Kaohelelani
Encyclopedia
Life
She was born in the District of Hāna on the island of MauiMaui
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 the mid to late 18th century. Her mother was High Chiefess Kaloiokalani of the royal family of Kahikinui and Honuaula (southern Maui). Her father was Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile , was a Hawaiian chief and first-born son of Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui and half-brother of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. He was the progenitor of the House of Kalokuokamaile.- Biography :He was born on the island of Maui...
, older half-brother 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...
who later unified 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...
in to found the Kingdom of Hawaii
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...
; both were sons of Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui
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...
.
Her father was the High Chief of Hāna, Kipahulu
Kipahulu
Kīpahulu is a village in the Hāna district of Maui, Hawaii. It is a sustainable farm community located in a remote area in the southeast part of Maui.-Location and access:...
and Kaupo.
Her parents named her Kaohelelani, and she was their only child. She was verging into maidenhood when her father died. His people showed their affection for him by making his grave on the highest peak of their country, Kauwiki. Upon news of his death reaching his brother Kamehameha, he immediately assembled a retinue of followers and retainers to accompany his brother Kealiimaikai to bear his request to Kaloiokalani to permit her daughter Kaohelelani to take up her residence at his court, and to have his brother take charge of the vast patrimonial estate until Kaohelelani should reach her majority.
As Kaohelelani approached maturity Kamehameha was looking for a matrimonial alliance for his niece. As the Waimea
Waimea
-Places:United States*Waimea, Hawaii County, Hawaii *Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii*Waimea Bay, Hawaii on Oahu*Waimea Canyon State Park on Kauai*Waimea Ditch on Kauai*Waimea River on Kauai*Waimea Valley on OahuNew Zealand...
people, under the rule of their high chief Hinai, had shown reluctance to submit to him, Kamehameha united the ruling families through an offer of the hand of his niece to Nuhi, the eldest son of Hinau. This offer was accepted and soon Kaohele was transported to her new home in Waimea.
Kamehameha was sorely disappointed in his expectations. Kaohelelani became attached to her new home and family, but the anticipated peace between the two families was not realized. Possibly she felt resentment toward Kamehameha, since after he conquered Maui king Kalanikupule
Kalanikupule
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.- Early life :...
, he gave her former land to the chiefs who aided him.
Nuhi and Kaohelelani had a daughter Kekaikuihala and then a son Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
Gideon Peleioholani Laanui was a Hawaiian chief who was grandnephew of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. From him descends the House of Laanui.-Early life:...
.