Keaoua Kekuaokalani
Encyclopedia
Keaoua Kekua-o-kalani was a nephew of Kamehameha I
, the chief from the Big Island
of Hawaii who had unified the Hawaiian islands. He was the son of Kamehameha's half brother Kealiimaikai and Kamehameha's half-sister Kiilaweau. After Kamehameha died in 1819, Keaoua rebelled against Kamehameha's successor, his son Liholiho. Keaoua's rebellion was brief; he was killed in battle about 21 December 1819.
system that had governed life in Hawaii for centuries. Henceforth, men and women could eat together, women could eat formerly forbidden foods, and official worship at the stone platform temples, or heiau
s, was discontinued. This event is called the Ai Noa, or free eating. As the historian Gavan Daws points out (Daws, 1967, pp. 54–59), this was a decision taken by the chiefs, and it primarily affected the state religion. Commoners could still worship their family protective deities, their aumakua
; hula teachers could make offerings to Laka
and Big Island Hawaiians could make offerings to the goddess Pele
.
Keaoua Kekuaokalani was a Big Island noble. He was the son of Kamehameha's younger brother and if Liholiho were to die or be overthrown, would have a good claim to the throne. He was outraged by the abandonment of the old sacred traditions and withdrew from the royal court, then staying at Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island, and retired to Kaawaloa at Kealakekua Bay
. Many opponents of the Ai Noa joined him in his self-imposed exile and urged him to try for the throne, saying, "The chief who prays to the god, he is the chief who will hold the rule." (Kamakau, 1961, p. 226) Some of the Hawaiians living in Hamakua
, on the north coast of the Big Island, rebelled outright and killed some soldiers sent against them. The situation was perilous.
According to Kamakau, Keaoua's supporters spent the night arguing with their leader, urging him to kill the emissaries and mount a decisive rebellion, Keaoua forbade any assassinations but the next morning, when he and his followers were to board canoes for the return to Kailua, he refused. He said he and his men (drawn up in ranks, in warrior regalia) would go by land.
to intercept Keaoua. Their forces met at Kuamoo, just South of Keauhou Bay
. Keaoua fought bravely, but was eventually killed by rife fire. His wife Manono, sister of Kalanimoku and former wife of Kamehameha I, who had been fighting at her husband's side, begged for mercy but was shot down as well. The rest of Keaoua's army scattered and the victory for Liholiho was complete.
This was the only armed rebellion in favor of the old religion.
The gymnasium at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
is named in his honor.
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
, the chief from the Big Island
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
of Hawaii who had unified the Hawaiian islands. He was the son of Kamehameha's half brother Kealiimaikai and Kamehameha's half-sister Kiilaweau. After Kamehameha died in 1819, Keaoua rebelled against Kamehameha's successor, his son Liholiho. Keaoua's rebellion was brief; he was killed in battle about 21 December 1819.
The Ai Noa
After Kamehameha died, on 8 May 1819, power was officially assumed by Kamehameha's son Liholiho. Liholiho, at the urging of powerful female chiefs such as Kaahumanu, abolished the kapuKapu
Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
system that had governed life in Hawaii for centuries. Henceforth, men and women could eat together, women could eat formerly forbidden foods, and official worship at the stone platform temples, or heiau
Heiau
A heiau is a Hawaiian temple. Many types of heiau existed, including heiau to treat the sick , offer first fruits, offer first catch, start rain, stop rain, increase the population, ensure health of the nation, achieve success in distant voyaging, reach peace, and achieve success in war . Only the...
s, was discontinued. This event is called the Ai Noa, or free eating. As the historian Gavan Daws points out (Daws, 1967, pp. 54–59), this was a decision taken by the chiefs, and it primarily affected the state religion. Commoners could still worship their family protective deities, their aumakua
Aumakua
In Hawaiian mythology, an aumakua is a family god, often a deified ancestor. The Hawaiian plural of aumakua is nā aumākua , although in English the plural is usually aumakuas. Nā aumākua frequently manifested as animals such as sharks or owls. Nā aumākua were worshipped at localities where they...
; hula teachers could make offerings to Laka
Laka
In Hawaiian mythology, Laka is the name of a popular hero from Polynesian mythology....
and Big Island Hawaiians could make offerings to the goddess Pele
Pele (mythology)
In the Hawaiian religion, Pele is the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes. She is a popular figure in many stories of ancient Hawaii known as Hawaiian mythology.-Legends:...
.
Rebellion
Nonetheless, some of the chiefs felt that if they were to abandon the kapus and the services at the heiaus, they would lose the religious justification and support for their rule. Liholiho, they felt, was courting disaster, and must be opposed, lest he take down everyone with him.Keaoua Kekuaokalani was a Big Island noble. He was the son of Kamehameha's younger brother and if Liholiho were to die or be overthrown, would have a good claim to the throne. He was outraged by the abandonment of the old sacred traditions and withdrew from the royal court, then staying at Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island, and retired to Kaawaloa at Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is located on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii about south of Kailua-Kona.Settled over a thousand years ago, the surrounding area contains many archeological and historical sites such as religious temples, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places listings on...
. Many opponents of the Ai Noa joined him in his self-imposed exile and urged him to try for the throne, saying, "The chief who prays to the god, he is the chief who will hold the rule." (Kamakau, 1961, p. 226) Some of the Hawaiians living in Hamakua
Hamakua
thumb|right|280px|Districts of [[Hawaii |Hawaii island]]: from northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], Hāmākua , [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
, on the north coast of the Big Island, rebelled outright and killed some soldiers sent against them. The situation was perilous.
The emissaries
The king, Liholiho, and his chiefs took counsel and decided to send emissaries to Keaoua, asking him to abandon his defiance, return to Kailua, and join in the free eating again. Keaoua received the emissaries with apparent deference and said he was ready to return to Kailua the next day, but would not join in the free eating. The emissaries retired to rest, thinking the problem solved.According to Kamakau, Keaoua's supporters spent the night arguing with their leader, urging him to kill the emissaries and mount a decisive rebellion, Keaoua forbade any assassinations but the next morning, when he and his followers were to board canoes for the return to Kailua, he refused. He said he and his men (drawn up in ranks, in warrior regalia) would go by land.
The battle
Again, he had not declared war outright — but this was tantamount to war. Liholiho sent forces under KalanimokuKalanimoku
William Pitt Kalanimoku was a High Chief who functioned similar to a prime minister of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the reigns of Kamehameha I, Kamehameha II and the beginning of the reign of Kamehameha III. He was called The Iron Cable of Hawaii because of his abilities.-Life:Kalanimoku was born ...
to intercept Keaoua. Their forces met at Kuamoo, just South of Keauhou Bay
Keauhou Bay
Keauhou Bay is a historic area in the Kona District of the Big Island of Hawaii.The name comes from ke au hou which means "the new era" in the Hawaiian Language.-Kamehameha III's Birthplace:...
. Keaoua fought bravely, but was eventually killed by rife fire. His wife Manono, sister of Kalanimoku and former wife of Kamehameha I, who had been fighting at her husband's side, begged for mercy but was shot down as well. The rest of Keaoua's army scattered and the victory for Liholiho was complete.
This was the only armed rebellion in favor of the old religion.
The gymnasium at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area is a park built on the site of an old landing strip just North of Kailua, Hawaii County, Hawaii.-History:During World War II a small landing strip was cleared near the end of Kuakini Highway....
is named in his honor.