Keeaumoku Nui

Kalani-Kama-Keokinaeaumoku-nui was Prince of the Big Island of Hawaii and Hawaiian high chief of Kohala and grandfather of Kamehameha the Great. He was reared with the utmost dignity due to his royal birth. His was a "Pio" chief which was considered among royalties of the highest rank in the realm. Through his mother and father flowed the blood of Umi and Liloa, connecting also to the chiefs of Maui, Oahu, Kauai. His name translate as the "Great Heavenly Island Climber". He fathered the House of Keoua through his eldest son.

He was borned to Keaweikekahialiikamoku and his half-sister-bride Princess Kalanikauleleaiwi, granddaughter of Iwikauikaua (whose celebrated kapu was the torchlight burnt at midday) and daughter of high chiefess Keakealani-wahine. [ [http://www.keouanui.org/Keouanui Hawaii's Royal Family Official Site Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui ] ] His father was the sovereign monarch of the kingdom of the Big Island of Hawaii. In addition to Kona, Keawe also gave him dominion over parts of the Kohala District, which was mostly controlled by the powerful and somewhat independent Mahi family. [ [http://www.kekoolani.org/Pages/9053%20Kekoolani%20Genealogy%20Database/pafg27.htm#436 Hawaiian Genealogy of Kekoolani and Other Familes - pafg27 - Generated by Personal Ancestral File ] ] His brother was given the district of Kau.

After his father's death in 1754, he and his older brother, Kalaninuiamamao (Ka'i'imamao), fought for sucesstion to the throne of the Big Island of Hawaii.

While the conflict insue between the two brothers, Alapainui was able to take advantage of the situation and usurped the throne. Alapai was of the Mahi family of Kohala. He was Keeaumoku's half-brother, their mother were the same being Kalanikauleleaiwi. They were also brother of Ha'ae-a-Mahi, who later married Keeaumoku's only full-blooded sister Kekelaokalani and from that marriage Kekuiapoiwa II, mother of Kamehameha the Great, was born. Because of the conflict between Keeaumoku and Kaiimamao, the Big Island remain divided either in three or sometimes six separate chiefdom until the unification of his grandson Kamehameha I.

He married a member of the alii family of I's of Kau, the High Chiefess Kamakaimoku, former wife of his brother, and daughter of Ku'a Nu'uanu, of Oahu, by his wife, Alii Umi-ula-i-Ka'ahumanu, eldest daughter of Alii Mahi-o-lole. Keoua Kalani-kupu'uapai-kalani-nui Ahilapalapa, his eldest son, would father the House of Kamehameha and the House of Kalokuokamaile. His second wife was the High Chiefess Kailakanoa. His sons by Kailakanoa were Kanekoa and Kahai. Only his son Kanekoa's descendants survive from his second marriage; most notable of these are the House of Kawananakoa, through her granddaughter Alii Poomaikelani, the wife of Elelule La'akeaelelulu of Hilo, and mother of Kuhio Kalanianaole. [ [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Hawaii/hawaii3.htm HAWAII3 ] ]