Laakona
Encyclopedia
Laakona or sometimes incorrectly Lakona of Ewa, a Prince of Oahu, was the District Chieftain or King of Ewa
on Oahu. During his days, Oahu was divided among the descendants of Maweke
, a legendary blue blood alii from which the Northern royal bloodlines sprouted.
Laakona was the grandson of Maweke
of Oahu
; being son of one of his sons Keaunui
of Ewa. His mother is thought to be Wehelani, the same name of his uncle's, Mulielealii
, spouse. It isn't known if these were the same person. His siblings include Nuakea
, a sister, and Moi, a brother. His sister would become the Queen consort of Molokai, as the wife of Keoloewa. And his brother would became a Molokaian kaula or prophet
under the service of Keoloewa's brother, Kaupeepee. His first cousins were Kumuhonua
, Moikeha
, Olopana, Hainakolo, and Hinakaimauliawa
.
He solely inherited the Ewa District from Keaunui, his father, since his other siblings were in Molokai
. Technically he was a vassal of Kumuhonua
, the King of Oahu and his successor Elepuukahonua
, but the power of the Oahuan monarchy was not yet stable or united. He was known to be a powerful and great chief,who probably continued in his father's work on the Puuloa saltworks; widening it and deepening it, allowing canoes and larger vessels to pass through. Ewa was known as one of the most properous section of Oahu in his days and was probably much densely populated that the rest of Oahu.
He was the great progneitor of the Ewa Chieftains, who would attribute to the greatness and the downfall of Kingdom of Oahu in later days. Laakona has the characteristic honour among the Hawaiians of having had his name affixed as a sobriquet to the district over which he ruled, and in epical and diplomatic language it was ever after known as Ewa-a-Laakona. As can be seen in the Chant of Kualii verse 240: Na Ewa Nui a Laakona (The Great Ewa (land) of Laakona); and a saying about the nehu fish: "The sea that blows up the nehu fish, the sea of Ewa that blows them up in rows until they rest in the calm — great Ewa of La'akona."
His son was Ewauli-a-Laakona who succeeded him as Chief of Ewa.
Ewa
Ewa can refer to:In geography:* Eastern Washington* 'Ewa Beach, Hawaii, unincorporated Census-designated place * Ewa Villages, Hawaii, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
on Oahu. During his days, Oahu was divided among the descendants of Maweke
Maweke
Maweke was a northern Hawaiian king. He was of the Nanaulu line being lineal descendent of Nanaulu, the brother of Ulu, from whom the southern chiefs claim their descent. The northern chiefs of Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau descent from Maweke and Nanaulu...
, a legendary blue blood alii from which the Northern royal bloodlines sprouted.
Laakona was the grandson of Maweke
Maweke
Maweke was a northern Hawaiian king. He was of the Nanaulu line being lineal descendent of Nanaulu, the brother of Ulu, from whom the southern chiefs claim their descent. The northern chiefs of Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau descent from Maweke and Nanaulu...
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...
; being son of one of his sons Keaunui
Keaunui
Keaunui was a northern Hawaiian chief. He was of the Nanaulu line being lineal descendant of Nanaulu, the brother of Ulu, from whom the southern chiefs claim their descent.He was one of the three sons of Maweke and his wife Naiolaukea...
of Ewa. His mother is thought to be Wehelani, the same name of his uncle's, Mulielealii
Mulielealii
Mulielealii was a northern Hawaiian chief and King of Western Oahu. The eldest son of Maweke and brother of Kalehenui and Keaunui. He was of the Nanaulu line being lineal descendant of Nanaulu, the brother of Ulu, from whom the southern chiefs claim their descent. Every monarchs of Oahu after his...
, spouse. It isn't known if these were the same person. His siblings include Nuakea
Nuakea
Nuakea was the Princess of Oahu and Queen consort of Molokai.She was born to Prince Keaunui, Chief of Ewa and his wife Wehelani. Through her father, she was the granddaughter of Maweke, the Blue-blood alii of the ancient line of Nanaulu...
, a sister, and Moi, a brother. His sister would become the Queen consort of Molokai, as the wife of Keoloewa. And his brother would became a Molokaian kaula or prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
under the service of Keoloewa's brother, Kaupeepee. His first cousins were Kumuhonua
Kumuhonua
Kumuhonua was 1st Alii Aimoku of Oahu. During his reign Oahu was divided among the sons of Maweke, a legendary figure thought to have colonized the northern islands of Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. He was the grandson of Maweke and son of Mulielealii....
, Moikeha
Moikeha
Moikeha was the 1st Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as the titular King, or chief, of Kauai. He was a chief of the Nanaulu line, being the son of Mulielealii and the grandson of Maweke...
, Olopana, Hainakolo, and Hinakaimauliawa
Hinakaimauliawa
Hinakaimauliawa, a Princess or High Chiefess of Oahu, was the District Chieftain or Queen of Koolau on the island Oahu. During her days, Oahu was divided among the descendants of Maweke, the legendary blue blood alii from which the Northern royal bloodlines sprouted.Hinakaimauliawa was the...
.
He solely inherited the Ewa District from Keaunui, his father, since his other siblings were in 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...
. Technically he was a vassal of Kumuhonua
Kumuhonua
Kumuhonua was 1st Alii Aimoku of Oahu. During his reign Oahu was divided among the sons of Maweke, a legendary figure thought to have colonized the northern islands of Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. He was the grandson of Maweke and son of Mulielealii....
, the King of Oahu and his successor Elepuukahonua
Elepuukahonua
Elepuukahonua was 2nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu. During his reign Oahu was divided among the sons of Maweke, a member of the Nanaulu line of the blue blood chiefs of the northern islands of Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. He was the grandson of Mulielealii, son of Maweke. He lived between the 11th and 13th...
, but the power of the Oahuan monarchy was not yet stable or united. He was known to be a powerful and great chief,who probably continued in his father's work on the Puuloa saltworks; widening it and deepening it, allowing canoes and larger vessels to pass through. Ewa was known as one of the most properous section of Oahu in his days and was probably much densely populated that the rest of Oahu.
He was the great progneitor of the Ewa Chieftains, who would attribute to the greatness and the downfall of Kingdom of Oahu in later days. Laakona has the characteristic honour among the Hawaiians of having had his name affixed as a sobriquet to the district over which he ruled, and in epical and diplomatic language it was ever after known as Ewa-a-Laakona. As can be seen in the Chant of Kualii verse 240: Na Ewa Nui a Laakona (The Great Ewa (land) of Laakona); and a saying about the nehu fish: "The sea that blows up the nehu fish, the sea of Ewa that blows them up in rows until they rest in the calm — great Ewa of La'akona."
His son was Ewauli-a-Laakona who succeeded him as Chief of Ewa.