Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Kamehameha  l  (Part 7)

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Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands
" Keepers of the Culture "
A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands
Kamehameha  l 
and stories told by the ancients -- part 7
by Darlene E. Kelley
November 10, 2000

http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374

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As told by the ancients-- part 7

Now was the time that was Kamehameha's great opportunity. His war
canoes, built of beautiful koa wood, were 70 feet long and more then
three feet deep, and each canoe carried seventy men. His fleet was
sufficient to carry all his warriors. It was with such equipment that he
sailed to accomplish the greatest feat of his career. The campaign was
carefully planned. He first went to Maui and then to Molokai,
successively taking those islands.

When he reached Oahu, he learned tht one of his ali, the handsome and
proud Kaiana, King of Kauai, who perhaps had aspirations of his own for
Kamehameha's Hawaiian kingdom, had deserted him, taking his men with him
and joining the forces of Kalanikupule. Ths was the first time one of
his chiefs had so acted and it was a staggering blow to Kamehameha.
Nevertheless, he pushed on and met the enemy in what proved to be the
greatest victory of his career-- the Battle of Nuuanu. the year was
1795.

The Oahu king and Kaiana, with their warriors, took their stand on the
steep slopes of the mountains bordering Nuuanu Valley. They had built up
fortifications of earth and stone behind which they faced the enemy.
Kamehameha and his army, after a brief encampment at Waialae Bay, moved
forward and took stations below them. John Young manned the cannon and
it is claimed, his first salvos reduced the defender's fortresses to
rubble and, moreover, killed the faithless Kaiana. The Oahu warriors,
most of them never hearing the roar of the gun, were terrified. They
broke their ranks and fled in confusion up the valley.

Now the valley of Nuuanu, is a narrow, verdant corridor that rises
gently from the level of the sea to a tiny gorge that is edged by a
sheer cliff towering 1,186 feet above the ground below it. Toward the
gorge in a disorganized, hapless scramble fled the armies of
Kalanikupule and Kaiana, this route being their only path of escape from
Kamehameha's advancing forces. Kamehameha, holding his war god before
him shouted to his men, " Forward, my children, till you drink of the
bitter waters!', moved closer to the cliff. A few of the Oahu men were
able to escape over the steep ridges of the gorge, but the rest-- and
the main body of the vanquished army -- were hurled screaming and
twisting over the cliff to be dashed to death on the rocks below.

The battle over, peace and tranquility returned to Nuuanu Valley. It is
said that, at the close of the bloody day, Kamehameha stood at the edge
of the cliff, gazing at the quiet land and waters stretching before and
below him, saying " How beautiful! On yonder hills I see a double
rainbow. It is the sign of a lasting peace."

Kamehameha was now the conqueror, but he was not yet to be called "
Kamehameha the Great." Years of a changing world and of adjustment
within his own mind must be lived before that title could be placed
above his head.

In taking over the control of the island of Oahu. Kamehameha made no
immediate changes in the old plan of government. The taboo held its
mystic power for the king and for the people, and fuedalism was the rock
upon which Kamehameha continued to build his growing empire.

From the time that Kamehameha had been chosen by the great Kona chiefs
to be their leader, they, with other high ranking men, had formed the
council of the King. Upon their judgement and loyalty he felt he could
at all times depend, and he seldom made an important decision without
their approval. nevertheless, the final word was his. The law of the
ages remained intact. The king was all-powerful. It meant death to any
man even to cross the shadow of the king or of his house, Life and death
were centered in the king.

As were the custom after a victorious battle,the lands of the kingdom
were divided among the chiefs according to rank and service. But that he
might keep a close watch upon the the chiefs who were overly ambitious
for prestige, he gave them lands in detached places, located on
different islands, and they were not allowed to live upon their lands
but were oblidged to follow the court wherever the king might please to
travel.  

The court of the king was a moveable institution. Often as many as a
thousand people followed the court. Kamehameha's chief pleasure was
fishing, which many times accounted for his moving from one place to
another. He sometimes set up his headquarters where living conditions
were very uncomfortable for everyone, himself included, that he might be
near the good fishing grounds

As the king could not be present on but one island at a time, Kamehameha
did plan on new venture. he apponted a governor for each island
excepting Kauai. This official represented the king in all matters of
concern. the lands were divided into districts, the districts into
plantations, small farms and villages, with certain forest and fishing
rights attached. The people must build canoes and fish for their living.

To the higher ranking chiefs Kamehameha gave the larger districts. and
they in turn alloted their lands to lesser chiefs. This division
continued on down the line until it reached the common laborer who
tilled the soil and did the menial work of life for those above him in
station. The chiefs received the greater share of the product of the
land, but everyone,high or low, was expected to pay an annual tax to the
King.

Kamehameha's court was expensive. His navy was demanding more andmore
revenue, and the increasing expenses must be met through taxation. Tax
collectors were appointed by the governor. Taxes consisted of what was
raised on the land, fish, fishing lines, dogs, feathers, or whatever the
people possesed. District by district, these supplies were delivered to
the chiefs and through them were tuned over to the governor as tribute
for the King.

But with all of Kamehameha's planning, the matter of Kauai was uppermost
in his mind. That remained to be settled. All of the islands must be
united under his rule. His ambition knew no respite and, the year after
the Battle of Nuuanu, Kamehameha attempted an invasion on Kauai.

Now, Kauai is separated from the island of Oahu by a wide, treacherous,
and sometimes almost impassible channel. A great stom broke over the
sea. Many of Kamehameha's canoes were wrecked and lost and his army was
so disabled that he was oblidged to turn back to Oahu. His attempted
invasion was a complete failure.

A dozen years went by. In the meantime, trouble had been brewing on the
island of Hawai'i. Some of the chiefs had started a rebellion and
Kamehameha returned to Hawai'i to check the disturbance. He remained on
Hawai'i for several years, enlarging his navy. It is reported that he
had as many of eight hundred canoes and a squadron of small schooners
which his foreign carpenters had made for him. With a quanity of
ammunition, guns, and cannon, Kamehameha felt his plans for attacking
Kauai were complete. He left Hawai'i, stopped at Maui for a short time,
and then moved his army to Oahu to make the last preparations for war.

On Kauai there had been political changes. The present ruler was King
Kaumualii, an alii of great personal charm. He was very popular with his
subjects and with foreigners, but he feared Kamehameha's greater power.
Some of the foreign carpenters in his service built a ship for him in
which, if worst came to worst, he and his family might escape to the
Orient or to the islands of the southern seas.

After his attemped invasion, Kamehameha did offer to the Kauai king a
peaceful settlement if he would acknowledge him as his sovereign and pay
to him annual tribute, but the offer was ignored. Kaumualii was
determined to defend his kingdom as long as possble. It was at this time
that an awful scourge, possibly cholera, attacked the island of Oahu.
Several of Kamehameha's older chiefs and closest friends lost their
lives. Kamehameha, himself was stricken but recovered. This upset the
King's plans, and the invasion of Kauai was again postponed.

Many foreign ships were putting in at Honolulu harbor, and an entirely
unexpected development in a business way was demanding Kamehameha's
closest attention. The Sandwich Islands had suddenly become of intense
interest to foreign traders. Sandalwood was the watchword of the hour.
The value of sandalwood and of pearls was not known by the Hawaiians
until the white man came.