Elani of Ewa
Encyclopedia
Elani was a High Chief of the Ewa district on the Island of Oahu
and father of the last independent Sovereign of Oahu
. In an uprising to regain the autonomy of the Kingdom of Oahu, he fought Kahekili II
and died. His is not as well-known as his son, Kahahana
.
of the original Oahu royal house, the Laakona
branch of the Maweke
line of the island of Oahu, distanly related to the present Kings of Oahu. He and his family were not the titular head of the island of Oahu but rather governor chiefs to the family of Kualii
, the rightful King. The family of Ewa and many other ruling family of the other districts had stayed pretty much independent from the kings of Oahu since the day of Kakuhihewa
. The independece ended during the reign of Kualii
when this warrior chief conquered the Waialua and Ewa chiefs and united the island under one rule.
and daughter of Kualii
by his wife Princess Kalanikahimakaialii of Maui. From the marriage with Kaionuilanilalahai, he had Kahahana
in 1757. From his mother his son,Kahahana , was the grandson of Kualii and first-cousin once removed of Kahekili II
. HIs other wife was the Chiefess Kapaakea, and from her, he had High Chief Hapauea, High Chiefess Kaouli, and High Chief Mookini.
-Kumuhonua
, the kingship had been retained for many previous generations, was deposed by the Oahu chiefs and Mailikukahi
of the Maweke
-Moikeha
line elected in his place. Thus Kumahana
, the grandson of Kualii and son of Peleioholani
, was deposed by the Oahu chiefs. Kumahana
ascended to the throne in 1770. He was a lazy, poor, and despised ruler, and for these or other reasons incurred the displeasure of his subjects, including Elani. After waiting for three years he was formally deposed from his office as King by the chiefs of Oahu in council assembled. This was a pretty peaceful revolution with no blood shed; not even Kumahana's who was exiled to Kauai along with his family. It is probable that Elani had a part in the desposition of Kumahana.
. It is not known if Elani had a say to this election or why the Oahu chiefs had not chosen Elani himself to succeed. Probably it was because Elani lack descent from Kualii
, unlike his son. Elani's son, Kahahana, had spent his childhood on the shores of Maui, in his uncle Kahekili II
's court. Elani asked that he returned to Oahu and take the ascend to the throne of Oahu.
Before allowing his nephew to leave Kahekili made his nephew promised to succeed the land of Kualoa and the Whale bones of Oahu to him. Kahahana agreeded but the Council of Chiefs on Oahu refused this cession as Kualoa contained the sacred Hill of Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha. A great war was fought between the Maui chiefs and the Oahu chiefs. It is unknown if Elani personally fought in this war but his son was eventually defeated and killed. The cruel treachery practised on Kahahana and his sad fate, joined to the overbearing behaviour and rapacity of the invaders, created a revulsion of feeling in the Oahu chiefs, which culminated in a widespread conspiracy against Kahekili and the Maui chiefs who were distributed over the several districts of Oahu.
, Koalaukane, and Kekuamanoha were at Ewa
, and Hueu was at Waialua. The Oahu leaders of the conspiracy were Elani, Pupuka and Makaioulu, Konamanu, Kalakioonui, and a number of others. The plan was to assassinate the Maui chiefs on one and the same night in the different districts. Elani and his band were to slay the chiefs residing at Ewa; Makawulu and Pupuka were to assassinate Kahekili and the chiefs at Kailua; Konamanu and Kalaikioonui were to despatch Hueu at Waialua. By some means the conspiracy became known to Kalanikupule, who hastened to inform his father, Kahekili, and the Maui chiefs at Kaneohe in time to defeat the object of the conspirators; but, through some cause now unknown, the messenger sent to advise Hueu, generally known as Kiko-Hueu, failed to arrive in time, and Hueu and all his retainers then living at Kaowakawaka, in Kawailoa, of the Waialua district, were killed. The conspiracy was known as the "Waipio Kimopō" (The Waipio Assassination), having originated in Waipio
.
