Moikeha
Encyclopedia
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
. His voyage to, and back from, Kahiki—the ancestral homeland of the Hawaiians—is one of the most remembered trans-Pacific voyages in the 12th century.
and Olopana; they also had one sister, Hainakolo. He was the first cousin of Laakona
, High Chief of Ewa; Nuakea
, Queen Consort of Molokai; Moi, kaula (prophet) of Molokai; and Hinakaimauliawa
, High Chiefess of Koolau. Following the Hawaiian tradition of hānai, Moikeha adopted the young chief Laamaikahiki
(sometimes called La'a), the son of Ahukai.
He supported his brother Olopana, throughout most of his youth. Neither of them inherited land from their father; it all went to their elder brother Kumuhonua. According to Samuel Kamakau
, Moikeha and Olopana, the two younger brothers, launched an attack by sea upon Kumuhonua—which predated the Battle of Kepuwahaulaula, the first true Hawaiian naval battle, by 700 years. Kumuhonua emerged victorious; defeated, Moikeha and Olopana were taken captive, along with La'a.
Eventually they were released, and seeing no future for themselves on Oahu, they decided to travel abroad and establish themselves elsewhere. The brothers set up a home on Hawaii Island. Olopana controlled the Waipio Valley
and nearby lands. Moikeha, if not equal to his brother, was at least his utmost subject and most trusted companion. The duration of their stay in Waipio is not stated in traditional legends, but the legend does mention how they came to depart from the place. The valley and surrounding regions were desolated by heavy storms, floods, and freshet
s, forcing many of its inhabitants to seek refuge elsewhere.
, but more likely kahiki ("the distance") can be understood to encompass all of the islands in the Pacific Ocean, from Easter Island
to the farthest west, even far into the present Malaysia.
Three place names connected to Moikeha’s or his sons’ stays on the island were: Moaulanuiakea, the home and estate where Olopana resided; Lanikeha, the name of the temple and residence of Moikeha; and Kapaahu, the neighboring mountain, where Laamaikahiki stopped when Kila came to him to bring him back to Moikeha.
Eventually Laa is comes to Kauai and the legend adds that after Moikeha's death Laa returned to Tahiti and lived and died there.
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 the 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 was a chief of the Nanaulu line, being the son of 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...
and 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...
. His voyage to, and back from, Kahiki—the ancestral homeland of the Hawaiians—is one of the most remembered trans-Pacific voyages in the 12th century.
Early life
Moikeha was born the son of Mulielealii, king of western Oahu and the eldest male of the Maweke line. Moikeha’s siblings were his older brothers, KumuhonuaKumuhonua
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....
and Olopana; they also had one sister, Hainakolo. He was the first cousin of Laakona
Laakona
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...
, High Chief of Ewa; 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...
, Queen Consort of Molokai; Moi, kaula (prophet) of Molokai; 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...
, High Chiefess of Koolau. Following the Hawaiian tradition of hānai, Moikeha adopted the young chief Laamaikahiki
Laamaikahiki
Laa-mai-kahiki was the 3rd Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as King or Chief of Kauai. He is sometimes mentioned as two persons: one named La'a and the other named La'amaikahiki . This extra La'a generation is not included in Fornander's preferred Ulu genealogy...
(sometimes called La'a), the son of Ahukai.
He supported his brother Olopana, throughout most of his youth. Neither of them inherited land from their father; it all went to their elder brother Kumuhonua. According to Samuel Kamakau
Samuel Kamakau
Samuel Manaiākalani Kamakau was a Hawaiian historian and scholar. His work appeared in local newspapers and was later compiled into books, becoming an invaluable resource on the Hawaiian people, Hawaiian culture, and Hawaiian language during a time when they were disappearing.Along with David Malo...
, Moikeha and Olopana, the two younger brothers, launched an attack by sea upon Kumuhonua—which predated the Battle of Kepuwahaulaula, the first true Hawaiian naval battle, by 700 years. Kumuhonua emerged victorious; defeated, Moikeha and Olopana were taken captive, along with La'a.
Eventually they were released, and seeing no future for themselves on Oahu, they decided to travel abroad and establish themselves elsewhere. The brothers set up a home on Hawaii Island. Olopana controlled the Waipio Valley
Waipio valley
Waipio Valley is a valley located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawaii. "Waipio" means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language.It was the capital and permanent residence of many early Hawaiian alii up until the time of King Umi...
and nearby lands. Moikeha, if not equal to his brother, was at least his utmost subject and most trusted companion. The duration of their stay in Waipio is not stated in traditional legends, but the legend does mention how they came to depart from the place. The valley and surrounding regions were desolated by heavy storms, floods, and freshet
Freshet
A freshet can refer to one of two things:* A flood resulting from heavy rain or a spring thaw. Whereas heavy rain often causes a flash flood, a spring thaw event is generally a more incremental process, depending upon local climate and topography...
s, forcing many of its inhabitants to seek refuge elsewhere.
Travel to Kahiki
Moikeha, taking his young adopted son with him, sailed with his brother’s family to Kahiki. In Kahiki, the ancestral homeland of the Hawaiian people, Olopana received the sovereignty of Moaulanuiakea, a district or section of the land. Olopana built an opulent residence and heiau (temple) for himself, called Lanikeha. Kahiki has been mostly associated with TahitiTahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, but more likely kahiki ("the distance") can be understood to encompass all of the islands in the Pacific Ocean, from Easter Island
Easter Island
Easter Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people...
to the farthest west, even far into the present Malaysia.
Three place names connected to Moikeha’s or his sons’ stays on the island were: Moaulanuiakea, the home and estate where Olopana resided; Lanikeha, the name of the temple and residence of Moikeha; and Kapaahu, the neighboring mountain, where Laamaikahiki stopped when Kila came to him to bring him back to Moikeha.
Companions
The legends differ somewhat as to the names of Moikeha's followers, but they all agree that a number of places in the Hawaiian island group were named after certain companions of Moikeha. These companions were permitted to land here and there as the fleet coasted along the island shores, and succeeded in establishing themselves where they landed. The places supposedly thus named are land of Moaula in Kau, Hawaii; the capes of Haehae and Kumukahi in Puna; the district of Honuaula on Maui; and capes Makapuu and Makaaoa on Oahu.Eventually Laa is comes to Kauai and the legend adds that after Moikeha's death Laa returned to Tahiti and lived and died there.