Pilikaʻaiea (or Pili-auau; the short form: Pili) was ''

Aliʻi Nui The aliʻi were the traditional nobility of the Hawaiian islands. They were part of a hereditary line of rulers, the ''noho aliʻi''. Cognates of the word ''aliʻi'' have a similar meaning in other Polynesian languages; in Māori it is pronounce ...

'' of

Hawaiʻi Hawaii ( ; ) is an island state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only state not on the North American mainland, th ...

. He was a sovereign

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boat ...

, who deposed the indigenous chief, Kapawa.

Name

The Hawaiian word ''pili'' is the native Hawaiian name of ''

Heteropogon contortus ''Heteropogon contortus'' is a tropical, perennial tussock grass with a native distribution encompassing Southern Africa, southern Asia, Northern Australia, Oceania, and southwestern North America. The species has also become a naturalised weed ...

''.

Biography

According to some legends, Pilikaʻaiea was a grandchild of

Lanakawai Lanakawai—also known as Lanaikawai and Lonokawai—was an ancient Hawaiian nobleman, who was a Prince of the island of Maui. He became a High Chief of the island of Hawaiʻi (the Big Island). His grandson was the founder of the Pili line, a d ...

of the Ulu line, but other sources claim he was born and brought up in "Kahiki" (

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...

) or Wawau (Borabora) or 'Upolu (Samoa). The parents of Pilikaʻaiea were Laʻau and Kukamolimaulialoha, whilst the wife of Pilikaʻaiea was his sister,

Hina-au-kekele Hina-au-kekele (also known as Hina-au-aku, Hinauapu or simply Hina) was a Hawaiian noble Alii nui of Hawaii, lady and Chiefess of the Island of Hawaii (island), Hawaii (Big Island). She was the sister-wife of the High Chief Pilikaaiea of Hawaii, ...

. Because the chiefs of the island of

had carelessly intermarried with junior chiefly lines and low ranking women, ''

kahuna Kahuna (; ) is a Hawaiian word that refers to an expert in any field. Historically, it has been used to refer to doctors, surgeons and dentists, as well as priests, ministers, and sorcerers. Background A may be versed in agriculture,Archiv ...

Paʻao Paʻao is a prominent figure in Hawaiian tradition, often regarded as a historical person whose story has been preserved and retold through oral narratives and chants. He is typically described as a ''kahuna nui'' (high priest) who arrived in Hawai ...

went to Kahiki to find a relative of pure blood who could compete in rank with the chiefly lines of the other islands. He recites a chant to invite Lonokaeho to return with him. Lonokaeho declines the invitation, but sends Pilikaʻaiea in his place. Pilikaʻaiea becomes high chief and wins the support of the people and he becomes the ancestor of the chiefs of Hawaiʻi on the Ulu line down to the late 19th century. His successor was his descendant, Chief

Kukohou Kukohou (or Kukohoa) was High Chief of the Island of Hawaiʻi in ancient Hawaii. His title was ''Alii Nui'' — "Chief of the island". His famous descendant was King Kamehameha I. A member of the Pili line, Kukohou was son of Loʻe and his wife, ...

David Malo David Malo or Davida Malo (birth name: Malo, 1795–1853) was a chiefly counselor, a Hawaiian intellectual, educator, politician and minister. He is remembered by subsequent generations of Hawaiian people and scholars primarily as a Native Hawaii ...

. ''Hawaiian Antiquities''. Bishop Museum Press.

References

Martha Warren Beckwith Martha Warren Beckwith (January 19, 1871 – January 28, 1959) was an American folklorist and ethnographer who was the first chair in folklore at any university or college in the U.S. Early life and education Beckwith was born in Wellesley Hei ...

''Hawaiian Mythology''
{{Authority control Hawaiian chiefs House of Pili

Name

Biography

See also

References