Liloa's Kaei
Encyclopedia
Liloa's Kāei or Kāei Kapu o Liloa (the sacred sash of Liloa) is the sacred feathered sash
of Liloa
, king of the Big Island
of Hawaii
. The Statue of Kamehameha the Great, commissioned by King Kalākaua
, displayed the kāei.
This kāei is believed to have been made for Liloa, the high chief of the island of Hawaii. He reigned from about 1455 to 1485. His successor was his eldest son Hakau
, but the kāei passed to his second son, Umi-a-Liloa
, born to a lower ranking mother. The sash could have been the same one that Liloa had given to Umi's mother for the future time when they would reunite, this story is similar to that of Theseus
. Hakau was a despotic ruler and in 1490 was overthrown by Umi. Then, for three generations, there is no mention of the kāei.
In the mid to late 17th century, Liloa's great-great-great-granddaughter Keakealaniwahine
, daughter of Keakamahana
, the highest ranking chiefess of Hawaii, was in possession of the kāei. She ceremonially dressed her grandsons, Kalaninuiamamao
and Keeaumoku
, in it - signifying that they were of the highest chiefly kapu
(sacredness). Again, the kāei falls into obscurity, but records indicate that the kāei was handed down from Kamehameha the Great, to Kamehameha III
, to Queen Kalama, to King Lunalilo. After Lunalilo’s death, it was in the possession Lunalilo's father, Charles Kanaina. After Kanaina’s death, it was claimed by King Kalākaua. He bequeathed it to his sister Liliuokalani, who later gave it to the Bernice P. Bishop Museum making this one of the oldest family heirlooms in Hawaiian history in existence. The validity of its age was proven in 2007 when researchers from the University of Kent
were able to date feathers that had previously fallen out of this kāei but were being kept for conservation. The study carbon-dated the feathers from the kāei to a date range of 1406 to 1450 A.D.
This amazing 14 feet (4.3 m) piece of [[ʻIʻiwi|iiwi]] and ōō feathers (with some mamo
) is extremely delicate. Based on examination of photographs reproduced in books, the kāei appears to be a base of olonā
) covered with a broad red center stripe running its entire length, occasionally crossed by bands of yellow featherwork. The edges appear to be primarily mamo, with some sections in ee (the yellow feathers of the ōō). A row of human teeth hangs from the lower edge of a horizontal band of ee. At the bottom edge a section is decorated with alternating rows of human teeth and rosettes or clusters of small fish teeth. This section appears to be bordered with mamo feathers. Probably the sections were added at later and separate dates, the human teeth being those of people whose mana
was wanted to increase that of the kāei. One reason for the obscurity of the kāei could be that they were so sacred. The few kāei mentioned in legend were closely guarded to prevent them being viewed by the wrong people. For the unentitled to see, let alone touch, a kāei was death. Possibly one reason for the rarity and exceptional sacredness of the kāei is this unusually great mana. Even today, often items of personal use are considered to be kapu to their owner. In many hālau hula
, it is forbidden to borrow someone else's instruments or costumes. So, to wear such a personal garment is to claim a direct link to the mana and fertility of the owner. In other words, to claim descent, either genealogical or spiritual. As mana could be dissipated and lost through careless use and dispersal, such a powerful garment would require great solicitude in its use and display.
Feather cloak
Featherwork cloaks have been used by several cultures.-Hawaii:Elaborate feather cloaks called [[ʻahuʻula]] were created by early Hawaiians for the alii .Feathers were also used in women's skirts called pāū....
of Liloa
Liloa
Liloa ruled as the 12th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii from 1465 to 1495. He was sovereign king or chief of the island of Hawaii.He was the son of King Kihanuilulumoku, 11th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii and Waoilea. He succeeded on the death of his father in 1465. He was a ruling chief, a sacred high chief who...
, king of 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
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The Statue of Kamehameha the Great, commissioned by King Kalākaua
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
, displayed the kāei.
