Kamehameha the Great: Unification of the Hawaiian Islands
A Note from the Author: This article was written by someone learning about Hawaiian history with deep respect for the culture. While I've done my best to provide accurate information based on historical research and scholarship, please use this as a starting point for your own learning journey. For more nuanced and in-depth understanding, I encourage you to seek out books and resources authored by Native Hawaiian historians and cultural practitioners. Mahalo for your understanding!
Kamehameha I, known as Kamehameha the Great, is one of the most significant figures in Hawaiian history. Born into a time of warfare and political upheaval, he rose from a young warrior to become the first ruler to unite all the Hawaiian Islands under one kingdom, forever changing the course of Hawaiian history.
Birth and Prophecy
Kamehameha was born around 1758 in the Kohala district of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. His birth was surrounded by legend and prophecy. According to tradition, a bright star (possibly Halley's Comet) appeared in the sky, and kahuna (priests) prophesied that this child would become a "killer of chiefs" and a great unifier.
Fearing this prophecy, rival chiefs sought to kill the infant. Kamehameha's mother, Kekuʻiapoiwa, gave birth in secret, and the baby was hidden and raised in the remote valleys of Kohala. His birth name was Paiʻea, meaning "hard-shelled crab," but he would later take the name Kamehameha, meaning "The Lonely One" or "The One Set Apart."
Early Life and Training
Kamehameha was raised by his uncle, High Chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu, who ruled the island of Hawaiʻi. As a young man, Kamehameha was trained in:
- Warfare: Combat skills, strategy, and leadership
- Governance: The responsibilities and protocols of aliʻi
- Religion: Proper relationship with the gods and kapu
- Genealogy: His sacred lineage and mana
- Diplomacy: Negotiation and alliance-building
He grew into a powerful warrior, standing over 6 feet tall (unusual for the time) with exceptional strength and fighting ability.
The Naha Stone
One famous legend tells of Kamehameha overturning the Naha Stone, a massive boulder weighing several tons. Prophecy said that whoever could move this stone would unite the islands. As a young man, Kamehameha reportedly overturned it, fulfilling the prophecy and demonstrating his extraordinary mana and strength.
Rise to Power
When Kalaniʻōpuʻu died in 1782, he divided his power between his son Kīwalaʻō (who inherited the land) and Kamehameha (who became guardian of the war god Kūkaʻilimoku). This division led to conflict.
In the Battle of Mokuʻōhai (1782), Kamehameha defeated and killed Kīwalaʻō, gaining control of part of the Big Island. However, it would take years of warfare to control the entire island.
Western Contact and Technology
In 1778, Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaiʻi, bringing the first sustained Western contact. Kamehameha quickly recognized the value of Western technology, particularly:
- Firearms: Muskets and cannons that changed warfare
- Ships: Western vessels for transporting troops
- Metal tools: Superior to traditional stone implements
- Advisors: Foreign sailors and traders who provided expertise
Kamehameha employed foreign advisors, including John Young and Isaac Davis, who became trusted counselors and helped him acquire and use Western weapons.
The Battle of Kepaniwai (1790)
One of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history occurred in ʻĪao Valley on Maui. Kamehameha's forces, equipped with cannons, fought the Maui army led by Kalanikūpule. The battle was so fierce that bodies clogged the stream, giving it the name Kepaniwai ("the damming of the waters").
Though Kamehameha won this battle, he had to return to the Big Island to deal with a rival chief, Keōua Kuahuʻula, allowing Maui to remain independent for the time being.
The Puʻukoholā Heiau
On the advice of his kahuna, Kapoukahi, Kamehameha built the massive Puʻukoholā Heiau (temple) in Kawaihae to honor his war god Kūkaʻilimoku. The prophecy stated that if he built this temple, he would conquer all the islands.
In 1791, when the temple was completed, Kamehameha invited his rival Keōua to the dedication ceremony. When Keōua arrived, he was killed (accounts vary on whether this was planned or spontaneous), and his body was offered as the first sacrifice at the temple. With Keōua's death, Kamehameha gained control of the entire Big Island.
Conquest of Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi (1795)
In 1795, Kamehameha launched his campaign to conquer the remaining islands. His forces, now well-equipped with Western weapons and ships, invaded Maui, quickly overwhelming the defenders. Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi fell soon after.
The Battle of Nuʻuanu (1795)
The decisive battle for Oʻahu took place in Nuʻuanu Valley. Kamehameha's forces, numbering around 10,000 warriors with cannons and muskets, faced the Oʻahu army led by Kalanikūpule.
The battle was fierce, with fighting moving from the coast up into the valley. Kamehameha's superior weapons and tactics eventually overwhelmed the defenders. Many Oʻahu warriors were driven up the valley to the Nuʻuanu Pali (cliff), where hundreds fell or jumped to their deaths rather than surrender.
With this victory, Kamehameha controlled all the major islands except Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.
