Kapiohookalani

Infobox Monarch
name =Kapiohookalani of Ookinaahu
title =King of Ookinaahu


caption =
reign =1730–1737
full name =Kapiohookalani
predecessor =Kualii
successor =Kanahaokalani
father =Kualii
mother =Kalanikahimakeialii|

Kapiokinaohookalani (? - 1737) 20th Alii Aimoku of Oahu (1730–1737). He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu. He was known for his foolish campaign into Molokai, proves of a warlike nature inherited from his father, uncommon in the peaceful Oahuan chieftains. He is sometimes referred to as Kapiiohokalani. Kapiioho is the name used by the genealogist Solomon Lehuanui Kalaniomaiheilu Peleioholani.

Early life

He was born to Kualii, King of Oahu and of his only wife known by name the High Chiefess Kalanikahimakeialii, a Maui chiefess, whose parents were Kaulahea II, King of Maui and Kalaniomaiheuila, both children of Lonohonuakini, king of Maui. He had two siblings: a sister, named Kukuiaimakalani, and a brother, Peleioholani. Nowhere is it mentioned that he is the eldest, but the fact that he succeeded as Moi of Oahu shows he was the eldest child.

When Kualii died, in the year 1730, he was followed as Moi of Oahu by his son Kapiohookalani, and Kapiohookalani's brother, Peleioholani, succeeded their father as sovereign over Kauai. His father's kingdom was thus divided in half and it is most likely that Oahu, being Kualii's favourite part of his kingdom and the ancestral home of their ancestors, was the more desirable.

Reign

He tried to conquer the neighbouring island of Molokai, somewhere in his reign, right after the death of Kekaulike of Maui and the accession of his son, Kamehamehanui. Kapiohookalani had wanted to subjucted the chiefs of that island to his rule as his father once had. He invaded the island with a large force at the right time, since Kekaulike would have been in the way of his goal. But unknown to him Alapainui had set off to battle Kekaulike prior to the old chiefs death, and had made peace instead with Queen Dowager Kekuiawpoiwa I and Kamehamehanui, his half-sister and nephew. News reached the court of Maui that severals of the Molokai chiefs there were in great distrees, havign taken refuge in the fortified mountain localities, while their possessions on the lowland and their fishponds were ravaged and destroyed by the Oahuan invaders, who were said to have made their headquarters at Kalamaula and occupied the country from Kaunakakai to Naiwa.

When the intelligence reached Alapainui, have no occupation for his army and fleet on Maui at the time, he concluded to go to Molokai to the assistance of the distressed chiefs there; the more so as some of them were his near relatives, being sons and grandson of Keawe II with his Molokai wife, Kanealai. Embarking Maui, he crossed the Pailolo channel, and landed his fleet on the Molokai coast from Waialua to Kaluaaha. Having landed his army, he marched to Kamalo, and at Kapualei the great chief met the forces of Kapiohookalani. An obstinated fight ensued, which lasted for four days without any decisive result; but as Kapiohookalani retreated to Kawela, it is presumed that he suffered most. On the fifth day the battle was renewed at Kawela, extending as far as Kamiloloa. The Hawaiian troops being ranked along the seashore, and the auxiliary Molokai chiefs descending from the uplands with their men, Kapiohookalani was hemmed in between them, and after a severe fight from morning till far in the afternoon, he was completely routed with great loss of life, and himself slain. Those who escaped from the battle immediately evacuated Molokai and fled back to Oahu.

Among the more illustrious of the Oahu chiefs who partook in this battle under Kapiohookalani were Kauakahialiikapu, Kuihewakaokoa, Kaihikapu-a-Mahana, Kaweloikiakulu, Lononuiakea, who are said to have commanded the left wing of the Oahu army, and Kahoowahakananuha, Kahooalani, Hua, and Mokolalai, who commanded the right wing; the centre being commanded by Kapiohookalani in person. Kalanikupua-keoua and Kalaniopuu commanded under Alapainui. This famous battlefield may still be seen in the place described, where the bones of the slain are the sports of the winds that sweep over that sandy plan, and cover or uncover them, as the case may be. The numerical strength of the two oppossing armies is not mentioned in the legend; but to judge from the multitude of bones and the number of skulls that are bleaching in the sun when a strong north wind has removed their sandy covering, the numbers engaged on each side must have been reckoned by thousands.

Marriage

The legends are silent as to who was Kapiohookalani's wife, but his son's name was Kanahaokalani, who was but a child when his father died, and who appears to have only survived him about one year, for in the war between Alapainui of Hawaii and Kauhiaimoku, the revolted brother of Kamehamehanui of Maui, we find that Peleioholani had succeeded his nephew as Moi of Oahu, and had gone with his fleet and warriors to Maui to assist Kauahi against Alapainui.

References

* Abraham Fornander, "An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origin and Migrations", Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969. Page 136-138, 284, 288-289