Kalaimanuia
Encyclopedia
Kalaimanuia was the 12th Alii Aimoku of Oahu
. She reigned as Queen of the island of Oahu
and all its territories it claimed at the time. She was Oahu's last queen regnant
until Liliuokalani, the last queen of all of the Hawaiian Islands
. She is sometimes referred to as Kalanimanuia. According to Samuel Kamakau
she reigned in the 15th century or from 1600-1665 which puts her as a contemporary of Kaikilani
of Hawaii, which she was not; it was her grandson that lived in the 16th or 17th centuries who was Kaikilani’s contemporary.
, the first Moi Wahine, and her husband a Maui chief named Luaia, grandson of Kukaalaneo (Kakaalaneo
), and was of very high rank and traced his lineage to Moi of Maui. She was born at the Kūkaniloko birth site
of Hawaiian royalty. Her mele inoa (name chant) is remembered as:
Kalaimanuia spent her early childhood living mauka (toward the mountains) of Wahiawā rather than at the royal seat of Waikiki
. Later, she moved to Kalauao in Waipahu and remained there until she became ruler of the kingdom. She resided most of her time at Kalauao, in the Ewa
district, where the foundations of her residences are still pointed out at Kukiiahu and at Paaiau.
and rebuilt those in disrepair. Among the heiau she built must have been one or more heiau Kūula (fish-god) which were constructed near the ocean's edge for worshipping praying, learning and even for protecting and storing fishing gear. Peace prevailed over the island of Oahu. As part of her management style, she frequently traveled around the island inspecting her lands. She was especially noted for building loko ‘ia or fishponds; three of which she had built for herself. To her is attributed the building of the great fishpond
of Kapaakea, Opu, and Paaiau on Oahu
.
. Lupe was a son of High Chief Kalanuili and High Chiefess Naluehiloikeahomakalii. Although his wife was ruler of the kingdom, he assisted with the administration of the government. The couple encouraged the people to build "men's chapels" (actually the hale mua or men's eating house) where the men could worship and eat alone. Lupe is highly spoken of in the ancient legends as a wise and kind man, who frequently accompanied his royal spouse on the customary circuits of inspection of the island, and assisted her in the government and administration of justice.
Kalaimanuia and Lupekapu had four children, three sons and one daughter. The first were Ku-a-Manuia, Kaihikapu-a-Manuia, and Hao
; the latter was Kekela. According to ancient custom the sons were given over to their several Kahus or guardians, chiefs of high rank and generally related to the parents, to be by them brought up and educated. Thus Kuamanuia, was brought up at Waikiki
, Kaihikapuamanuia, at Waimanalo, Koolaupoko, and Hao at Waikele, Ewa
; but the daughter, Kekela, was brought up with her parents.
, the religious cult, and her family gods, "Kukalani" and "Kuhooneenuu;" and for his maintenance she gave him the lands of Kalauao, Aiea
, Halawa, and Moanalua
. To Hao
she gave the districts of [[ʻEwa]] and Waianae, subject in authority, however, to his two elder brothers. And to her daughter, Kekela, she gave the districts of Waialua and Koolauloa.
Thus, the kingdom was left in good hands when Kalaimanuia died at the age of ninety-one. She died during the sixty-fifth year of her reign. The length of her reign as ruler of O‘ahu indicate that she was just and compassionate and cared for the people. She exemplified the traits of a benevolent and trustful ali‘i which afforded her full support from the chiefs and commoners alike. Had she not shown the traits of a good ali‘i, she would have been quickly replaced as ruler of the kingdom by her subjects.
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,...
. She reigned as Queen of the island 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 all its territories it claimed at the time. She was Oahu's last queen regnant
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
until Liliuokalani, the last queen of all of 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...
. She is sometimes referred to as Kalanimanuia. According to Samuel Kamakau
Samuel Kamakau
Samuel Manaiākalani Kamakau was a Hawaiian historian and scholar. His work appeared in local newspapers and was later compiled into books, becoming an invaluable resource on the Hawaiian people, Hawaiian culture, and Hawaiian language during a time when they were disappearing.Along with David Malo...
she reigned in the 15th century or from 1600-1665 which puts her as a contemporary of Kaikilani
Kaikilani
Kaikilani was the 17th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii Island 1575 - 1605. She ruled as the sovereign Queen or Chiefess of the island of Hawaii. She was also known as Ka'ikilani'ali'iwahine'opuna. She shared power with her two husbands, but she was the ruler, not them. Kaikilani on Venus is named after...
of Hawaii, which she was not; it was her grandson that lived in the 16th or 17th centuries who was Kaikilani’s contemporary.
Birth
She was the daughter of KukanilokoKukaniloko
Kūkaniloko was the 11th Alii Aimoku of Oahu. She reign as the titluar chieftain or Queen of the island of Oahu and all its territories it may of claim at the time. She was Oahu's first queen regnant and of all eight islands...
, the first Moi Wahine, and her husband a Maui chief named Luaia, grandson of Kukaalaneo (Kakaalaneo
Kakaalaneo
Kakaalaneo was the 12th Moi of Maui. He was the titular chieftain or king of the island of Maui.He was son of Kaulahea I of Maui. His brother was Kakae. Kakaalaneo appears to be the center of the legends of that reign. He and his brother, appears to have jointly ruled Maui and Lānai with his...
