King Kamehameha
Kamehameha the Great established his dynasty in 1810 upon unifying the islands of Hawaiʻi to become the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.
Birth name	Paiʻea
Reign	1810-1819
Successor	Kamehameha II
Predecessor	Established monarchy
Consort	Keopuolani, Kaʻahumanu
Born	circa 1758
Died	1819

Kamehameha I, also known as Kamehameha the Great, (c. 1758 – 1819), conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaiʻi's independence under his rule. Kamehameha is remembered for the Mamalahoe Kanawai, Law of the Splintered Paddle, which protects human rights of non-combatants in times of battle. Kamehameha is a political reference to: Albert Kamehameha House of Kamehameha Kamehameha I Kamehameha II Kamehameha III Kamehameha IV Kamehameha V Kamehameha is an artistic reference to: Kamehameha Statue Kamehameha is a civil reference to: Kamehameha Day, a Hawaiian public holiday Kamehameha Schools, the largest private school in the United... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Kamehameha II, King of Hawaii (1797 - 1824) was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. ... Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract, or through civil process. ... Queen Keopuolani (1778–1823) was a queen consort of Hawaii and the highest ranking wife of King Kamehameha I. She was also the mother of King Kamehameha II and King Kamehameha III. She played an instrumental role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian kapu system. ... Kaahumanu served as Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Hawaii during the terms of Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III. Kaahumanu, formally Elizabeth Kaahumanu, (1768-1832), Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Hawaii. ... Year 1758 (MDCCLVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Battle of Mokuohai, fought in 1782 on the northern part of the island of Hawaii, was a key battle in the early days of Kamehameha Is wars to unify the Hawaiian Islands. ... The Battle of Kepaniwai was fought in 1790 between Hawaii and Maui. ... Combatants Kamehameha I Kalanikupule Kaiana Commanders Kamehameha I Kalanikupule Kaiana Strength 10,000 Casualties 400 The Battle of Nuuanu (Hawaiian: Kaleleakeanae), fought in May 1795 on the northern part of the island of Oahu, was a key battle in the final days of King Kamehameha Is wars... Year 1758 (MDCCLVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Map of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches 2,400 km in a northwesterly direction from the southern tip of the Island of Hawai‘i. ... Motto Ua mau ke ea o ka āina i ka pono Anthem Hawaii Ponoi Kingdom of Hawaii Capital Lahaina (until 1845) Honolulu (from 1845) Language(s) Hawaiian, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1795–1819 Kamehameha I  - 1891–1893 Liliuokalani Provisional Government  - 1893-1894 Committee of Safety History  - Inception 1795  - Unification... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Mamalahoe, or law of the splintered paddle, is a precept in Hawaiian law, originating with King Kamehameha I. The law, Let every elderly person, woman and child lie by the roadside in safety, is enshrined in the state constitution, Article 9, Section 10, and has become a model for modern... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Non-combatant is a military and legal term describing civilians not engaged in combat. ...

Legendary birth

Although there is some debate as to the precise year of his birth, Hawaiian legends claimed that a great king would one day unite the islands, and that the sign of his birth would be a comet. Halley's comet was visible from Hawaiʻi in 1758, and it is therefore assumed that Kamehameha was born shortly after its appearance. Comet Hale-Bopp Comet West For other uses, see Comet (disambiguation). ... Comet Halley, officially designated 1P/Halley, more generally known as Halleys Comet after Edmond Halley, is a comet that can be seen every 75-76 years. ... Year 1758 (MDCCLVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Kamehameha's birth name was Paiʻea. He was born to Keoua and Kekuʻiapoiwa, aliʻi of Kohala on the island of Hawaiʻi. His father, Keoua, was the grandson of Keaweikekahialiʻiokamoku, who had once ruled a large portion of the island of Hawaiʻi. When Keaweikekahialiʻiokamoku died, war broke out over succession between his sons, Keʻeaumoku and Kalaninuiʻamamao, and a rival chief, Alapaʻinuiakauaua. Alapaʻi emerged victorious over the two brothers, and their orphan sons (including Kamehameha's father) were absorbed into his clan. AliÊ»i refers to the chiefly or noble rank in Hawaiian society. ... Kohala is the name of a district on the northwest portion of the island of Hawaii in the state of Hawaii. ... The Island of HawaiÊ»i (called the Big Island or HawaiÊ»i proper) is one of eight main islands that make up the U.S. state of HawaiÊ»i. ...

