KAMEHAMEHA THE GREAT Revised Edition KAMEHAMEHA THE GREAT Revised Edition Julie Stewart Williams Illustrated by Robin Yoko Burningham Kamehameha Schools Press Honolulu KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS First edition copyright © 1992, Revised edition copyright © 1993 by Kamehameha Schools All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Inquiries should be addressed to: Kamehameha Schools Press 1887 Makuak¯ane Street Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Library Sciences— Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992 Printed in Canada ISBN 0-87336-022-2 Cover portrait, “Kamehameha, King of the Sandwich Islands,” a watercolor by Louis Choris, courtesy of Bishop Museum 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 (rev.)76543 Dedication To my dear friend and cousin, Violet-Marie Mahela Awai Rosehill, master teacher of music, Hawaiian culture and history and my partner in the development of instructional materials for children. Table of Contents Preface ..........................................ix Acknowledgments................................xi Introduction ......................................1 Kamehameha, the Child (1758?–1763) Pai‘ea ............................................4 A Secret Beginning ...............................5 Nae‘ole, his Kahu ...............................12 Named Kamehameha ............................15 Kamehameha, the Student (1763–1775) Training for Leadership ..........................18 Games ..........................................20 Kalani‘¯opu‘u, his Uncle ..........................24 Kek¯uhaupi‘o, his Teacher ........................26 K¯onane .........................................32 v Water Sports......................................34 A Warrior in Training .............................38 Kamehameha, the Warrior (1775 –1796) 1775: First Battle ..................................44 The Naha Stone ..................................46 Visits with Captain Cook ..........................48 Custody of the War God ..........................52 The Chiefs of Kona ...............................54 1782: The Battle of Moku‘¯ohai .....................56 A Great Warrior Dies..............................58 The Splintered Paddle.............................58 Ka‘ahumanu, his Favorite Wife ....................60 Young and Davis, his Friends......................62 1790: The Battle of Kepaniwai.....................64 A Heiau for K¯uk¯a‘ilimoku .........................66 Wars with Ke¯oua.................................68 Favored by Pele ..................................69 1791: Chief of his Island ..........................71 vi Vancouver, his Friend .............................74 More Islands......................................75 1795: The Battle of Nu‘uanu.......................76 Ke¯op¯uolani, his Sacred Wife.......................77 Kaua‘i ............................................80 Revolt in Hilo ....................................82 Kamehameha, the Chief (1796 –1819) The Chief Rules...................................84 LawoftheSplinteredPaddle......................86 Gifts for Pele .....................................88 A Year in Lahaina.................................90 1810: All the Islands United .......................91 Return to the Island of Hawai‘i ....................93 Kamakahonu, his Last Home ......................96 The Hawaiian Flag...............................102 Visits by Russian Ships ...........................104 Last Words ......................................109 A Secret Burial ..................................110 vii The Greatest of Chiefs ...........................111 “Kamehameha, King of the Sandwich Islands”.....112 The King Kamehameha Memorial Statue ..........114 Kamehameha: A Name Chant ....................116 Bibliography.....................................119 viii Preface T his book is one of a series originally written by faculty in a Kamehameha reading program. The books were designed to increase students’ reading skills and their knowledge of Hawaiian history and culture by focusing on topics such as the Hawaiian monarchy. Some of these books have been translated from their original English into Hawaiian through the efforts of the staff of the Kamehameha Schools Hawaiian Studies Institute. We are pleased at the reception both the English and the Hawaiian editions have received from educational and general audiences. Michael J. Chun, Ph.D. President Kamehameha Schools ix Acknowledgments I am indebted to those historians whose research provided valuable sources of information. I am very grateful to friends and colleagues whose k¯okua made this book