Kapiolani

Family: the Hawaiian chiefs · Role: high chiefess · First appears: Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1

As a little child, Kapiolani was carried back to Hilo after being in danger of death at a battle. She was the daughter of Keawe-mau-hili, high chief of Hilo, and became the wife of Na-ihe, high chief of Kona. Kamehameha chose them both for his council of chiefs.

In 1822, Kapiolani and Na-ihe welcomed missionary instruction and accepted Christianity as far as they understood it. She rejected Pele and the other deities formerly worshipped in Hawaii, and decided to challenge Pele’s worship, though Na-ihe urged her not to go. At the volcano, a priestess of Pele of the highest rank forbade her to approach, threatening death at Pele’s hands. Kapiolani read from her books, silencing the priestess, then passed her and went to the crater, where she met Mr. Goodrich.

When a man warned her, Kapiolani replied, “I shall not die by your god. That fire was kindled by my God.” She prayed, ate berries consecrated to Pele, and threw stones into the volcano. At the chiefess’s request, Alapai, one of her attendants, led the party in prayer.

Relationship record

Life events

• Kapiolani was carried back to Hilo after being in danger of death at the battle.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1 · 📍 Hilo)
  • “She was in danger of death, but some men carried her over the mountains through a multitude of difficulties back to Hilo.”
• Kapiolani was Na-ihe’s wife.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1)
  • With: Na-ihe
  • “She was the wife of Na-ihe, who was the high chief of the district of Kona on the western side of the island Hawaii.”
• Kamehameha chose Kapiolani and Na-ihe as members of his council of chiefs.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1)
  • With: Na-ihe Kamehameha
  • “They were both so influential that they were chosen by the great Kamehameha as members of his council of chiefs”
• Kapiolani rejected Pele and the other deities formerly worshipped in Hawaii.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1 · 📍 Hawaii)
  • With: Pele
  • “Therefore she had rejected the fire-goddess with all the other deities formerly worshipped in Hawaii.”
• Kapiolani decided to attack the worship of Pele.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1)
  • With: Pele
  • “she decided that she would attack the idolatry which, of all idol worship, was the most firmly entrenched in the hearts of her people”
• Na-ihe urged Kapiolani not to go ahead with her plan.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1)
  • With: Na-ihe
  • “Na-ihe, still strongly under the influence of superstition, urged her not to go.”
• The priestess forbade Kapiolani to approach the volcano, threatening death at Pele’s hands.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 2 · 📍 volcano)
  • With: the priestess of Pele of the highest rank Pele
  • “She forbade her to approach any nearer to the volcano on pain of death at the hands of the furious goddess Pele.”
• Kapiolani read from her books, silencing the priestess.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 2)
  • With: the priestess of Pele of the highest rank
  • “Then she read clearly the Biblical sentences printed in the spelling-book and some of the hymns. The priestess was silenced.”
• Kapiolani passed the priestess and went on to the crater.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 2 · 📍 crater)
  • “Kapiolani passed the priestess, went on to the crater, met Mr. Goodrich, and was much affected by the effort he had made to aid her in her attempt to break down the worship of Pele.”
• Kapiolani prayed, ate berries consecrated to Pele, and threw stones into the volcano.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 3)
  • “Kapiolani answered, ‘I shall not die by your god. That fire was kindled by my God.’ The man was silent and she went onward, descending several hundred feet, and there joined in a prayer to Jehovah. She also ate the berries consecrated to Pele, and threw stones into the volcano.”
• 1822 · Kapiolani and Na-ihe welcomed missionary instruction and accepted Christianity as far as they understood it.(Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1)
  • With: Na-ihe
  • “Na-ihe and Kapiolani were among the first chiefs to welcome instruction and accept Christianity as far as they could understand it.”

Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 1

• parent: Keawe-mau-hili “Kapiolani was the daughter of Keawe-mau-hili, who was the high chief of the district of Hilo.”
• married with Na-ihe “Even Na-ihe, her husband, had not been able to free himself from superstitious fears.”
• enemies with Pele “All this prepared the way for Kapiolani to attempt to break down the worship of the fire-goddess.”

Chapter XX · Kapiolani and Pele · Part 3

• servant: Alapai “at the instance of the chiefess, Alapai, one of Kapiolani’s attendants, led them in prayer.”

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Extracted from the original text of Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes. Made with Rho MD.