Kamakaimoku
Encyclopedia
Kamakaimoku was a chiefess in ancient Hawaii
in the early 18th century. She married three powerful men of the time, was mother of the King who would unite the island of Hawaii
and meet the first known visitors from Europe
, and grandmother of the founder of the Kingdom
that united all of the Hawaiian islands
.
, and Chiefess Kanekukaailani, who was a daughter of I of the Hilo district and Akahikameenoa; consequently she was a cousin to Chief Alapai Nui, and a chiefess the highest rank.
Her father was Chief Ku-a-Nuuanau, of Oahu island
, son of High Chief Nuuanu, third son of I of Hilo and Akihikameeonoa (Akahikameenoa). She was related to King Umi
of Hawaii island royalty from several islands. She was raised on Oahu, while her mother went back to Hawaii island and married Kapahi-a-Ahu-Kane (Kapai-a-Ahu), the son of Ahu-a-I. Both her grandmother Kanekukaailani, her grandfather Nuuanu of Oahu, and her stepfather Kapai-a-Ahu were children of King I of Hilo.
Kamakaimoku's name translates as the "Eye of Islands". When grown up, Kamakaimoku was seen by Kalaninuiamamao
on his visit to Oahu, and sent for to be his wife. Living with him at the court of his father Keaweikekahialiʻiokamoku, she had his son, Kalaniʻōpuʻu, who afterwards became the ruler of most of Hawaii island. Kalaniōpuuu would also be the king of the island when Captain James Cook
arrived and was killed in 1779.
This union was short, for within a year or two she left Kalaninuiamamao and married his brother Keeaumoku Nui
. They had a son called Chief Keōua Nui
, the father of Kamehameha I
. How long she remained with Kalani Keeaumoku Nui is not known, but she is next known as the wife of Alapai Nui, her cousin. With him she had a daughter, Manona, grandmother of Keaoua Kekuaokalani
who, at the abolition of the kapu
system in 1819, took up arms in defence of the Hawaiian religion
in the Battle of Kuamoo.
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
in the early 18th century. She married three powerful men of the time, was mother of the King who would unite 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 meet the first known visitors from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and grandmother of the founder of the Kingdom
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...
that united 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...
.
Biography
The mother of Kamakaimoku was the High Chiefess Umiula-a-kaahumanu, a daughter of Chief Mahiolole of the Kohala districtKohala, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; Kohala , [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
, and Chiefess Kanekukaailani, who was a daughter of I of the Hilo district and Akahikameenoa; consequently she was a cousin to Chief Alapai Nui, and a chiefess the highest rank.
Her father was Chief Ku-a-Nuuanau, of Oahu island
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...
, son of High Chief Nuuanu, third son of I of Hilo and Akihikameeonoa (Akahikameenoa). She was related to King Umi
Umi
Umi may refer to:*Umi, Fukuoka, a town in Japan *'Umi-a-Liloa, king of the island of Hawaii*Umi Ryuzaki, a character in the fictional manga series Magic Knight Rayearth*UMI, Universal Mobile Interface...
of Hawaii island royalty from several islands. She was raised on Oahu, while her mother went back to Hawaii island and married Kapahi-a-Ahu-Kane (Kapai-a-Ahu), the son of Ahu-a-I. Both her grandmother Kanekukaailani, her grandfather Nuuanu of Oahu, and her stepfather Kapai-a-Ahu were children of King I of Hilo.
Kamakaimoku's name translates as the "Eye of Islands". When grown up, Kamakaimoku was seen by Kalaninuiamamao
Kalaninuiamamao
Kalaninuiamamao was a Prince of the Big Island of Hawaii, or 1st Alii Nui of Kau, an ancestor of the Queen Liliuokalani. He is probably the Hawaiian chief with the most varied spelling of his name.- Biography :...
on his visit to Oahu, and sent for to be his wife. Living with him at the court of his father Keaweikekahialiʻiokamoku, she had his son, Kalaniʻōpuʻu, who afterwards became the ruler of most of Hawaii island. Kalaniōpuuu would also be the king of the island when Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
arrived and was killed in 1779.
This union was short, for within a year or two she left Kalaninuiamamao and married his brother Keeaumoku Nui
Keeaumoku Nui
Kalani Kama Keeaumoku-nui was Prince of the Big Island of Hawaii and high chief of the Kona district and part of Kohala district and grandfather of Kamehameha I. He was a Pio chief which was considered among royalties of the highest rank in the realm. Through his mother and father he was descended...
. They had a son called Chief Keōua Nui
Keoua
Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Ahilapalapa, sometimes called Keōua Nui , was an Ancient Hawaiian noble and the father of Kamehameha I, the first King of united Hawaii...
, the father of 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...
. How long she remained with Kalani Keeaumoku Nui is not known, but she is next known as the wife of Alapai Nui, her cousin. With him she had a daughter, Manona, grandmother of Keaoua Kekuaokalani
Keaoua Kekuaokalani
Keaoua Kekua-o-kalani was a nephew of Kamehameha I, the chief from the Big Island of Hawaii who had unified the Hawaiian islands. He was the son of Kamehameha's half brother Kealiimaikai and Kamehameha's half-sister Kiilaweau. After Kamehameha died in 1819, Keaoua rebelled against Kamehameha's...
who, at the abolition of 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...
system in 1819, took up arms in defence of the Hawaiian religion
Hawaiian religion
Hawaiian religion is the term used to describe the folk religious beliefs and practises of the Hawaiian people. It is unrelated to, though commonly confused with, the philosophy of Huna....
in the Battle of Kuamoo.