Kamehameha

Also known as: King Kamehameha · Family: the Hawaiian chiefs · Role: king of the island Hawaii · First appears: Chapter XVIII · The Annihilation of Keoua’s Army

When Ka-lani-opuu died in 1782, he left the kingdom of Hawaii to his son Kiwalao and gave second place to his nephew, Kamehameha. War broke out between the cousins, and Kamehameha defeated and killed the young king. The high chief of Hilo then accepted Kamehameha as king and sent his sons to help him conquer Maui. At Waimea, Kamehameha defeated Keoua and drove him through the forests to Hilo, then set his people to building a great temple chiefly for his war-god Ka-ili. The people said Pele had taken him under her protection and would watch over his interests as chief ruler.

In 1801, Pele’s river of fire destroyed Kamehameha’s breadfruit grove at Hue-hue and went toward his fish-ponds at Kiholo and Ka-ele-hulu-hulu. He sent for the prophet Ka-maka-o-ke-akua and asked how to quiet Pele’s anger. The prophet said the high chief of the troubled land must take his own offering to the fire. Kamehameha and the prophet placed offerings and sacrifices in the lava and prayed, but the fire continued to burn. Kamehameha then cut hair from his head and cast it into the fire; soon afterward, the fire went out.

Kamehameha chose Kapiolani and Na-ihe as members of his council of chiefs. His son Liholiho, also known as Kamehameha II, retained them.