Kalanikupule
Encyclopedia
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.
and his wife Kauwahine. His father had gained control all of the Hawaiian Islands except the island of Hawaii
. His father had overthrown the king of Oahu and had established his base at Waikīkī
. Kamehameha declared war on Maui and fought Kalanikūpule at the Battle of Kepaniwai
. Kalanikūpule, facing imminent defeat, fled over a narrow mountain pass
along with his high chiefs, and they sailed to Oahu. Kahekili began his war preparations. Kamehameha's troops returned to Hawaii Island, and soon Kahekili was able to gain Maui and Molokai
back. In July of 1793 Kahekili died.
Kaeokulani gained control of Maui, Lānai
, and Molokai. When his uncle decided to visit his wife's home on Kauai
, he sailed from Maui by way of Oahu, taking his army with him. When his uncle reached Oahu he stopped at Waimanalo. Disputes — partly over inheritance of the Kingdom of Maui — arose between him and Kalanikūpule, resulting in war. Kalanikūpule was in a desperate situation.
At this time, three foreign ships arrived. Two of these vessels, the Jackal and the Prince Lee Boo were British
ships under the command of Captain William Brown and Captain Gordon. The third vessel, the Lady Washington
, was an American ship with Captain John Hendrick
in command. These were not strangers in the islands as foreign trading vessels were frequent visitors to Hawaii. It was Captain Brown who was given credit for discovering the harbor of Honolulu and naming it Fair Haven
. The tender to one of the ships was the first Western vessel to enter Honolulu harbor.
Kalanikūpule asked Captain Brown for assistance to his army. The Captain decided to help him, as did the two mates of the Jackal and the Prince Lee Boo. These men aided Kalanikūpule’s force in what was later called the Battle of Kalauao. The musket
s of the sailors drove Kaeo’s warriors into hills that overshadowed Honolulu. They finally retreated into a little ravine
. Kaeo tried to escape, but Brown’s men and Kendrick’s men saw his ahuula|ahuula, his scarlet and yellow feather cloak
, and fired at Kaeo from their boats in the harbor to show his position to Kalanikūpule’s men. The Oahu warriors killed Kaeo along with his wives and chiefs.
This was a successful move, and the battle ended with Kalanikūpule as the victor. Captain Brown fired a salute to celebrate the victory. At least one gun was loaded with shot which pierced the side of the American ship Lady Washington, killing Captain Hendrick and several of his crew. Encouraged by the victory over his uncle, Kalanikūpule decided to acquire the Jackal and the Prince Lee Boo and military hardware to aid in his attack on Kamehameha on the island of Hawai'i. Kalanikūpule killed Brown and Gordon and abducted the remainder of his crew.
and Isaac Davis
, informing to them of the situation on Oahu, and sailed at once for Canton.
Knowing his enemy's disadvantage, Kamehameha used his strong army and his fleet of canoes and small ships to conquer Maui, Lānai, and Molokai from Kalanikūpule's rule in 1794. Kamehameha's next target was the Kalanikūpule's base at Oahu. As Kamehameha prepared for war, one of his former allies, a chief named Kaiana, turned on him and joined forces with Kalanikūpule. Kamehameha's warriors and Kalanikūpule fought a great battle at the summit of Nuuanu Pali which is known as the Battle of Nuuanu. Following his defeat, Kalanikūpule hid in the mountains for several months before being captured and sacrificed to Kamehameha's war god, Kū-ka-ili-moku
. His death brought the end of the Kingdom of 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,...
and King 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...
. He was the last king to physically fight with 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...
over 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...
. Kalanikūpule was the last of the longest line of Alii Aimoku in the Hawaiian Islands.
Early life
Kalanikūpule was the eldest son of Kahekili IIKahekili 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 his wife Kauwahine. His father had gained control all of the Hawaiian Islands 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...
. His father had overthrown the king of Oahu and had established his base at 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....
. Kamehameha declared war on Maui and fought Kalanikūpule at the Battle of Kepaniwai
Battle of Kepaniwai
The Battle of Kepaniwai 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...
. Kalanikūpule, facing imminent defeat, fled over a narrow mountain pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
along with his high chiefs, and they sailed to Oahu. Kahekili began his war preparations. Kamehameha's troops returned to Hawaii Island, and soon Kahekili was able to gain Maui and Molokai
Molokai
Molokai or Molokai is an island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is 38 by 10 miles in size with a land area of , making it the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the 27th largest island in the United States. It lies east of Oahu across the 25-mile wide Kaiwi Channel and north of...
back. In July of 1793 Kahekili died.
Reign
Following the death of his father, Kalanikūpule took Oahu while his uncleUncle
An uncle is a type of familial relationship.Uncle may also refer to:* Uncle , by J. P. Martin* U.N.C.L.E., a fictional organization in the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E....