When Kamehameha (Paiʻea) was born, Alapaʻi ordered the child killed. One of his kahuna had warned him that a fiery light in the sky would signal the birth of a "killer of chiefs", or aliʻi. Alapaʻi, nervous at the thought of this child eventually usurping his rule, decided to take no chances. Paiʻea's parents, however, had anticipated this. As soon as he was born, he was given into the care of Naeʻole, another aliʻi, and disappeared from sight. Naeʻole raised Paiʻea for the first few years of his life. Five years after his birth, Alapaʻi, perhaps remorseful of his actions, invited the child back to live with his family. There under the guidance of his kahu (teacher), Kekuhaupiʻo, he learned the ways of court diplomacy and war. Kekuhaupiʻo remained a faithful and trusted advisor to Paiʻea until the accidental death of the loyal kahu during a sham battle. Kahuna is a Hawaiian word, defined in the Pukui & Elbert Dictionary as Priest, sorcerer, magician, wizard, minister, expert in any profession. ...

Paiʻea is said to have had a dour disposition, and acquired the name he is best known for today: Kamehameha, from the Hawaiian language term for "the lonely one". The Hawaiian language is an Austronesian language that takes its name from that of the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. ...

Unification of Hawaiʻi

When Alapaʻi died, his position was succeeded by his son Keaweaʻopala. Kalaniʻopuʻu, Alapaʻi's great-nephew, challenged his rule, and was backed by his nephew Kamehameha. In fierce fighting at Kealakekua Bay, Keaweaʻopala was slain and Kalaniʻopuʻu claimed victory. For his loyal service to his uncle, Kamehameha was made Kalaniʻopuʻu's aide.

In 1779, Kamehameha again traveled with Kalaniʻopuʻu to Kealakekua Bay. This time he, among other young chiefs accompanying their senior chief, met with Captain Cook. Cook was perhaps mistaken by some Native Hawaiians to be Lono, the Hawaiian god of fertility. Cook's ship was the HMS Discovery; Kamehameha may have stayed on board at least one night. It was Kamehameha's first dealings with white men. In Polynesian mythology (specifically: Hawaii), Lono (or Lono-i-ka-makahiki) is a fertility and music god who descended to Earth on a rainbow to marry Laka. ... HMS Discovery was the consort ship of James Cooks third expedition to the Pacific Ocean in 1776 - 1780. ...

Raised in the royal court of his uncle, Kamehameha achieved prominence in 1782, upon Kalaniʻopuʻu's death. While the kingship was inherited by Kalaniʻopuʻu's son Kiwalaʻo, Kamehameha was given a prominent religious position, guardianship of the Hawaiian god of war, Kukaʻilimoku, as well as the district of Waipiʻo. Nevertheless, there was already bad blood between the two cousins, caused when Kamehameha presented a slain aliʻi's body to the gods instead of Kiwalaʻo. When a group of chiefs from the Kona district offered Kamehameha the kingship instead of Kiwalaʻo, he accepted eagerly. Kiwalaʻo was soon defeated in the battle of Mokuʻohai, and Kamehameha took control of the districts of Kohala, Kona, and Hamakua on Hawaiʻi.

Kamehameha then moved against the district of Puna in 1790 deposing its chief Keawemaʻuhili. Keoua, exiled to his home of Kaʻū, took advantage of Kamehameha's absence and led an uprising. When Kamehameha returned with his army to put down the rebellion, Keoua fled past the volcano, which erupted and killed nearly a third of his warriors from poisonous gas.

Questioning a kahuna on how best to go about securing the rest of the island, Kamehameha resolved to construct a heiau to Kukaʻilimoku, as well as lay an aliʻi's body on it. Kahuna is a Hawaiian word, defined in the Pukui & Elbert Dictionary as Priest, sorcerer, magician, wizard, minister, expert in any profession. ... A Hawaiian temple comprised of a stone platform with various structures built upon it. ...

When the temple was completed the following year, Kamehameha invited Keoua to meet with him. Keoua was no fool but may have been sorely dispirited by his recent losses. He may have mutilated himself before landing so as to make himself an imperfect sacrificial victim. As he stepped on shore, one of Kamehameha's chiefs threw a spear at him. By some accounts he dodged it, but was then cut down by musket fire. Caught by surprise, Keoua's bodyguards were killed. With Keoua dead, and his supporters captured or slain, Kamehameha became aliʻi nui of all Hawaiʻi.

Kamehameha's ambition

Kamehameha's dreams included far more than the island of Hawaiʻi; with the council of his favorite wife Kaʻahumanu, who became one of Hawaiʻi's most powerful figures, he set about planning to conquer the rest of the Hawaiian Islands. Help came from British and American traders, who sold guns and ammunition to Kamehameha. Two westerners who were resident on Hawaiʻi, Isaac Davis and John Young, trained Kamehameha's troops in the use of firearms. Ka‘ahumanu served as Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i during the terms of Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III. Ka‘ahumanu, formally Elizabeth Ka‘ahumanu, (1768-1832), Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. ... John Young was the Royal Advisor to Kamehameha I in the Kingdom of Hawaii. ...