, as one passes by the old upper road to Ewa. The site is still pointed out, but the bones of these chiefs have received proper burial. Elani's death, same years as the Waipio Conspiracy, could be dated to 1783, the same year as the conquest of Oahu, or 1784, the year after. But sources show the Waipi‘o-Kimopo occurred in 1785, and that his most likely date of death.
Elani's fate was memorialized by names of the places along the shore of Waialua, where his body, along with other Oahuan patriots cut down by the Maui Tyrant, was left to decompose:
At the death of Elani, who was greatly beloved by his people, his body was placed on a ledge of rocks near Puaena Point, Kawailoa, Waialua, where it was allowed to decompose. The place became known as Kahakakeu Kanaka (Ledge Where The Man Was Placed). As the odor came to the sands at Haleiwa they became known as Maeaea (Smelly); the point on the other side became known as Kupava or Kupaoa (Overwhelming-Smell).
. Their struggle was unsuccessful, and only added to the long list of the illustrious slain. Kalaniulumoku was driven over the Pali of Olomana and killed; Kaneoneo was killed at Maunakapu, as one descends to Moanalua; Kaiana, Nahiolea, and Namakeha escaped to Kauai
. A number of chiefesses of the highest rank — "Kapumoe" — were killed, mutilated, or otherwise severely afflicted. Kekelaokalani, the cousin of Kahahana's mother and of Kahekili, made her escape to Kauai. As an instance of deep affection, of bitterness of feeling, and of supreme hope of return and revenge at some future day, it is said that she took with her when she fled some of the Oahu soil from Apuakehau, Kahaloa, Waiaula, and Kupalaha at Waikiki, and deposited it at Hulaia, Kaulana, and Kane on Kauai.
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...
and father of the last independent Sovereign of Oahu
Alii Aimoku of Oahu
The Alii Aimoku was the sovereign king or queen of one of the four main Hawaiian Islands. The monarchs of island Oahu, like those of the other Hawaiian islands, claim descent from Wakea. Nanaulu, a fourteenth generation descendant of Wakea was the ancestor of Kumuhonua, 1st known King of Oahu,...
. In an uprising to regain the autonomy of the Kingdom of Oahu, he fought 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...
and died. His is not as well-known as his son, Kahahana
Kahahana
Kahahana was the 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu and Alii Aimoku of Molokai. He ruled the island of Oahu and its tributary, the island of Molokai, from 1773 until his death in 1783. He was elected by the Oahu nobility to succeed Kumahana as Moi of Oahu. This was the second king to be elected to succeed...
.
Early life
Elani was born in either the late 17th century or early 18th century to the powerful and great aristocratic family of Ewa. The family of Ewa was descended from the ancient lords of Lihue, from a cadet branchCadet branch
Cadet branch is a term in genealogy to describe the lineage of the descendants of the younger sons of a monarch or patriarch. In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets – titles, realms, fiefs, property and income – have...
of the original Oahu royal house, the Laakona
Laakona
Laakona or sometimes incorrectly Lakona of Ewa, a Prince of Oahu, was the District Chieftain or King of Ewa on Oahu. During his days, Oahu was divided among the descendants of Maweke, a legendary blue blood alii from which the Northern royal bloodlines sprouted.Laakona was the grandson of Maweke of...
branch of the Maweke
Maweke
Maweke was a northern Hawaiian king. He was of the Nanaulu line being lineal descendent of Nanaulu, the brother of Ulu, from whom the southern chiefs claim their descent. The northern chiefs of Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau descent from Maweke and Nanaulu...
line of the island of Oahu, distanly related to the present Kings of Oahu. He and his family were not the titular head of the island of Oahu but rather governor chiefs to the family of Kualii
Kualii
Kūalii Kunuiakea Kuikealaikauaokalani, the 19th Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 20th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu and of Kauai. Kūalii is remembered for his famous kanawai, Law of Ni'aupi'o Kolowalu, which required farmers and fishermen to welcome and feed hungry strangers...
