Kamakahonu
Encyclopedia
Kamakahonu, the residence of Kamehameha I, was located at the North end of Kailua Bay in Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi Island
.
, lived out the last years of his life and instituted some of the most constructive measures of his reign (1810–1819) here. The residential compound included the personal shrine, Ahuena heiau
, of the King.
The name means "temple of the burning altar" in the Hawaiian Language
.
His son, the crown prince Liholiho, also lived here, taking the name Kamehameha II
.
In December 1819, Kalanimoku
led an army from here to put down the rebellion of his nephew Kekuaokalani, in the Kuamoo Battle, a few miles to the South.
A battery of 18 cannon and large stone walls protected the fortress-like enclosure around several houses.
Island Governor "John Adams" Kuakini
lived at Kamakahonu. He governed the island when the king was away on state affairs to another island and later when the capitol was moved to Lahaina on the island of Maui
in 1820.
He later built a more modern house called Hulihee Palace
on the other side of the beach for entertaining visitors.
The bay was called Kaiakeakua in ancient times meaning "sea of the god", but is now called Kailua Bay.
The name ka maka honu means "the turtle eye" in the Hawaiian Language, after a rock in the shape of a turtle that was located to the left of the present beach.
It was here, within a year of the Kamehameha's death, that the first American Christian missionaries
to the Hawaii
arrived on April 4, 1820.
The rock where Asa Thurston and Hiram Bingham I
landed was later called the "Plymouth Rock of Hawaii".
honored by Kamehameha I. It is now the site of the Kailua lighthouse.
The property is now part of King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel; none of the houses or walls remain. Ahuena heiau was reconstructed in the 1970s and can be viewed, but not entered. Some artifacts can be viewed in the hotel lobby, including a feather cloak
and helmet (mahiole
). The small sandy beach provides a protected beach for launching canoes, and children swimming. The first Hotel was built here in 1950, and the current one constructed in 1975. In 2009, the hotel was renovated, and a museum and cultural center added.
The famous rock was covered over by construction of the pier, and much of the beach was destroyed to construct a seawall for Alii drive in the 1950s.
Cattle pens on the pier were used until 1966. When the deeper harbor was built at Kawaihae cargo traffic moved there.
This area is the start and finish of the Ironman World Championship
Triathlon.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
.
History
Kamehameha I (also known as Kamehameha the Great), who unified the Hawaiian IslandsKingdom 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...
, lived out the last years of his life and instituted some of the most constructive measures of his reign (1810–1819) here. The residential compound included the personal shrine, Ahuena heiau
Heiau
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...
, of the King.
The name means "temple of the burning altar" in the Hawaiian Language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
.
His son, the crown prince Liholiho, also lived here, taking the name Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
.
In December 1819, Kalanimoku
Kalanimoku
William Pitt Kalanimoku was a High Chief who functioned similar to a prime minister of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the reigns of Kamehameha I, Kamehameha II and the beginning of the reign of Kamehameha III. He was called The Iron Cable of Hawaii because of his abilities.-Life:Kalanimoku was born ...
led an army from here to put down the rebellion of his nephew Kekuaokalani, in the Kuamoo Battle, a few miles to the South.
A battery of 18 cannon and large stone walls protected the fortress-like enclosure around several houses.
Island Governor "John Adams" Kuakini
John Adams Kuakini
John Adams Kiiapalaoku Kuakini was an important adviser to Kamehameha I in the early stages of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was responsible for much building and other changes in the Kona District during this era.-Family life:...
lived at Kamakahonu. He governed the island when the king was away on state affairs to another island and later when the capitol was moved to Lahaina on the island 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,...
in 1820.
He later built a more modern house called Hulihee Palace
Hulihee Palace
The Hulihee Palace is located in historic Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Alii Drive. The former vacation home of Hawaiian royalty, it was converted to a museum run by the Daughters of Hawaii, showcasing furniture and artifacts.-History:...
on the other side of the beach for entertaining visitors.
The bay was called Kaiakeakua in ancient times meaning "sea of the god", but is now called Kailua Bay.
The name ka maka honu means "the turtle eye" in the Hawaiian Language, after a rock in the shape of a turtle that was located to the left of the present beach.
It was here, within a year of the Kamehameha's death, that the first American Christian missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to the Hawaii
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...
arrived on April 4, 1820.
The rock where Asa Thurston and Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham, formally Hiram Bingham I , was leader of the first group of Protestant missionaries to introduce Christianity to the Hawaiian islands.-Life:...
landed was later called the "Plymouth Rock of Hawaii".
Today
The point to the north was called Kūkailimoku, which means Kū, the thief of the islands, was named for the war god KūKū
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...
honored by Kamehameha I. It is now the site of the Kailua lighthouse.
The property is now part of King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel; none of the houses or walls remain. Ahuena heiau was reconstructed in the 1970s and can be viewed, but not entered. Some artifacts can be viewed in the hotel lobby, including a 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 helmet (mahiole
Mahiole
Hawaiian feather helmets, known as mahiole in the Hawaiian language, were worn with [[ʻahuʻula | feather cloaks (ʻahu ʻula)]]. These were symbols of the highest rank reserved for the men of the alii, the chiefly class of Hawaii. There are examples of this traditional headgear in museums around the...
). The small sandy beach provides a protected beach for launching canoes, and children swimming. The first Hotel was built here in 1950, and the current one constructed in 1975. In 2009, the hotel was renovated, and a museum and cultural center added.
The famous rock was covered over by construction of the pier, and much of the beach was destroyed to construct a seawall for Alii drive in the 1950s.
Cattle pens on the pier were used until 1966. When the deeper harbor was built at Kawaihae cargo traffic moved there.
This area is the start and finish of the Ironman World Championship
Ironman World Championship
The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford...
Triathlon.