Kaeokulani gained control of Maui, Lānai
Lanai
Lānai or Lanai is the sixth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is also known as the Pineapple Island because of its past as an island-wide pineapple plantation. The only town is Lānai City, a small settlement....
, and Molokai. When his uncle decided to visit his wife's home 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",...
, he sailed from Maui by way of Oahu, taking his army with him. When his uncle reached Oahu he stopped at Waimanalo. Disputes — partly over inheritance of the Kingdom of Maui — arose between him and Kalanikūpule, resulting in war. Kalanikūpule was in a desperate situation.
At this time, three foreign ships arrived. Two of these vessels, the Jackal and the Prince Lee Boo were British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
ships under the command of Captain William Brown and Captain Gordon. The third vessel, the Lady Washington
Lady Washington
Lady Washington is a ship name that is shared by at least 4 different small wooden merchant sailing vessels during two different time periods. They should not be confused with USS Lady Washington. The original sailed for about 10 years in the 18th century. A somewhat updated modern replica was...
, was an American ship with Captain John Hendrick
John Kendrick (American sea captain)
John Kendrick was an American sea captain, both during the American Revolutionary War and the exploration and maritime fur trading of the Pacific Northwest alongside his partner Robert Gray.-Early life:...
in command. These were not strangers in the islands as foreign trading vessels were frequent visitors to Hawaii. It was Captain Brown who was given credit for discovering the harbor of Honolulu and naming it Fair Haven
Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu Harbor, also called Kulolia and Ke Awa O Kou, is the principal seaport of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii in the United States. It is from Honolulu Harbor, located on Mamala Bay, that the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the...
. The tender to one of the ships was the first Western vessel to enter Honolulu harbor.
Kalanikūpule asked Captain Brown for assistance to his army. The Captain decided to help him, as did the two mates of the Jackal and the Prince Lee Boo. These men aided Kalanikūpule’s force in what was later called the Battle of Kalauao. The musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
s of the sailors drove Kaeo’s warriors into hills that overshadowed Honolulu. They finally retreated into a little ravine
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
. Kaeo tried to escape, but Brown’s men and Kendrick’s men saw his ahuula|ahuula, his scarlet and yellow feather cloak
Feather cloak
Featherwork cloaks have been used by several cultures.-Hawaii:Elaborate feather cloaks called [[ʻahuʻula]] were created by early Hawaiians for the alii .Feathers were also used in women's skirts called pāū....
, and fired at Kaeo from their boats in the harbor to show his position to Kalanikūpule’s men. The Oahu warriors killed Kaeo along with his wives and chiefs.
This was a successful move, and the battle ended with Kalanikūpule as the victor. Captain Brown fired a salute to celebrate the victory. At least one gun was loaded with shot which pierced the side of the American ship Lady Washington, killing Captain Hendrick and several of his crew. Encouraged by the victory over his uncle, Kalanikūpule decided to acquire the Jackal and the Prince Lee Boo and military hardware to aid in his attack on Kamehameha on the island of Hawai'i. Kalanikūpule killed Brown and Gordon and abducted the remainder of his crew.
Kalanikūpule's demise
Kalanikūpule planned an immediate attack on the island of Hawaii. The crews of the two ships were ordered to get the ships ready to sail. This was done. He, his wife, and their retinue then went on board and took possession of their new vessels. The two mates of the English ships decided that they, with their crews, would try to recapture the ships. This was a daring venture, but they succeeded. The natives were either killed or driven from the ships, with the exception of Kalanikūpule and his queen and their personal attendants. Near dawn, the ships were put out to sea. While still ashore, the king and queen were placed in a canoe and set afloat. The ships sailed on to the island of Hawaii, where the two mates secured supplies. They left a letter for John YoungJohn 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...
, informing to them of the situation on Oahu, and sailed at once for Canton.
Knowing his enemy's disadvantage, Kamehameha used his strong army and his fleet of canoes and small ships to conquer Maui, Lānai, and Molokai from Kalanikūpule's rule in 1794. Kamehameha's next target was the Kalanikūpule's base at Oahu. As Kamehameha prepared for war, one of his former allies, a chief named Kaiana, turned on him and joined forces with Kalanikūpule. Kamehameha's warriors and Kalanikūpule fought a great battle at the summit of Nuuanu Pali which is known as the Battle of Nuuanu. Following his defeat, Kalanikūpule hid in the mountains for several months before being captured and sacrificed to Kamehameha's war god, Kū-ka-ili-moku
Kū
In Hawaiian mythology Kū or Kū-ka-ili-moku is one of the four great gods along with Kanaloa, Kāne, and Lono.He is known as the god of war and the husband of the goddess Hina. Some have taken this to suggest a complementary dualism, as the word kū in the Hawaiian language means "standing up" while...
. His death brought the end of the Kingdom of Maui.