Kapiohookalani
Encyclopedia
Kapiioho o kalani was a ruler (the Alii Aimoku
) of Oahu island
1730–1737. His unsuccessful war campaign indicates a warlike nature inherited from his father, uncommon in the otherwise peaceful Oahu chiefs.
, ruler (Alii Aimoku
) of Oahu island. His mother was High Chiefess Kalanikahimakeialii of Maui
, whose parents were Kaulahea II, King of Maui and Kalaniomaiheuila, both children of Lonohonuakini, king of Maui. He had two siblings: a sister Kukuiaimakalani
and a brother Peleioholani
.
When Kūalii died in 1730, the lands were split into two parts: Kapiioho became ruler of Oahu island, and his brother Peleioholani,became ruler of Kauai island
. It is most likely that since Oahu was Kūalii's ancestral home, it was the more desirable part.
The suffix "o kalani" was added to his name, which literally means "from the heavens" in the Hawaiian language
to indicate a powerful leader, or one with a royal family background.
Since only oral histories are available of that time, his name is often spelled as a single word with some of the double letters combined. For example, Kapiohookalani or Kapiiohokalani.
to his rule as his father once had. Soon after the death of Kekaulike of Maui (who controlled Molokai at the time) and the accession of his son, Kamehamehanui, Kapiioho thought the time was right and invaded the island with a large force. However, he did not know that Alapainui from the island of Hawaii
had set off to battle Kekaulike prior to the old chief's death. Alapainui made peace instead with his half-sister Queen Dowager Kekuiawpoiwa I and his nephew Kamehamehanui. News reached the court of Maui that several Molokai chiefs were attacked and took refuge in the mountains, while their lowlands and fishpond
s were ravaged by the invaders, who made their headquarters at the area called Kalamaula, and occupied the southern coast of the island from the present-day town of Kaunakakai west to the Naiwa area.
When the intelligence reached Alapainui he went to Molokai to assist the distressed chiefs. Some of them were his near relatives, sons and grandsons of Keawe II with his Molokai wife Kanealai. He crossed the Pailolo channel and landed his fleet on the southeast Molokai coast from Waialua to Kaluaaha. After landed his army, he marched to Kamalo
, and at Kapualei met the forces of Kapiioho. The fight lasted for four days without any decisive result; but since Kapiioho retreated to Kawela
, it is presumed that he suffered most. On the fifth day the battle was renewed at Kawela, extending as far as Kamiloloa. The Hawaiian troops ranked along the seashore, and the Molokai chiefs descended from the uplands with their men. Kapiioho was hemmed in between, and after a fierce battle from morning through late afternoon, he was completely routed with great loss of life, and himself slain. Those who escaped from the battle fled back to Oahu.
Among the Oahu chiefs in this battle under Kapiioho were Kauakahialiikapu, Kuihewakaokoa, Kaihikapu-a-Mahana, Kaweloikiakulu, Lononuiakea, who commanded the left wing of the Oahu army, and Kahoowahakananuha, Kahooalani, Hua, and Molokai, who commanded the right wing; the center commanded by Kapiioho in person. Kalanikupua-keoua
and Kalaniʻōpuʻu commanded under Alapainui. Bones from this battle were left in the sandy plain, sometimes uncovered by the wind many years later. The size of the two armies is not mentioned in the legend; but from the multitude of bones, the numbers on each side are estimated in thousands.
was a child of about six when his father died, and appears to have only survived him about one year. In the war between Alapainui of Hawaii and Kauhiaimoku, the revolted brother of Kamehamehanui of Maui, Peleioholani, succeeded his nephew as ruler of Oahu, and went with his fleet to Maui to assist Kauahi against Alapainui..
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,...
) 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...
1730–1737. His unsuccessful war campaign indicates a warlike nature inherited from his father, uncommon in the otherwise peaceful Oahu chiefs.
Early life
He was probably born with the name Kapiioho in the early 18th century. His father was KūaliiKualii
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...
, ruler (Alii Aimoku
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,...
) of Oahu island. His mother was High Chiefess Kalanikahimakeialii 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,...
