Kalaniōpuu-a-Kaiamamao (c. 1729 – April 1782) was the
aliʻi nui (supreme monarch) of the
island of Hawaiʻi. He was called ''Terreeoboo, King of Owhyhee'' by James Cook and other Europeans. His name has also been written as Kaleiopuu.
Biography
Kalaniʻōpuʻu was the son of
Kalaninuiamamao (k) and his wife
Kamākaʻimoku (w), a high ranking aliʻi wahine (female of hereditary nobility) who was also the mother of
Keōua (k) with another husband named
Kalanikeʻeaumoku
Kalanikeʻeaumoku was an aliʻi (noble) of Hawaii (island) of the Kona district and part of Kohala district and grandfather of Kamehameha I.
Family
His mother was Kalanikauleleiaiwi and his father was Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku. He would ' ...
(k). This made her the grandmother of
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiikui Kamehameha o Iolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; – May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Th ...
.
During his reign,
Alapainui had kept the two young princes, Kalaniʻōpuʻu and Keōua, close to him out of either kindness or politics.
Kalaniōpuu-a-Kaiamamao was the king of the island during the times
Captain James Cook came to Hawaiʻi and went aboard his ship on November 26, 1778. After Cook anchored at
Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is located on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii about south of Kailua-Kona.
Settled over a thousand years ago, the surrounding area contains many archeological and historical sites such as religious temples (heiaus) and al ...
in January 1779, Kalaniōpuu-a-Kaiamamao paid a ceremonial visit on January 26, 1779 and exchanged gifts including a
ʻahuʻula (feathered cloak) and
mahiole (ceremonial helmet),
since it was during the
Makahiki
The Makahiki season is the ancient Hawaiian New Year festival, in honor of the god Lono of the Hawaiian religion.
It is a holiday covering four consecutive lunar months, approximately from October or November through February or March. The foc ...
season. Cook's ships returned on February 11 to repair storm damage. This time relations were not as good, resulting in a violent struggle when Cook tried to take Kalaniʻōpuʻu hostage after the theft of a longboat, which led to
Cook's death.
Kalaniōpuu-a-Kaiamamao died at Kāʻilikiʻi, Waioʻahukini,
Kaʻū, in April 1782. He was succeeded by his son,
Kīwalaʻō, as king of Hawaii island; and his nephew,
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiikui Kamehameha o Iolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; – May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Th ...
, who was given guardianship of
Kū-ka-ili-moku, the god of war. His nephew would eventually overthrow his son at the
battle of Mokuōhai. The island of Hawaii was then effectively divided into three parts: his nephew Kamehameha ruled the western districts, his younger son
Keōua Kuahuula controlled Kaū, and his brother Keawemauhili controlled
Hilo
Hilo () is a census-designated place (CDP) and the largest settlement in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States, which encompasses the Island of Hawaii. The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 census. It is the fourth-largest settlement ...
.
See also
*
Kidnapping of Kalaniʻōpuʻu by James Cook
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalaniopuu
Royalty of Hawaii (island)
Hawaiian military personnel
1720s births
1782 deaths
House of Keawe
Burials at the Royal Mausoleum (Mauna ʻAla)
Year of birth uncertain