Kamehameha I

Early Life and Rise to Power

Kamehameha I, also called Kamehameha the Great, was the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was born around 1736 and ruled until he died in 1819. He brought all the Hawaiian Islands together under one leader, making a strong and united kingdom. His leadership shaped the future of Hawaii.

Legacy

The people of Hawaii honored Kamehameha I by giving a statue of him to the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C.. The statue reminds us of his important place in Hawaiian history. Kamehameha I is remembered as a clever and powerful leader who changed Hawaii forever.

Birth and childhood

Kamehameha, called Paiʻea at birth, was the son of Kekuʻiapoiwa II and Keōua. His mother was related to Alapainui, a ruler of Hawaii Island. Some stories say he was also adopted by another leader, Kahekili II, but most agree that Keōua was his true father.

Different stories give different years for Kamehameha’s birth. As a young boy, Kamehameha was raised by his uncle, Kalaniʻōpuʻu, after his father passed away. He grew up learning about leadership.

Conquest of the islands

Kamehameha grew up in the royal court of his uncle Kalaniʻōpuʻu. In 1782, after his uncle died, Kamehameha became an important religious leader and gained control of the Waipiʻo Valley district. His relationship with his cousin Kīwalaʻō was difficult, but Kamehameha gained support from several chiefs.

Kamehameha had many allies, including his powerful wife Kaʻahumanu and his father. He also received help from British and American traders who provided guns and ammunition. Two men named Isaac Davis and John Young, who had settled in Hawaii, helped him as well.

Olowalu Massacre

Main article: Olowalu Massacre

In 1789, a ship captain named Simon Metcalfe became angry after a disagreement with a Hawaiian chief. Later, when some Hawaiians took a small boat from his ship, Metcalfe attacked the village of Olowalu. He used cannons, and many people were hurt.

Invasion of Maui

In 1790, Kamehameha's army, helped by John Young and Isaac Davis, invaded Maui and won a battle there. Later, another leader tried to take back Maui but was defeated.

Death of Keōua Kuahuula

In 1790, a leader named Keōua Kuahuula attacked parts of Hawaii while Kamehameha was away. When Kamehameha returned, Keōua fled to Kīlauea volcano. Sadly, Keōua was later killed by one of Kamehameha's chiefs.

Maui and Oʻahu

In 1794, after the death of an older leader, a struggle for power began. Kamehameha saw his chance and in 1795, he led a large group to invade Maui and Oʻahu. After some battles, Kamehameha's forces won, and the leader of Oʻahu was captured.

Kauaʻi and rebellion of Nāmakehā

After taking Oʻahu, Kamehameha planned to invade Kauaʻi but faced difficulties. He returned to deal with a rebellion in Hawaii and prepared for another invasion. In 1810, he successfully negotiated a peaceful agreement with the leader of Kauaʻi, making him a tributary king instead of taking over completely.

Aliʻi Moʻi of the Hawaiian Islands

As ruler, Kamehameha made sure the islands stayed together. He made one set of laws for everyone and used taxes to help trade with Europe and the United States.

There is a story about Kamehameha and a paddle. One day, Kamehameha got stuck on a rock. Two fishermen hit him with a paddle and thought he was dead. Years later, when they were brought to face punishment, Kamehameha forgave them. He gave them land and set them free, and made a new law to keep people safe.

Kamehameha had wise advisors and used new weapons in battles. He was also a religious leader and cared for his gods. An explorer named George Vancouver visited and saw how Kamehameha honored his beliefs. Though Kamehameha was interested in Christianity, he felt his own gods gave him strength to lead. Because of this, Vancouver decided not to send Christian missionaries right away. Later, in 1820, the first group of Christian missionaries arrived in Hawaii from Boston.

Later life

After about 1812, Kamehameha returned from Oahu and spent his last years at Kamakahonu, a place he built in Kailua-Kona. Like many leaders of his time, he had several wives and many children, but he lived longer than many of them.

Final resting place

When Kamehameha died in May 1819, his friends Hoapili and Hoʻolulu hid his body following an old custom called hūnākele, meaning "to hide in secret." They believed a person's power, or mana, was very special. Because of this belief, they buried him in a secret place, and today we still do not know where he is buried. Once, Kamehameha III wanted to see where his father's bones were buried, but Hoapili sensed they were being followed and turned back without showing the place.

Family

Main article: House of Kamehameha

Kamehameha had many wives, but we do not know the exact number because some records were lost. He had 35 children—17 sons and 18 daughters. Only the children from his most important wife, Keōpūolani, continued to rule after him. Keōpūolani helped make changes to old traditions so Kamehameha's family could lead the kingdom.

Legacy

The Hawaiian public holiday King Kamehameha I Day is named after and honors King Kamehameha I. It was first proclaimed in 1871 by his grandson, King Kamehameha V. Also, a submarine called the USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642) was named after him.

In popular culture

In the anime/manga series Dragon Ball, the main character Goku uses a special move named after the Hawaiian King. The creator, Akira Toriyama, shared that he chose the name as a fun idea. The Apple TV series Chief of War shows how Kamehameha I brought the Hawaiian Islands together. Kaina Makua plays him in the series.