Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Moloka' i (Part 7) The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands " Keepers of the Culture " A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands Moloka' i -- part 7 by Darlene E. Kelley October 30, 2000 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 7 -- As told by the ancient Hawaiians. Kamehameha conquors Moloka'i -- In 1790, Kamehameha invaded Maui and was victorious over Kalanikupule, Kahekili's son, who had been left in charge of the Island. Kalanikupule and some of the Maui chiefs escaped to O'ahu. Kamahameha remained on Maui for awhile to restore peace among the chiefs and people. He then proceeded to Moloka'i to secure the allegiance of te Moloka'i chiefs before going on to the conquest of O'ahu. Kamehameha's stay on Moloka'i was a destructive one. It had desolated the country, and that it had not yet recovered from the big war and its former state of population. After he had conquered Maui, Lana'i, and Moloka'i, he marked his progress in desolating the country by destroying the fields and plantations of the inhabitants. Another account of his stay on Moloka'i; Legend has it that Kamehameha l, camped on the slopes of Kauluwai hill for a year while he prepared to attack O'ahu. He raised taro in a patch he had built in the valley of Honomuni. The name of this patch was Paikalani and was located at a place called Paikahawae in Honomuni. In the meantime, he had all his canoes put in order. He drilled his warriors on the Honomuni plain. There was another reason for his going to Moloka'i. Kalola, the widow of Kalani'opu'u, had taken refuge on Maui after her son, Kiwala'o, was killed on Hawaii in a battle with Kamehameha and his allies. When Kamehameha invaded Maui, Kalola with her daughter, Keku'iapoiwa Liliha, and granddaughter, Keopuolani, had fled to Molka;i, where they lived with Keku'elikenui [ a chief and personal friend of Kamehameha ] at Kalama'ula Kamehameha wished to have charge of Keopuolani, a chiefess of nearly the highest possible rank, considerably higher than his own rank. In order to fill his own wishes he had to effect a reconciliation with Kalola. When the canoes of his landed at Kaunakakai, he heard that Kalola was seriously ill. Therefore he and his chiefs went up inland to Kalama'ula where Kalola was staying. When they arrived there, they were welcomed by Keku'elike. Kaama'ula was densely populated there in those days. Kamehameha and Kalola met, and at this meeting, Kalola promised that he after her death, could have Liliha and Keopuolani. Several days later Kalola died and Kamehameha went into deep mourning. The chiefs and commoners wailed and mourned. Many were the acts of grief committed by the people in affection for their chief. They scorched their skin in the fire, tattooed themselves all over, sheared off their hair and knocked out their teeth. Kamehameha's expression of grief which he made at that time was to knock out one upper tooth. When the mourning was over, Kalola was laid away in her cave house at Konahale in Kalama'ula. While on Moloka'i, Kamehameha received news of internal trouble in Hawai'i.Instead of proceeding to O'ahu, he returned to Hawai'i, taking Liliha and Keopuolani with him. Keopuolani later became his wife and the mother of Kamehameha ll and lll. Kahekili again regains Moloka'i -- When Ka'eokulani, who was the ruling chief of Kaua'i and a half brother of Kahekili, heard of the destruction on Maui and how Maui chiefs had narrowly escaped death, he set sail to make war on Kamehameha. This was around the year 1791. Stopping on O'ahu, he persuaded Kahekili to join him,and with combined forces they went on the Moloka'i. The war party landed at Kaunakakai on Moloka'i. and when the Kaua'i chief saw for the first time, by the ovens they had left, the size of the camp which Kamehameha had occupied he said, " 'O ke ka a ka he'e nui i ka lua la, mokaki ka iwi o ka papa'i." [ Where a big squid digs itself a hole, there crab shells are heaped at the opening.] In other words, Ka'eokulani was very impressed with the strength of Kamehameha. Both Moloka'i and Maui were reoccupied by Kahekili. During the last years of Kahekili's life, when he was old and feeble, he appointed Ka'eokulani as governor of Maui, Lana'i, and Moloka'i, and Kalanikupule as governor of O'ahu. Kahekili died at Waikiki, O'ahu in 1794, Kalanikupule became the recognized ruler of Maui and returned to Kaua'i. Setting out with his chiefs and warriors, he stopped at Moloka'i for a time to collect tribute and take in supplies, and to enjoy its fat fish and kuku nut relish. Shortly after this, Ke'eokulani was killed in the battle on O'ahu. A different version of Ka'eokulani's going to Moloka'i was that he sailed for Kalaupapa with the intention of landing. However, he did not land since guns were fired from inland. Ka'eo's men fired guns from sea. This firing by both sides was continued, both from sea and the land all through the day until night. And early in the morning of the next day, Ka'eo left Moloka'i and sailed for O'ahu. Kamehameha again acquired Moloka'i -- In the early part of 1795, Kamehameha set out to conquer O'ahu. He first invaded and conquered Maui, and then went on to Moloka'i. It is said that his fleet extended along the shore from Kawela to Kalama'ula. There is no mention of any battles having been fought between the Moloka'i peole and Kamehameha at this time. He probably landed with little or no opposition and took over the control of the island. Kamehameha held his councils at Kaunakakai. His chiefs had their quarters in the vicinity of Ka'iana at Kamiloloa, Kalaimoku at Kapa'akea and Ke'eaumoku at Kalama'ula. In the spring or summer of 1795, Kamehameha left Moloka'i and went on to conquer O'ahu. Several years later [ early 18th century], Kaua'i came under his soveriegnty, with the result that the islands were united under one ruler and have remained so.