possible. “Mahalo a nui loa” to the late Dr. Donald D. Kilolani Mitchell who generously shared his knowledge on Kamehameha; to Robin Yoko Burningham whose vivid illustrations enhance the young reader’s understanding of the text; to Mahela Rosehill, Paula DeMorales and Nalani Sing who provided their expertise for the first edition of the text written in 1985 for the student booklet Explore the Island of Hawai‘i; to Marsha Bolson and Lesley Agard who reviewed the manuscript for clarity of thought and expression; to Nu‘ulani Atkins who assisted in the preparation of the first edition; and to Russell Kawika Makanani who critiqued this edition for historical and cultural accuracy and shared his knowledge and valuable insights. Mahalo and a fond aloha to the late Keoni DuPont who ensured the proper use of Hawaiian. J.S.W. 1992 xi “Kamehameha in Red Vest,” by Louis Choris (1816) Portrait courtesy of the Honolulu Academy of Arts xii Introduction K amehameha was born in secret and buried in secret. In between he lived a very public life of action, courage, wisdom and justice. He brought together the smaller separate island chiefdoms, uniting them into one great Hawaiian nation. Under his later leadership people lived peaceful and productive lives. Kamehameha the Great was written to tell young readers about the first ruler of all Hawai‘i. It is based upon traditional and historical sources including writings by people who lived at that time and oral histories handed down over the last two centuries. Many questions remain and historical debate continues concerning specific events of Kamehameha’s life. No one now or in the future will ever know all the true details. This version contains selected highlights of commonly accepted accounts portraying events and personal characteristics which helped Kamehameha become known as the greatest of all Hawaiians. 1 ‘Äwini (Site of ‘Upolu Point Kamehameha’s early childhood) Waipi‘o Valley (Kalani‘öpu‘u gives Kokoiki ● Kamehameha custody (Kamehameha’s of war god, birthplace, 1758?) ● Kükä‘ilimoku, 1780) Pu‘ukoholä ● (Kamehameha’s heiau for his war god, Kükä‘ilimoku; ● Keöua is first Hilo offering, 1791) (Kamehameha’s first Kohala capital from 1796 to 1802) Hilo Bay Hilo ● Päpa‘i Kailua (Kamehameha hit Hämäkua ● Kamakahonu ● on head by (Kamehameha’s Kona fisherman; paddle home and capital splintered) from 1812 until his death in 1819) ● Puna Moku‘öhai ● (Site of battle in 1782, Kiwala‘ö killed) Ka‘ü Footprints (Made by members of Keöua’s army killed by explosive ● eruption of Kilauea in 1790) N Ka‘ü W E (Kamehameha is raised by Kalani‘öpu‘u and trained by Kekühaupi‘o Ka Lae S Historic Sites In Kamehameha’s Time Island of Hawai‘i 2 Kamehameha, the Child (1758?–1763) Pai‘ea Thunder and lightning, The cry of a babe Cold wind and rain; Born on this night, A comet shines above A royal son, called Kohala! Pai‘ea! Kohala! Pai‘ea! 4 A Secret Beginning K amehameha was born on a stormy night at Kokoiki in Kohala, on the island of Hawai‘i. Exactly when he was born is not known. It may have been in November, for November is the month of rain, thunder and lightning. A bright star with a long tail appeared during Kamehameha’s birth. That kind of star is a comet. Astronomers know that Halley’s comet was seen in 1758. It is probable that Kamehameha was born in November 1758. 5 Kamehameha’s mother was the young chiefess Keku‘iapoiwa. As soon as Kamehameha was born Keku‘iapoiwa wrapped him in kapa and placed him gently in the arms of Nae‘ole, a chief of Kohala whom she trusted. “Take my child to my cousin Kaha‘¯opulani! Go quickly!” Nae‘ole held the child close to him and ran as fast as he could to a secret place in ‘Awini,¯ Kohala. Kaha‘¯opulani was waiting for him in a cave. When Nae‘ole arrived she took the baby and laid him on a mat. She covered the child with light fibers of olon¯a. Then she picked up her own baby girl and rocked her in her arms. The little boy was sleeping soundly. 6 Chief Nae‘ole ran quickly with the baby 7 Keku‘iapoiwa had planned for the safety of her baby. She knew that her uncle Alapa‘inui did not want her child to live. Alapa‘inui was the ali‘i nui, or ruling chief, of the island of Hawai‘i. A kahuna, or priest, had warned him that the child would grow up to be a mighty ruler and would conquer him. Alapa‘inui did not want that to happen. He ordered his warriors to search for the baby. Before long warriors entered Kaha‘¯opulani’s cave. They looked around for a baby boy. But the only baby they saw was the little girl in Kaha‘¯opulani’s arms. They did not see the baby that was fast asleep under the olon¯a fibers. The warriors hurried away. 8 A kahuna warned