Kanahaokalani
Encyclopedia
Kanahaokalani was the 21st Alii Aimoku of Oahu
(1737–1738), ruler of Oahu
island. He was the only Oahu chief to die while an infant and who relied on a regent
. He is sometimes referred to as Kahahaokalani.
, the elder son of Kualii
, both king of Oahu. The legends are silent as to his mother, but she must have been of high rank to secure his right to the throne. He succeed his father at about six years old when his father Kapiohookalani died in the Battle of Kawela
on the Island of Molokai
. His age means he was born in 1730 or 1731, just as his father inherited the throne. A regency was established for this child monarch. But the government remain unstable and the possibility of conquest threaten the island of Oahu during his reign.
ed Molokai to Hawaii nor covered annexation by the name of protectorate
; but reinstated the chiefs who had suffered from Kapiiohokalani's oppression, and allowed them to manage their own affairs, domestic or foreign, according to ancient customs. What Alapainui really sought was the conquest of Oahu and annexation of Molokai but Alapainui had limited manpower. This possibility arose out of Kanahaokalani's father's defeat at Kawela, and was more probable, perhaps, due to the number of Oahu chiefs that had been killed in the battle, and the fact that Kanahaokalani, as King of Oahu, was but a young boy, thus inferring a regency, discord, and weakness in the Oahu government.
Stopping on Molokai only long enough to refresh his men and repair his own losses, Alapainui started with his fleet for the conquest of Oahu. Attempting to land at Waikiki
, at Waialae
, at Koko
, and at Hanauma, Alapainui found the young Oahu king's regency fully prepared to meet the emergency ; and baffled and repelled at all these places, he sailed round the east side of the island and effected a landing at a place called Oneawa, in Kailua, district of Koolaupoko. Though unable to prevent his landing on that side of the island, the Oahu forces, after crossing the Pali
of Nuuanu in great haste, succeeded in limiting the operations of the war to a mere series of skirmishes, thus protracting the contest for nearly a month.
, who at that time ruled the western portion of Kauai, to come to the assistance of the Oahu chiefs. With the least possible delay Peleioholani started with a fleet and a number of warriors for Oahu, and joining their forces, took supreme command of the young king and his chiefs.
Among the Oahu chiefs was Naili, chief of Waianae, brother of Kamakaimoku
, the mother of Kalaniopuu and Keoua
, and a cousin of Alapainui. It is not known on whose suggestion he acted, but being so nearly related to the principal Hawaii chiefs, he was considered the fittest man to approach Alapainui with overtures of peace. Advancing to the outposts of the Hawaii army in Kaneohe, he encountered Kalaniopuu and Keoua, and having made himself known to them, they conducted him to the headquarters of Alapainui at Waihaukalua, near the shore. He was cordially received, and Alapai expressed his willingness to meet and confer with Peleioholani
with a view of terminating the war. It was agreed that the Hawaii fleet should move to a place called Naonealaa, in Kaneohe, and that Alapainui alone should go ashore unarmed, while Peleioholani on his part would advance from the lines of his army equally alone and unarmed. The meeting took place as arranged. The two sovereigns met on the beach, and acknowledging each other's right and dignities, a peace was concluded, and Alapai gave orders to evacuate Oahu.
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,...
(1737–1738), ruler 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...
island. He was the only Oahu chief to die while an infant and who relied on a regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
. He is sometimes referred to as Kahahaokalani.
Reign
He was the son of KapiohookalaniKapiohookalani
Kapiioho o kalani was a ruler of Oahu island 1730–1737. His unsuccessful war campaign indicates a warlike nature inherited from his father, uncommon in the otherwise peaceful Oahu chiefs.-Early life:...
, the elder son of Kualii
Kualii
Kūalii Kunuiakea Kuikealaikauaokalani, the 19th Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 20th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu and of Kauai. Kūalii is remembered for his famous kanawai, Law of Ni'aupi'o Kolowalu, which required farmers and fishermen to welcome and feed hungry strangers...