, the rightful King. The family of Ewa and many other ruling family of the other districts had stayed pretty much independent from the kings of Oahu since the day of Kakuhihewa
Kakuhihewa
Kakuhihewa was the 15th Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He ruled as King or chief of the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. He was not only one of the great kings of Oahu, but celebrated throughout the eight islands for all the princely qualities of a highborn chief. The legends of him are somewhat fuller, or have...
. The independece ended during the reign of Kualii
Kualii
Kūalii Kunuiakea Kuikealaikauaokalani, the 19th Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 20th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu and of Kauai. Kūalii is remembered for his famous kanawai, Law of Ni'aupi'o Kolowalu, which required farmers and fishermen to welcome and feed hungry strangers...
when this warrior chief conquered the Waialua and Ewa chiefs and united the island under one rule.
Marriage and Issues
Elani married Princess Kaionuilanilalahai (Ka-'io-nui-lala-ha'i), the sister of King PeleioholaniPeleioholani
Peleioholani 21st Alii Aimoku of Kauai and 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He ruled as titular King or chieftain of Kauai, Oahu and held tributary over Molokai after he conquered that island and slew the Molokaian chiefs. Sometimes called Peleiholani...
and daughter of Kualii
Kualii
Kūalii Kunuiakea Kuikealaikauaokalani, the 19th Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 20th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu and of Kauai. Kūalii is remembered for his famous kanawai, Law of Ni'aupi'o Kolowalu, which required farmers and fishermen to welcome and feed hungry strangers...
by his wife Princess Kalanikahimakaialii of Maui. From the marriage with Kaionuilanilalahai, he had Kahahana
Kahahana
Kahahana was the 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu and Alii Aimoku of Molokai. He ruled the island of Oahu and its tributary, the island of Molokai, from 1773 until his death in 1783. He was elected by the Oahu nobility to succeed Kumahana as Moi of Oahu. This was the second king to be elected to succeed...
in 1757. From his mother his son,Kahahana , was the grandson of Kualii and first-cousin once removed of 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...
. HIs other wife was the Chiefess Kapaakea, and from her, he had High Chief Hapauea, High Chiefess Kaouli, and High Chief Mookini.
Desposition of Moi
Though the Hawaiian dignity of King (Moi) was generally hereditary, yet several cases are recorded in the legends where the King was deposed from his office and dignity by the other chiefs of his island and another King elected by them. Thus Haka on Oahu, in whose line, the MawekeMaweke
Maweke was a northern Hawaiian king. He was of the Nanaulu line being lineal descendent of Nanaulu, the brother of Ulu, from whom the southern chiefs claim their descent. The northern chiefs of Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau descent from Maweke and Nanaulu...
-Kumuhonua
Kumuhonua
Kumuhonua was 1st Alii Aimoku of Oahu. During his reign Oahu was divided among the sons of Maweke, a legendary figure thought to have colonized the northern islands of Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. He was the grandson of Maweke and son of Mulielealii....
, the kingship had been retained for many previous generations, was deposed by the Oahu chiefs and Mailikukahi
Mailikukahi
Mailikukahi was the eighth Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He reigned as the titular chieftain or king of the island of Oahu and all its territories it may of claim at the time. He was Oahu's first true great king, and his successor, one after another were as great as the next, excepting Kuamanuia. "The...
of the Maweke
Maweke
Maweke was a northern Hawaiian king. He was of the Nanaulu line being lineal descendent of Nanaulu, the brother of Ulu, from whom the southern chiefs claim their descent. The northern chiefs of Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau descent from Maweke and Nanaulu...
-Moikeha
Moikeha
Moikeha was the 1st Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as the titular King, or chief, of Kauai. He was a chief of the Nanaulu line, being the son of Mulielealii and the grandson of Maweke...
line elected in his place. Thus Kumahana
Kumahana
Kumahana the 23rd Alii Aimoku of Oahu . He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu. -Early life:He was born the son of Peleioholani, 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 21st Alii Aimoku of Kauai, by his first wife Halakii, of Kauaian aristocracy...
