Kahekili II
Encyclopedia
Kahekili II, full name Kahekilinuiahumanu, (c. 1737–1794) was the twenty fifth King (Moi) 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 tattoo
ed one side of his body from head to foot.
. His father was Kekaulike Kalani-nui-Kui-Hono-i-Kamoku the 23rd Moi of Maui. His mother was Kekuaipoiwa-nui Kalani-kauhihiwakama Wanakapu (Kekuaipoiwa I, half-sister of Kekaulike). He had at least two wives, and three or four sons and two daughters.
except the Island of Hawaii
and paved the way for the creation of a unified Kingdom of Hawaii
by Kamehameha I
. He succeed his brother Kamehameha-nui Ailuau as king of Maui, Lanai and Molokai in 1765. He conquered King Kahahana
of Oahu
and killed most of the Oahu chiefs that stood in his way, using their skeletons to construct a house of bones. This insurrection of the Oahu chiefs is known as Waipi‘o-Kimopo. He had influence on Kauai
through his brother Kaeokulani who was the consort of Kamakahelei, Queen regnant of Kauai. After his death in Waikīkī
in July 1794, war broke out between his son Kalanikūpule
, King of Oahu, and his brother Kaeokulani over succession to Kingdom of Maui. Kalanikūpule enventually overcame his uncles on December 6, 1794.
As Kalanikupule
's forces were weakened it gave Kamehameha a chance to conquer Maui. The Kingdom of Maui would eventually fall after Kamehameha defeated the combined forces of Oahu and Maui in the Battle of Nuuanu on May 1, 1795 less than a year after Kahekili's death.
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,...
. His name was short for Kāne-Hekili
Kāne
In Hawaiian mythology, Kāne is considered the highest of the four major Hawaiian deities, along with Kanaloa, Kū, and Lono. He represented the god of procreation and was worshipped as ancestor of chiefs and commoners. Kāne is the creator and gives life associated with dawn, sun and sky...
after the Hawaiian god of thunder. Because Kāne-Hekili was believed to be black on one side, Kahekili tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
ed one side of his body from head to foot.
Family
He was born about 1710-1737 in Hāliimaile on the island of MauiMaui
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,...
. His father was Kekaulike Kalani-nui-Kui-Hono-i-Kamoku the 23rd Moi of Maui. His mother was Kekuaipoiwa-nui Kalani-kauhihiwakama Wanakapu (Kekuaipoiwa I, half-sister of Kekaulike). He had at least two wives, and three or four sons and two daughters.
Battles
His kingdom encompassed seven of the Hawaiian IslandsHawaiian 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...
except the Island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
and paved the way for the creation of a unified Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
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...
. He succeed his brother Kamehameha-nui Ailuau as king of Maui, Lanai and Molokai in 1765. He conquered King 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...
of 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...
and killed most of the Oahu chiefs that stood in his way, using their skeletons to construct a house of bones. This insurrection of the Oahu chiefs is known as Waipi‘o-Kimopo. He had influence on 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",...
through his brother Kaeokulani who was the consort of Kamakahelei, Queen regnant of Kauai. After his death in Waikīkī
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
in July 1794, war broke out between his son 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 :...
, King of Oahu, and his brother Kaeokulani over succession to Kingdom of Maui. Kalanikūpule enventually overcame his uncles on December 6, 1794.
As Kalanikupule
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 :...
's forces were weakened it gave Kamehameha a chance to conquer Maui. The Kingdom of Maui would eventually fall after Kamehameha defeated the combined forces of Oahu and Maui in the Battle of Nuuanu on May 1, 1795 less than a year after Kahekili's death.