With his new weapons, Kamehameha felt confident enough to move on the neighboring islands of Maui and Oʻahu, already weakened by a war of succession that had broken out between King Kahekili's sons. Kamehameha may or may not have known that his rival, Kalanikupule, also possessed firearms, and was planning a move against him when the aliʻi nui of Hawaiʻi invaded the western islands. For other uses, see Maui (disambiguation). ... OÊ»ahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English), the Gathering Place, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous island in the State of HawaiÊ»i. ...

In 1795, Kamehameha set sail with an armada of 1,200 war canoes and 10,000 soldiers - an incredible number for an island chain whose population had never exceeded 300,000. He quickly secured the lightly defended islands of Maui and Molokaʻi, and moved on the island of Oʻahu, landing his troops at Waiʻalae and Waikīkī. What Kamehameha did not know was that one of his commanders, a high-ranking aliʻi named Kaʻiana, had defected to Kalanikupule. Kaʻiana assisted in the cutting of notches into the Nuʻuanu Pali mountain ridge; these notches, like those on a castle turret, would serve as gunports for Kalanikupule's cannon. 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... WaikÄ«kÄ« seen from the top of Diamond Head or LÄ“ahi. ... Looking towards the Koolau Range from the Nuanu Pali overlook. ... For other uses, see Castle (disambiguation). ...

In a series of skirmishes, Kamehameha's forces were able to push back Kalanikupule's until he was cornered on the Pali Lookout. While Kamehameha moved on the Pali, his troops took heavy fire from the cannon. In desperation, he assigned two divisions of his best warriors to climb to the Pali to attack the cannons from behind; they surprised Kalanikupule's gunners and took control of the weapons. With the loss of their guns, Kalanikupule's troops fell into disarray and were cornered by Kamehameha's still organized troops. A fierce battle ensued, with Kamehameha's forces forming an enclosing wall and by using their traditional Hawaiʻian spears, muskets and cannon, were able to kill Kalanikupule's forces to the man. Over 400 men were forced off the Pali's cliff, a drop of 1,000 feet. Kaʻiana was killed during the action; Kalanikupule was captured some time later and sacrificed to Kukaʻilimoku. Looking towards the KoÊ»olau Range from the NuÊ»anu Pali overlook. ...

Kamehameha was now aliʻi nui of all of Hawaiʻi east of Oʻahu, but the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau continued to elude him. When he attempted to invade the islands in 1796, his governor on Hawaiʻi, Namakeha, led a rebellion against his rule, and Kamehameha was forced to return. In 1803 he tried again, but this time, disease broke out among his warriors; Kamehameha himself fell ill, though he later recovered. During this time, Kamehameha was amassing the largest armada Hawaiʻi had ever seen - foreign-built schooners and massive war canoes, armed with cannon and carrying his vast army. Kaumualiʻi, aliʻi nui of Kauaʻi, watched as Kamehameha built up his invading force and decided he would have a better chance in negotiation than battle. He may also have been influenced by foreign merchants, who saw the continuing feud between Kamehameha and Kaumualiʻi as bad for the sandalwood trade. Kauai from space (NASA image) Kaua‘i (usually called Kauai outside the Hawaiian Islands) is the oldest and fourth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands. ... Ni‘ihau, at 70 sq. ... Year 1796 (MDCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Ka‘ahumanu served as Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i during the terms of Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III. Ka‘ahumanu, formally Elizabeth Ka‘ahumanu, (1768-1832), Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. ... The branches of a young sandalwood tree found in Hawaii Sandalwood is the fragrant wood of trees in the genus Santalum. ...

In 1810, Kaumualiʻi became a vassal of Kamehameha, who therefore emerged as the sole sovereign of the island chain of Hawaiʻi. 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Look up vassal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

First King of Hawaiʻi

"E naʻi wale no ʻoukou, i ke kupono aʻole au" which roughly translated is, "Prevail/continue my just deeds, they are not yet finished" -final words for his people

As king, Kamehameha took several steps to ensure that the islands remained a united realm even after his death. He unified the legal system and he used the products he collected in taxes to promote trade with Europe and the United States. Kamehameha did not allow non-Hawaiians to own land; they would not be able to until the Great Mahele of 1848. This edict ensured the islands' independence even while many of the other islands of the Pacific succumbed to the colonial powers. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2040x2808, 7259 KB) [edit] Licensing Unkwown artist. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2040x2808, 7259 KB) [edit] Licensing Unkwown artist. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Insert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text hereThe Great Mahele (lit. ... Year 1848 (MDCCCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... “Pacific” redirects here. ...

