Kaweloamaihunalii
Encyclopedia
Kawelo-a-Maihunalii was the 19th Alii Aimoku of Kauai
. He ruled as titular King or chief of Kauai
. He is sometimes referred as Kaweloleimakua in some legends.
He was son of High Chiefess Malaiakalani, daughter of Kawelomahamahaia, 16th Alii Aimoku of Kauai, by his bride Kapohinaokalani, and of High Chief Maihunalii. His cousin was Kaweloaikanaka
, 18th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. For some reason not clearly stated in the legends, he become obnoxious to Kaweloaikanaka and was driven out of the island.
Legends state that in his exile he found a refuge with Kaihikapu-a-Kakuihihewa in Ewa, Oahu. Kaihikapu-a-Kakuhihewa gave him a land bordering on the Kolekole Pass in the Waianae mountains; but unless Kaihikapu-a-Kakuhihewa had survived to an unprecedentedl old age, he must have been dead before this time and the succour given to Kawelo-a-Maihunalii must have come from Kaihikapu's sons or descendants. Certain it is, however, that Kawelo-a-Maihunalii not only received land on Oahu
referred to for his maintenance, but in due time obtained both men and canoes to invade Kauai and make war on his cousin, Kaweloaikanaka.
The legends and chants referring to this war are lengthy, confused as to sequence of events, and so overloaded with the marvellous and fabulous that very little reliance can be placed upon the details which they set forth. The result however, is historically certain and vouched for by numerous other legends from the other islands, and that was the overthrow and demise of Kaweloaikanaka and the transfer of the supremacy of Kauai to Kawelo-a-Maihunalii. Kawelo-a-Maihunalii's military genius exceeds that of Kamehameha I
. He was the only person ever to successfully conquer Kauai by the sea since the first Kauaian aliis, legendary conquerors of the Menehune
s.
How long he reigned is not known, but it is said that when he became old he was killed by having been thrown over a cliff by some rebellious subject; but who they or their leaders were, or what the occasion of the revolt, is not remembered. His only wife was Kanewahineikiaoha, a daughter of Kalonaikahailaau, of the Koolau chief families on Oahu. They are known to have had a daughter, Kaneikaheilani, who became the wife of Kaaloapii, a Kau chief from the Big Island of Hawaii, and grandmother to Haalou, one of the wives of Kekaulike of Maui, and to Kamakaeheukuli, one of the wives of Kameeiamoku, a Hawaiian chieftain and grandson of Lonoikahaupu.
After the death of Kawelo-a-Maihunalii, Kualii of Oahu became the next chief over the windward side of Kauai. Legends doesn't explain, but the probability is that Kualii reclaimed the succession, as well as the sovereignty, in the name of his grandmother, Kawelolauhuki, one of the daughters of Kawelomahamahaia
. Other legend said that in order to obtain a handful of warriors and a double canoe, Kawelo-a-Maihunalii agreed to cede Kauai to Ku-alii in case both Kawelo and his enemy Kawelo-'Aikanaka died as a result of the coming war. When Kawelo-a-Maihunalii had killed his cousin and that his own subjects had thrown him over a cliff, Kualii hurried to Kauai and declared himself alii nui. The legends of Kualii never speak of Kauai as a conquered territory, and the presumption is that he came into possession by inheritance.
Alii Aimoku of Kauai
The Alii Aimoku of Kauai was the sovereign king or queen of the islands of Kauai and Niihau.- Overview :The monarchs of Kauai, like those of the other Hawaiian islands, claim descent from Wakea and Papa. Nanaulu, a descendant in the fourteenth generation from Wakea, was the ancestor of Moikeha, 1st...
. He ruled as titular King or chief of Kauai
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",...
. He is sometimes referred as Kaweloleimakua in some legends.
He was son of High Chiefess Malaiakalani, daughter of Kawelomahamahaia, 16th Alii Aimoku of Kauai, by his bride Kapohinaokalani, and of High Chief Maihunalii. His cousin was Kaweloaikanaka
Kaweloaikanaka
Kawelo-ai-kanaka was the 18th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Kauai. He was born about 1680. He was the son of Kawelomakualua, 17th Alii Aimoku of Kauai by his sister-bride Kaawihiokalani. His twin brother was High Chief Kawelo-a-Peekoa, who is not heard of in the...
, 18th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. For some reason not clearly stated in the legends, he become obnoxious to Kaweloaikanaka and was driven out of the island.
Legends state that in his exile he found a refuge with Kaihikapu-a-Kakuihihewa in Ewa, Oahu. Kaihikapu-a-Kakuhihewa gave him a land bordering on the Kolekole Pass in the Waianae mountains; but unless Kaihikapu-a-Kakuhihewa had survived to an unprecedentedl old age, he must have been dead before this time and the succour given to Kawelo-a-Maihunalii must have come from Kaihikapu's sons or descendants. Certain it is, however, that Kawelo-a-Maihunalii not only received land on 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...
referred to for his maintenance, but in due time obtained both men and canoes to invade Kauai and make war on his cousin, Kaweloaikanaka.
The legends and chants referring to this war are lengthy, confused as to sequence of events, and so overloaded with the marvellous and fabulous that very little reliance can be placed upon the details which they set forth. The result however, is historically certain and vouched for by numerous other legends from the other islands, and that was the overthrow and demise of Kaweloaikanaka and the transfer of the supremacy of Kauai to Kawelo-a-Maihunalii. Kawelo-a-Maihunalii's military genius exceeds that 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...
. He was the only person ever to successfully conquer Kauai by the sea since the first Kauaian aliis, legendary conquerors of the Menehune
Menehune
In Hawaiian mythology, the Menehune [pronounced meh-neh-HOO-neh] are said to be a people, sometimes described as dwarfs in size, who live in the deep forests and hidden valleys of the Hawaiian Islands, far from the eyes of normal humans. Their favorite food is the maia , but they also like...
s.
How long he reigned is not known, but it is said that when he became old he was killed by having been thrown over a cliff by some rebellious subject; but who they or their leaders were, or what the occasion of the revolt, is not remembered. His only wife was Kanewahineikiaoha, a daughter of Kalonaikahailaau, of the Koolau chief families on Oahu. They are known to have had a daughter, Kaneikaheilani, who became the wife of Kaaloapii, a Kau chief from the Big Island of Hawaii, and grandmother to Haalou, one of the wives of Kekaulike of Maui, and to Kamakaeheukuli, one of the wives of Kameeiamoku, a Hawaiian chieftain and grandson of Lonoikahaupu.
After the death of Kawelo-a-Maihunalii, Kualii of Oahu became the next chief over the windward side of Kauai. Legends doesn't explain, but the probability is that Kualii reclaimed the succession, as well as the sovereignty, in the name of his grandmother, Kawelolauhuki, one of the daughters of Kawelomahamahaia
Kawelomahamahaia
Kawelomahamahaia was the 16th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Kauai. He was born around the year 1630. Also sometimes referred to as Keawelomahamahaia....
. Other legend said that in order to obtain a handful of warriors and a double canoe, Kawelo-a-Maihunalii agreed to cede Kauai to Ku-alii in case both Kawelo and his enemy Kawelo-'Aikanaka died as a result of the coming war. When Kawelo-a-Maihunalii had killed his cousin and that his own subjects had thrown him over a cliff, Kualii hurried to Kauai and declared himself alii nui. The legends of Kualii never speak of Kauai as a conquered territory, and the presumption is that he came into possession by inheritance.