), and was of very high rank and traced his lineage to Moi of Maui. She was born at the Kūkaniloko birth site
Kukaniloko Birth Site
Kūkaniloko Birth Site, also known as the Kūkaniloko Birthstones State Monument, near the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and Whitmore Avenue just north of Wahiawā, Hawaii, is one of the most important ancient cultural sites on the island of Oahu...
of Hawaiian royalty. Her mele inoa (name chant) is remembered as:
| O ka ila io alii Manuia o Oahu, | Manuia, the chiefly flesh-and-blood birthmark of Oahu, |
| Nona ka moku waiho na lani, | Hers was the island left by the chiefs, |
| Waiho na kapu io o Laa. | The kapu Kapu Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were... left by Laa. |
| He hoolaa, he lau kamahele ka lani, | A consecrated one, a leafy main branch, was the chiefess, |
| He pua no ka hanai nole ne alii | A tenderly nurtured flower was this chiefess |
Kalaimanuia spent her early childhood living mauka (toward the mountains) of Wahiawā rather than at the royal seat of Waikiki
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....
. Later, she moved to Kalauao in Waipahu and remained there until she became ruler of the kingdom. She resided most of her time at Kalauao, in the 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...
district, where the foundations of her residences are still pointed out at Kukiiahu and at Paaiau.
Reign
Kalaimanuia followed her mother, Kukaniloko, as Moi of Oahu. Kalanimanuia was acknowledged to have been an excellent chiefess. The chiefs and commoners lived in comfort on the island. The lands were fertile and were productive enough to sustain a comfortable life for the people. No taxes were levied on the people. No foreign or domestic wars appear to have troubled her reign, and little is known of her history in detail. She built many heiauHeiau
A heiau is a Hawaiian temple. Many types of heiau existed, including heiau to treat the sick , offer first fruits, offer first catch, start rain, stop rain, increase the population, ensure health of the nation, achieve success in distant voyaging, reach peace, and achieve success in war . Only the...
and rebuilt those in disrepair. Among the heiau she built must have been one or more heiau Kūula (fish-god) which were constructed near the ocean's edge for worshipping praying, learning and even for protecting and storing fishing gear. Peace prevailed over the island of Oahu. As part of her management style, she frequently traveled around the island inspecting her lands. She was especially noted for building loko ‘ia or fishponds; three of which she had built for herself. To her is attributed the building of the great fishpond
Fishpond
Fishpond was the code name given to an extension to the British H2S airborne radar system fitted to Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers during World War II...
of Kapaakea, Opu, and Paaiau 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...
.
Marriage and Issues
She married the High Chief LupekapukeahomakaliiLupekapukeahomakalii
Lupekapukeahomakalii, an Oahuan high chief, was the King Consort of Oahu, being the husband of Kalaimanuia, 12th Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He was the co-ruler of the island along with his wife, making him fitting of the Western title King Consort.-Early life:...
. Lupe was a son of High Chief Kalanuili and High Chiefess Naluehiloikeahomakalii. Although his wife was ruler of the kingdom, he assisted with the administration of the government. The couple encouraged the people to build "men's chapels" (actually the hale mua or men's eating house) where the men could worship and eat alone. Lupe is highly spoken of in the ancient legends as a wise and kind man, who frequently accompanied his royal spouse on the customary circuits of inspection of the island, and assisted her in the government and administration of justice.
Kalaimanuia and Lupekapu had four children, three sons and one daughter. The first were Ku-a-Manuia, Kaihikapu-a-Manuia, and Hao
Hao of Oahu
Hao, Prince of Oahu, was the High Chief of Ewa and Waianae. He would suffered the same fate as Priam of Troy, in the Ancient Greek myth of the Iliad.-Early life:Hao was born around the 16th or 17th centuries, but most likely the early 16th century...
; the latter was Kekela. According to ancient custom the sons were given over to their several Kahus or guardians, chiefs of high rank and generally related to the parents, to be by them brought up and educated. Thus Kuamanuia, was brought up at Waikiki
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....
, Kaihikapuamanuia, at Waimanalo, Koolaupoko, and Hao at Waikele, 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...
; but the daughter, Kekela, was brought up with her parents.
Death
Before her death Kalaimanuia made the following dispositions of the government and the land. She appointed her eldest son, Ku-a-Manuia, to succeed her as Moi of Oahu, and she gave him the Kona and Koolaupoko districts for his maintenance. To Kaihikapu-a-Manuia, she confided the charge of the kapuKapu
Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
, the religious cult, and her family gods, "Kukalani" and "Kuhooneenuu;" and for his maintenance she gave him the lands of Kalauao, Aiea
Aiea
Aiea or Aiea may refer to:* Members of the Hawaiian flowering plant genus Nothocestrum**Nothocestrum breviflorum A.Gray - Smallflower aiea...
, Halawa, and Moanalua
Moanalua
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....
. To Hao
Hao of Oahu
Hao, Prince of Oahu, was the High Chief of Ewa and Waianae. He would suffered the same fate as Priam of Troy, in the Ancient Greek myth of the Iliad.-Early life:Hao was born around the 16th or 17th centuries, but most likely the early 16th century...
she gave the districts of [[ʻEwa]] and Waianae, subject in authority, however, to his two elder brothers. And to her daughter, Kekela, she gave the districts of Waialua and Koolauloa.
Thus, the kingdom was left in good hands when Kalaimanuia died at the age of ninety-one. She died during the sixty-fifth year of her reign. The length of her reign as ruler of O‘ahu indicate that she was just and compassionate and cared for the people. She exemplified the traits of a benevolent and trustful ali‘i which afforded her full support from the chiefs and commoners alike. Had she not shown the traits of a good ali‘i, she would have been quickly replaced as ruler of the kingdom by her subjects.