Kauaʻi: Diplomacy Over Warfare
Kamehameha attempted to invade Kauaʻi twice, but both times his fleet was turned back by storms. Rather than continue costly military campaigns, he eventually negotiated with Kauaʻi's ruler, Kaumualiʻi.
In 1810, Kaumualiʻi agreed to cede Kauaʻi and Niʻihau to Kamehameha, recognizing him as sovereign while retaining local control. This diplomatic solution completed the unification of the Hawaiian Islands without further bloodshed.
The Law of the Splintered Paddle
One of Kamehameha's most important legacies is the Kānāwai Māmalahoe (Law of the Splintered Paddle), which protected civilians during wartime.
The law originated from an incident years earlier when Kamehameha attacked some fishermen, and one broke a paddle over his head. Later, feeling remorse, Kamehameha decreed:
"Let every elderly person, woman, and child lie by the roadside in safety."
This law, which protected non-combatants and guaranteed safe passage, was revolutionary for its time and is still honored in Hawaiian law today.
Governance of the United Kingdom
As ruler of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom, Kamehameha proved to be not just a great warrior but also a skilled administrator:
- Maintained traditional systems: Kept the ahupuaʻa land divisions and aliʻi hierarchy
- Controlled trade: Established a royal monopoly on sandalwood trade, enriching the kingdom
- Balanced foreign relations: Maintained independence while trading with Western powers
- Preserved culture: Upheld traditional kapu and religious practices
- Built infrastructure: Constructed fishponds, temples, and agricultural systems
- Promoted peace: After unification, focused on prosperity rather than conquest
Kaʻahumanu: The Sacred Wife
Among Kamehameha's many wives, Kaʻahumanu was the most influential. A high-ranking aliʻi in her own right, she was intelligent, strong-willed, and politically savvy. Though she bore no children with Kamehameha, she would become one of the most powerful figures in Hawaiian history after his death.
Death and Legacy
Kamehameha I died on May 8, 1819, in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. Following ancient tradition, his bones were hidden in a secret location (believed to be somewhere on the Kona coast) to preserve his mana. To this day, the exact location remains unknown.
According to tradition, his last words were instructions to his chiefs to care for the land and the people.
Kamehameha's Achievements
Kamehameha's unification of the Hawaiian Islands was remarkable for several reasons:
- Created political unity: Ended centuries of inter-island warfare
- Preserved independence: Established a strong kingdom that could negotiate with foreign powers
- Balanced tradition and change: Adopted useful Western technology while maintaining Hawaiian culture
- Established dynasty: Created a royal line that would rule until 1893
- Protected the people: The Law of the Splintered Paddle showed concern for civilian welfare
- Economic development: Controlled trade to benefit the kingdom
The Kamehameha Dynasty
Kamehameha's unification established a dynasty that would rule Hawaiʻi for nearly a century:
- Kamehameha II (Liholiho): Abolished the kapu system in 1819
- Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli): Longest-ruling monarch, established constitutional government
- Kamehameha IV (Alexander Liholiho): Promoted Hawaiian culture and established Queen's Hospital
- Kamehameha V (Lot Kapuāiwa): Strengthened the monarchy and promoted Hawaiian traditions
After Kamehameha V died without an heir in 1872, the kingdom continued under elected monarchs until the overthrow in 1893.
Kamehameha Day
Every June 11th, Hawaiʻi celebrates Kamehameha Day, a state holiday honoring the great king. Celebrations include:
- Lei draping ceremonies on Kamehameha statues
- Parades featuring pāʻū riders (women on horseback in traditional dress)
- Cultural performances and hula
- Community celebrations across the islands
The most famous Kamehameha statue stands in front of Aliʻiōlani Hale in Honolulu, draped with dozens of lei on Kamehameha Day.
Lessons from Kamehameha
Kamehameha's life offers valuable lessons:
- Vision: He saw the possibility of a united kingdom when others saw only separate islands
- Adaptability: He embraced useful foreign technology while preserving Hawaiian culture
- Strategy: He knew when to fight and when to negotiate
- Leadership: He inspired loyalty through strength, wisdom, and care for his people
- Legacy: He built something that lasted beyond his lifetime
Kamehameha in Modern Hawaiʻi
Today, Kamehameha remains a powerful symbol of Hawaiian strength, unity, and sovereignty. His legacy is invoked in:
- The Hawaiian sovereignty movement
- Cultural revival efforts
- Educational institutions (Kamehameha Schools)
- Hawaiian pride and identity
He represents a time when Hawaiʻi was independent and powerful, a reminder of what Hawaiian leadership and governance looked like before colonization.
E ola mau ka inoa o Kamehameha. (Long live the name of Kamehameha.)
This is part 4 of our Hawaiian History Series.
Read Part 1: Ancient Hawaiʻi - The Polynesian Voyagers
Read Part 2: The Ahupuaʻa System
Read Part 3: The Aliʻi - Hawaiian Royalty and Governance
Stay tuned for Part 5: The Hawaiian Kingdom - Monarchy and Sovereignty