, the grandson of Kualii and son of Peleioholani
Peleioholani
Peleioholani 21st Alii Aimoku of Kauai and 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He ruled as titular King or chieftain of Kauai, Oahu and held tributary over Molokai after he conquered that island and slew the Molokaian chiefs. Sometimes called Peleiholani...
, was deposed by the Oahu chiefs. Kumahana
Kumahana
Kumahana the 23rd Alii Aimoku of Oahu . He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu. -Early life:He was born the son of Peleioholani, 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 21st Alii Aimoku of Kauai, by his first wife Halakii, of Kauaian aristocracy...
ascended to the throne in 1770. He was a lazy, poor, and despised ruler, and for these or other reasons incurred the displeasure of his subjects, including Elani. After waiting for three years he was formally deposed from his office as King by the chiefs of Oahu in council assembled. This was a pretty peaceful revolution with no blood shed; not even Kumahana's who was exiled to Kauai along with his family. It is probable that Elani had a part in the desposition of Kumahana.
Election and Maui
Although Kumahana had grown-up children at the time, yet the Oahu nobles passed them by in selecting a successor to the throne, and an election was held. They fixed their eyes on Elani's young son, KahahanaKahahana
Kahahana was the 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu and Alii Aimoku of Molokai. He ruled the island of Oahu and its tributary, the island of Molokai, from 1773 until his death in 1783. He was elected by the Oahu nobility to succeed Kumahana as Moi of Oahu. This was the second king to be elected to succeed...
. It is not known if Elani had a say to this election or why the Oahu chiefs had not chosen Elani himself to succeed. Probably it was because Elani lack descent from Kualii
Kualii
Kūalii Kunuiakea Kuikealaikauaokalani, the 19th Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 20th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu and of Kauai. Kūalii is remembered for his famous kanawai, Law of Ni'aupi'o Kolowalu, which required farmers and fishermen to welcome and feed hungry strangers...
, unlike his son. Elani's son, Kahahana, had spent his childhood on the shores of Maui, in his uncle 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...
's court. Elani asked that he returned to Oahu and take the ascend to the throne of Oahu.
Before allowing his nephew to leave Kahekili made his nephew promised to succeed the land of Kualoa and the Whale bones of Oahu to him. Kahahana agreeded but the Council of Chiefs on Oahu refused this cession as Kualoa contained the sacred Hill of Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha. A great war was fought between the Maui chiefs and the Oahu chiefs. It is unknown if Elani personally fought in this war but his son was eventually defeated and killed. The cruel treachery practised on Kahahana and his sad fate, joined to the overbearing behaviour and rapacity of the invaders, created a revulsion of feeling in the Oahu chiefs, which culminated in a widespread conspiracy against Kahekili and the Maui chiefs who were distributed over the several districts of Oahu.
The Waipio Conspiracy
Kahekili himself and a number of chiefs were at that time living at Kailua; Manonokauakapekulani, Kaiana, Namakeha, Nahiolea, Kalaniulumoku, and others, were quartered at Kaneohe and Heeia; KalanikupuleKalanikupule
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 :...
, Koalaukane, and Kekuamanoha were at Ewa
Ewa
Ewa can refer to:In geography:* Eastern Washington* 'Ewa Beach, Hawaii, unincorporated Census-designated place * Ewa Villages, Hawaii, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, and Hueu was at Waialua. The Oahu leaders of the conspiracy were Elani, Pupuka and Makaioulu, Konamanu, Kalakioonui, and a number of others. The plan was to assassinate the Maui chiefs on one and the same night in the different districts. Elani and his band were to slay the chiefs residing at Ewa; Makawulu and Pupuka were to assassinate Kahekili and the chiefs at Kailua; Konamanu and Kalaikioonui were to despatch Hueu at Waialua. By some means the conspiracy became known to Kalanikupule, who hastened to inform his father, Kahekili, and the Maui chiefs at Kaneohe in time to defeat the object of the conspirators; but, through some cause now unknown, the messenger sent to advise Hueu, generally known as Kiko-Hueu, failed to arrive in time, and Hueu and all his retainers then living at Kaowakawaka, in Kawailoa, of the Waialua district, were killed. The conspiracy was known as the "Waipio Kimopō" (The Waipio Assassination), having originated in Waipio
Waipio, Hawaii
Waipio is a census-designated place located in the Ewa District of the Island of Oahu in the City & County of Honolulu. In Hawaiian, wai pio means "curved water". As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 11,672.The U.S...