, both king of Oahu. The legends are silent as to his mother, but she must have been of high rank to secure his right to the throne. He succeed his father at about six years old when his father Kapiohookalani died in the Battle of Kawela
Archeological Sites at Kawela
Archeological Sites at Kawela are a number of archeological sites at or near the settlement of Kawela on the southern coast of Molokai, the northernmost of the islands of Maui County, Hawaii. It was the site of two battles in Hawaiian history....
on the Island of 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...
. His age means he was born in 1730 or 1731, just as his father inherited the throne. A regency was established for this child monarch. But the government remain unstable and the possibility of conquest threaten the island of Oahu during his reign.
Threat of Conquest
With rare forebearance, Alapainui neither annexAnnexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
ed Molokai to Hawaii nor covered annexation by the name of protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
; but reinstated the chiefs who had suffered from Kapiiohokalani's oppression, and allowed them to manage their own affairs, domestic or foreign, according to ancient customs. What Alapainui really sought was the conquest of Oahu and annexation of Molokai but Alapainui had limited manpower. This possibility arose out of Kanahaokalani's father's defeat at Kawela, and was more probable, perhaps, due to the number of Oahu chiefs that had been killed in the battle, and the fact that Kanahaokalani, as King of Oahu, was but a young boy, thus inferring a regency, discord, and weakness in the Oahu government.
Stopping on Molokai only long enough to refresh his men and repair his own losses, Alapainui started with his fleet for the conquest of Oahu. Attempting to land 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....
, at Waialae
Waialae
Waialae or Waialae may refer to:*Waialae Country Club, a private country club in Honolulu, Hawaii*Waialae, Hawaii, a section of Honolulu, Hawaii alongside Kāhala*Waialae Stream, a small river on Hawaiʻi...
, at Koko
Koko
-People, animals, and plants:* Emperor Kōkō , 58th emperor of Japan* Koko Taylor , R&B singer* Koko Pimentel , Philippine politician* Koko , ape that underwent training in Gorilla Sign Language...
, and at Hanauma, Alapainui found the young Oahu king's regency fully prepared to meet the emergency ; and baffled and repelled at all these places, he sailed round the east side of the island and effected a landing at a place called Oneawa, in Kailua, district of Koolaupoko. Though unable to prevent his landing on that side of the island, the Oahu forces, after crossing the Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
of Nuuanu in great haste, succeeded in limiting the operations of the war to a mere series of skirmishes, thus protracting the contest for nearly a month.
Kauaian Aid
Immediately on the arrival of Alapainui's fleet on the coasts of Oahu, messengers were sent to the young king's uncle, PeleioholaniPeleioholani
Peleioholani 21st Alii Aimoku of Kauai and 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He ruled as titular King or chieftain of Kauai, Oahu and held tributary over Molokai after he conquered that island and slew the Molokaian chiefs. Sometimes called Peleiholani...
, who at that time ruled the western portion of Kauai, to come to the assistance of the Oahu chiefs. With the least possible delay Peleioholani started with a fleet and a number of warriors for Oahu, and joining their forces, took supreme command of the young king and his chiefs.
Among the Oahu chiefs was Naili, chief of Waianae, brother of Kamakaimoku
Kamakaimoku
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...
, the mother of Kalaniopuu and Keoua
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...
, and a cousin of Alapainui. It is not known on whose suggestion he acted, but being so nearly related to the principal Hawaii chiefs, he was considered the fittest man to approach Alapainui with overtures of peace. Advancing to the outposts of the Hawaii army in Kaneohe, he encountered Kalaniopuu and Keoua, and having made himself known to them, they conducted him to the headquarters of Alapainui at Waihaukalua, near the shore. He was cordially received, and Alapai expressed his willingness to meet and confer with Peleioholani
Peleioholani
Peleioholani 21st Alii Aimoku of Kauai and 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He ruled as titular King or chieftain of Kauai, Oahu and held tributary over Molokai after he conquered that island and slew the Molokaian chiefs. Sometimes called Peleiholani...
with a view of terminating the war. It was agreed that the Hawaii fleet should move to a place called Naonealaa, in Kaneohe, and that Alapainui alone should go ashore unarmed, while Peleioholani on his part would advance from the lines of his army equally alone and unarmed. The meeting took place as arranged. The two sovereigns met on the beach, and acknowledging each other's right and dignities, a peace was concluded, and Alapai gave orders to evacuate Oahu.