In fact, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi that Kamehameha established retained its independence, except for a five-month British occupation in 1843, until it was annexed by the United States in 1898. It was this legacy that earned Kamehameha the epithet "Napoleon of the Pacific." Motto Ua mau ke ea o ka āina i ka pono Anthem Hawaii Ponoi Kingdom of Hawaii Capital Lahaina (until 1845) Honolulu (from 1845) Language(s) Hawaiian, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1795–1819 Kamehameha I  - 1891–1893 Liliuokalani Provisional Government  - 1893-1894 Committee of Safety History  - Inception 1795  - Unification... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ...

Kamehameha also instituted the Mamalahoe Kanawai, the Law of the Splintered Paddle. Its origins derived from before the unification of the Island of Hawaiʻi, in 1782, when Kamehameha, during a raid, caught his foot in a rock. Two local fisherman, fearful of the great warrior, hit Kamehameha hard on the head with a large paddle, which actually broke the paddle. Kamehameha was stunned and left for dead, allowing the fisherman and his companion to escape. Twelve years later, the same fisherman was brought before Kamehameha for punishment. King Kamehameha instead blamed himself for attacking innocent people, gave the fisherman gifts of land and set them free. He declared the new law, "Let every elderly person, woman and child lie by the roadside in safety". This law, which provided for the safety of noncombatants in wartime, is estimated to have saved thousands of lives during Kamehameha's campaigns. It became the first written law of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, and remains in the state constitution to this day. The Island of HawaiÊ»i (called the Big Island or HawaiÊ»i proper) is one of eight main islands that make up the U.S. state of HawaiÊ»i. ... 1782 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Although he ended human sacrifice, Kamehameha was to the last a follower of the Hawaiian religion and Hawaiian traditions (such as Lua). He believed so strongly in his religion and culture that he would execute his subjects for breaches of the kapu. Although he entertained Christians, he did not appear to take them seriously. Hawaiian religion is a form of Polynesian mythology originally followed by the inhabitants of the islands of Hawaii. ... Lua is a recovering martial art from Hawaii. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ...

When Kamehameha died in 1819, his body was hidden by his trusted friend, Hoapili. To this day his final resting place remains a mystery. A statue of Kamehameha represents Hawaiʻi in National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... National Statuary Hall The National Statuary Hall is an area in the United States Capitol devoted to statues of people and symbols important in American history. ... The United States Capitol is the capitol building that serves as the location for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. ...

Honors

The statue of King Kamehameha I at Kapaau, Hawaiʻi is decorated with floral leis annually on Kamehameha Day.

• In 1871, Kamehameha V decreed a holiday, Kamehameha Day, in his honor. This holiday is still celebrated annually on June 11. In addition, a statue was erected in his honor at Aliʻiōlani Hale, the center of Hawaiʻi's judicial system. Four nearly identical statues also exist in Honolulu, Kapaau, Hilo and the United States Capitol. The first of these (located in Kapaau) was the first cast. The ship on which it was being shipped from Europe sank off the Falkland Islands. Kamehameha V then ordered a second cast which is erected in Honolulu. Shortly thereafter the original was salvaged, repaired and erected in Kapaau. The statues vary slightly from each other in details such as having different weaponry, gilding or painting.

Hawaiʻi will feature Kamehameha on the state quarter in 2008. A C-17 Globemaster III, P-153, is named the "Spirit of Kamehameha", while a Benjamin Franklin class submarine, launched in 1965 and decommissioned in 2002, was christened the USS Kamehameha. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2736 × 3648 pixel, file size: 4. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2736 × 3648 pixel, file size: 4. ... Kamehameha V was the last monarch of the House of Kamehameha. ... Kamehameha Day on June 11 is a public holiday of the state of Hawaii in the United States. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... AliÊ»iōlani Hale is today the home of the HawaiÊ»i State Supreme Court and the statue of Kamehameha the Great. ... The United States Capitol is the capitol building that serves as the location for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. ... The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) C-17 Globemaster III is an American strategic airlifter manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and operated by the United States Air Force, the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Canadian Forces. ... The Benjamin Franklin class of submarine was an evolutionary development from the James Madison class of fleet ballistic missile submarine. ... USS Kamehameha (SSBN/SSN-642), a Benjamin Franklin-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Kamehameha I of Hawaii. ...

References

External links

• Kamehameha Schools Biography of Kamehameha
• American National Biography of Kamehameha
• GoHawaii biography of Kamehameha
• The Story of Kamehameha
• Thematic Essay on the Law of the Splintered Paddle