.
Demise and The House of Bones
Fearfully did Kahekili avenge the death of Hueu on the revolted Oahu chiefs. Gathering his forces together, he overran the districts of Kona and Ewa, and a war of extermination ensued. Men, women, and children were killed without discrimination and without mercy. The streams of Makaho and Niuhelewai in Kona, and that of Hoaiai in Ewa, are said to have been literally choked with the corpses of the slain. The native Oahu aristocracies were almost entirely extirpated. It is related that one of the Maui chiefs, named Kalaikoa, caused the bones of the slain to be scraped and cleaned, and that the quantity collected was so great that he built a house for himself, the walls of which were laid up entirely of the skeletons of the slain. The skulls of Elani, Konamanu, and Kalakioonui adorned the portals of this horrible house. The house was called "Kauwalua," and was situated at Lapakea in MoanaluaMoanalua
Moanalua is a valley, a stream, an ahupuaa, and a residential neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii. The valley extends inland from behind Āliapaakai crater to the crest of the Koʻolau Range....
, as one passes by the old upper road to Ewa. The site is still pointed out, but the bones of these chiefs have received proper burial. Elani's death, same years as the Waipio Conspiracy, could be dated to 1783, the same year as the conquest of Oahu, or 1784, the year after. But sources show the Waipi‘o-Kimopo occurred in 1785, and that his most likely date of death.
Elani's fate was memorialized by names of the places along the shore of Waialua, where his body, along with other Oahuan patriots cut down by the Maui Tyrant, was left to decompose:
At the death of Elani, who was greatly beloved by his people, his body was placed on a ledge of rocks near Puaena Point, Kawailoa, Waialua, where it was allowed to decompose. The place became known as Kahakakeu Kanaka (Ledge Where The Man Was Placed). As the odor came to the sands at Haleiwa they became known as Maeaea (Smelly); the point on the other side became known as Kupava or Kupaoa (Overwhelming-Smell).
Aftermath
The rebellion of the Oahu chiefs appears to have had its supporters even among the chiefs and followers of Kahekili. Kalaniulumoku, the son of Kamehamehanui and nephew of Kahekili, took the part of the Oahu chiefs, and was supported by Kaiana, Namakeha, Nahiolea, and Kaneoneo, the grandson of PeleioholaniPeleioholani
Peleioholani 21st Alii Aimoku of Kauai and 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He ruled as titular King or chieftain of Kauai, Oahu and held tributary over Molokai after he conquered that island and slew the Molokaian chiefs. Sometimes called Peleiholani...
. Their struggle was unsuccessful, and only added to the long list of the illustrious slain. Kalaniulumoku was driven over the Pali of Olomana and killed; Kaneoneo was killed at Maunakapu, as one descends to Moanalua; Kaiana, Nahiolea, and Namakeha escaped to Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
. A number of chiefesses of the highest rank — "Kapumoe" — were killed, mutilated, or otherwise severely afflicted. Kekelaokalani, the cousin of Kahahana's mother and of Kahekili, made her escape to Kauai. As an instance of deep affection, of bitterness of feeling, and of supreme hope of return and revenge at some future day, it is said that she took with her when she fled some of the Oahu soil from Apuakehau, Kahaloa, Waiaula, and Kupalaha at Waikiki, and deposited it at Hulaia, Kaulana, and Kane on Kauai.