the Hawaiian Islands
. It was his first major victory, solidifying his leadership over much of the island.
had inherited the kingdom, his nephew Kamehameha was given a prominent religious position, as well as the district of Waipio valley
. When a group of chiefs from the Kona district, including his brothers and uncles, Keawe-a-Heulu
, twins Kamanawa
and Kameeiamoku, and Keeaumoku Pāpaiaheahe
, offered to back Kamehameha instead of Kiwalao, he accepted eagerly, traveling back from his residence in Kohala
.
Kiwalao's half-brother Keōua Kuahuula
had been left with no territory from his late father.
He went into a rage, cutting down sacred coconut trees (considered a great insult) and killing some of Kamehameha's men.
Their bodies were offered as a sacrifice to Kiwalao, who accepted them, and Kamehameha felt he had to respond to the challenge to his honor.
, near the present-day community called Keei.
Coordinates are 19°27′19"N 155°55′22"W, on the bay now called Mokuakae (which could be a misspelling of Mokuōhai), South of Palemano point.
The name means "grove of ōhai trees". The tree, Sesbania tomentosa
, is now endagered, and no longer grows in the area, so the site is only known from oral history.
As tensions were building, women and children from both sides flooded into the "place of refuge", Puuhonua o Hōnaunau.
Kameeiamoku was the first leader injured, but when Kiwalao approached, Kamanawa came to his aid. Then Kiwalao was knocked down by a sling stone, and the injured Kameeiamoku was able to slit his throat with a shark-tooth dagger.
It was during this battle that the renowned red feather cloak of Kiwalao (now in the Bishop Museum
) was captured by Kamehameha the Great.
(uncle of Kiwalao) was captured but escaped to Hilo, and Keōua Kuahuula fled to Kaū
where he had relatives.
After the battle, Kamehameha controlled the Northern and Western parts of the Big Island, including Kona, Kohala, and Hamakua
while Keawemauhili controlled Hilo and Kiwalao's half-brother Keōua Kuahuula controlled Kaū.
Kamehameha fought several more battles over many years to consolidate his control. In 1790, Keōua's party was to have their footprints frozen into volcanic ash
, and in 1791 Kamehameha's forces finally killed Keōua at Puukoholā Heiau
.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, was a key battle in the early days of 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...
's wars to conquer the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. It was his first major victory, solidifying his leadership over much of the island.
Background
After King Kalaniopuu died in the summer of 1781, his family took his remains to the royal mausoleum known as Hale o Keawe at the important religious temple Puuhonua o Hōnaunau. While Kalaniopuu's son KiwalaoKiwala‘o
-Biography:Kīwalaʻō was a son of the King Kalaniʻōpuʻu and High Chiefess Kalola Pupuka-o-Honokawailani of Maui. He was briefly the 7th Alii of Kohala, 5th Alii of Kona and 3rd Alii of Kau, and thus ruler of the island of Hawaii, in 1782 following the death of his father...
had inherited the kingdom, his nephew Kamehameha was given a prominent religious position, as well as the district of Waipio valley
Waipio valley
Waipio Valley is a valley located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawaii. "Waipio" means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language.It was the capital and permanent residence of many early Hawaiian alii up until the time of King Umi...
. When a group of chiefs from the Kona district, including his brothers and uncles, Keawe-a-Heulu
Keawe-a-Heulu
Keaweaheulu Kaluaapana was a Hawaiian high chief and maternal great-grandfather of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliuokalani...
, twins Kamanawa
Kamanawa
Kamanawa was a Hawaiian high chief and early supporter of King Kamehameha I, known as one of the royal niau-pio twins with his brother Kameeiamoku...
and Kameeiamoku, and Keeaumoku Pāpaiaheahe
Keeaumoku Papaiahiahi
Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi was a Hawaiian high chief and the father of Kaahumanu. He was the principal agent in elevating Kamehameha I to the throne of Hawaii and served in a capacity similar to commander in chief or Prime Minister...
, offered to back Kamehameha instead of Kiwalao, he accepted eagerly, traveling back from his residence in Kohala
Kohala, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; Kohala , [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
.
Kiwalao's half-brother 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"....
had been left with no territory from his late father.
He went into a rage, cutting down sacred coconut trees (considered a great insult) and killing some of Kamehameha's men.
Their bodies were offered as a sacrifice to Kiwalao, who accepted them, and Kamehameha felt he had to respond to the challenge to his honor.
The battle
The battleground was just to the south of Kealakekua BayKealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is located on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii about south of Kailua-Kona.Settled over a thousand years ago, the surrounding area contains many archeological and historical sites such as religious temples, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places listings on...
, near the present-day community called Keei.
Coordinates are 19°27′19"N 155°55′22"W, on the bay now called Mokuakae (which could be a misspelling of Mokuōhai), South of Palemano point.
The name means "grove of ōhai trees". The tree, Sesbania tomentosa
Sesbania tomentosa
Sesbania tomentosa, commonly known as Ōhai, is an endangered species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to the main Hawaiian Islands as well as Nihoa and Necker Island. It inhabits low shrublands and, rarely, dry forests, at elevations from sea level to...
, is now endagered, and no longer grows in the area, so the site is only known from oral history.
As tensions were building, women and children from both sides flooded into the "place of refuge", Puuhonua o Hōnaunau.
Kameeiamoku was the first leader injured, but when Kiwalao approached, Kamanawa came to his aid. Then Kiwalao was knocked down by a sling stone, and the injured Kameeiamoku was able to slit his throat with a shark-tooth dagger.
It was during this battle that the renowned red feather cloak of Kiwalao (now in the Bishop Museum
Bishop Museum
The Bishop Museum , is a museum of history and science in the historic Kalihi district of Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of O'ahu...
) was captured by Kamehameha the Great.
Aftermath
KeawemauhiliKeawemauhili
Keawemauhili, spelled in old texts as Keawe-mau-hili, was an important member of the Hawaiian nobility at the time of the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:...
(uncle of Kiwalao) was captured but escaped to Hilo, and Keōua Kuahuula fled to Kaū
Kau, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], [[Hamakua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], Kau , [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
where he had relatives.
After the battle, Kamehameha controlled the Northern and Western parts of the Big Island, including Kona, Kohala, and Hamakua
Hamakua
thumb|right|280px|Districts of [[Hawaii |Hawaii island]]: from northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], Hāmākua , [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
while Keawemauhili controlled Hilo and Kiwalao's half-brother Keōua Kuahuula controlled Kaū.
Kamehameha fought several more battles over many years to consolidate his control. In 1790, Keōua's party was to have their footprints frozen into volcanic ash
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 in 1791 Kamehameha's forces finally killed Keōua at Puukoholā Heiau
Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site
Puukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located on the northwestern coast of the island of Hawaii. The site preserves the National Historic Landmark ruins of the last major Ancient Hawaiian temple, and other historic sites.-The time of unification:Kamehameha...
.