, whose parents were Kaulahea II, King of Maui and Kalaniomaiheuila, both children of Lonohonuakini, king of Maui. He had two siblings: a sister Kukuiaimakalani
Kukuiaimakalani
Kukuiaimakalani was Princess of Oahu or High Chiefess. She was sometimes referred to as Kukuimakalani.She was born the daughter of Kualii, King of Oahu and Kauai; and to Kalanikahimakaialii. Her mother was a Pio chiefess, being the daughter of Kaulahea II, King of Maui and his sister bride...
and a brother 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...
.
When Kūalii died in 1730, the lands were split into two parts: Kapiioho became ruler of Oahu island, and his brother Peleioholani,became ruler of Kauai island
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",...
. It is most likely that since Oahu was Kūalii's ancestral home, it was the more desirable part.
The suffix "o kalani" was added to his name, which literally means "from the heavens" 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...
to indicate a powerful leader, or one with a royal family background.
Since only oral histories are available of that time, his name is often spelled as a single word with some of the double letters combined. For example, Kapiohookalani or Kapiiohokalani.
Reign
Kapiioho wanted to subject the neighboring island of MolokaiMolokai
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...
to his rule as his father once had. Soon after the death of Kekaulike of Maui (who controlled Molokai at the time) and the accession of his son, Kamehamehanui, Kapiioho thought the time was right and invaded the island with a large force. However, he did not know that Alapainui from 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...
had set off to battle Kekaulike prior to the old chief's death. Alapainui made peace instead with his half-sister Queen Dowager Kekuiawpoiwa I and his nephew Kamehamehanui. News reached the court of Maui that several Molokai chiefs were attacked and took refuge in the mountains, while their lowlands and fishpond
Fishpond
Fishpond was the code name given to an extension to the British H2S airborne radar system fitted to Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers during World War II...
s were ravaged by the invaders, who made their headquarters at the area called Kalamaula, and occupied the southern coast of the island from the present-day town of Kaunakakai west to the Naiwa area.
When the intelligence reached Alapainui he went to Molokai to assist the distressed chiefs. Some of them were his near relatives, sons and grandsons of Keawe II with his Molokai wife Kanealai. He crossed the Pailolo channel and landed his fleet on the southeast Molokai coast from Waialua to Kaluaaha. After landed his army, he marched to Kamalo
Kamalo
Kamalo may refer to:*Kamalo, Côte d'Ivoire*Kamalo, Sierra Leone...
, and at Kapualei met the forces of Kapiioho. The fight lasted for four days without any decisive result; but since Kapiioho retreated to 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....
, it is presumed that he suffered most. On the fifth day the battle was renewed at Kawela, extending as far as Kamiloloa. The Hawaiian troops ranked along the seashore, and the Molokai chiefs descended from the uplands with their men. Kapiioho was hemmed in between, and after a fierce battle from morning through late afternoon, he was completely routed with great loss of life, and himself slain. Those who escaped from the battle fled back to Oahu.
Among the Oahu chiefs in this battle under Kapiioho were Kauakahialiikapu, Kuihewakaokoa, Kaihikapu-a-Mahana, Kaweloikiakulu, Lononuiakea, who commanded the left wing of the Oahu army, and Kahoowahakananuha, Kahooalani, Hua, and Molokai, who commanded the right wing; the center commanded by Kapiioho in person. Kalanikupua-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 Kalaniʻōpuʻu commanded under Alapainui. Bones from this battle were left in the sandy plain, sometimes uncovered by the wind many years later. The size of the two armies is not mentioned in the legend; but from the multitude of bones, the numbers on each side are estimated in thousands.
Marriage
The legends are silent as to Kapiioho's wife, but his son KanahaokalaniKanahaokalani
Kanahaokalani was the 21st Alii Aimoku of Oahu , 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.-Reign:...
was a child of about six when his father died, and appears to have only survived him about one year. In the war between Alapainui of Hawaii and Kauhiaimoku, the revolted brother of Kamehamehanui of Maui, Peleioholani, succeeded his nephew as ruler of Oahu, and went with his fleet to Maui to assist Kauahi against Alapainui..