This kāei is believed to have been made for Liloa, the high chief of the island of Hawaii. He reigned from about 1455 to 1485. His successor was his eldest son Hakau
Hakau
Hakau-a-Liloa ruled as the 13th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii from 1495 to 1510. He was sovereign king or chief of the island of Hawaii.He was the eldest son of King Liloa, 12th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii. He succeeded on the death of his father in the year 1495.His brother Umi was the son of Liloa and a...
, but the kāei passed to his second son, Umi-a-Liloa
'Umi-a-Liloa
Umi-a-Liloa ruled as the 14th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii island from 1510 to 1525.-Royal Birth:Umi-a-Liloa, commonly known as Umi, was younger son of Liloa, 12th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii. Umi's mother Akahiakuleana was of much lower rank and distantly related to Liloa...
, born to a lower ranking mother. The sash could have been the same one that Liloa had given to Umi's mother for the future time when they would reunite, this story is similar to that of Theseus
Theseus
For other uses, see Theseus Theseus was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra had slept with in one night. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus, or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes that were...
. Hakau was a despotic ruler and in 1490 was overthrown by Umi. Then, for three generations, there is no mention of the kāei.
In the mid to late 17th century, Liloa's great-great-great-granddaughter Keakealaniwahine
Keakealaniwahine
Chiefess Keakealani Wahine was the 20th ruler of Hawaii island from 1665 to 1695.-Life:Her mother was Queen Keaka-mahana, 19th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii island. Her father was Chief Iwikau-i-kaua of Oahu. She became ruler of the island on the death of her mother, 1665...
, daughter of Keakamahana
Keakamahana
Keaka-mahana was the 19th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii island 1635–1665. She ruled as sovereign Queen or Chiefess of the island from the royal complex at Holualoa Bay....
, the highest ranking chiefess of Hawaii, was in possession of the kāei. She ceremonially dressed her grandsons, Kalaninuiamamao
Kalaninuiamamao
Kalaninuiamamao was a Prince of the Big Island of Hawaii, or 1st Alii Nui of Kau, an ancestor of the Queen Liliuokalani. He is probably the Hawaiian chief with the most varied spelling of his name.- Biography :...
and Keeaumoku
Keeaumoku Nui
Kalani Kama Keeaumoku-nui was Prince of the Big Island of Hawaii and high chief of the Kona district and part of Kohala district and grandfather of Kamehameha I. He was a Pio chief which was considered among royalties of the highest rank in the realm. Through his mother and father he was descended...
, in it - signifying that they were of the highest chiefly kapu
Kapu
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...
(sacredness). Again, the kāei falls into obscurity, but records indicate that the kāei was handed down from Kamehameha the Great, to Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
, to Queen Kalama, to King Lunalilo. After Lunalilo’s death, it was in the possession Lunalilo's father, Charles Kanaina. After Kanaina’s death, it was claimed by King Kalākaua. He bequeathed it to his sister Liliuokalani, who later gave it to the Bernice P. Bishop Museum making this one of the oldest family heirlooms in Hawaiian history in existence. The validity of its age was proven in 2007 when researchers from the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
were able to date feathers that had previously fallen out of this kāei but were being kept for conservation. The study carbon-dated the feathers from the kāei to a date range of 1406 to 1450 A.D.
This amazing 14 feet (4.3 m) piece of [[ʻIʻiwi|iiwi]] and ōō feathers (with some mamo
Hawai'i Mamo
The Hawai'i Mamo was a species of finch in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanididae. It was endemic to Hawaii. It became extinct due to habitat loss and overcollecting.-Description:...
) is extremely delicate. Based on examination of photographs reproduced in books, the kāei appears to be a base of olonā
Touchardia latifolia
Touchardia latifolia, commonly known as Olonā in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering shrub in the nettle family, Urticaceae. T. latifolia is endemic to Hawaii and inhabits mesic valleys and wet forests at elevations of . Typical to many Hawaiian plants, the olonā does not have any stinging needles...
) covered with a broad red center stripe running its entire length, occasionally crossed by bands of yellow featherwork. The edges appear to be primarily mamo, with some sections in ee (the yellow feathers of the ōō). A row of human teeth hangs from the lower edge of a horizontal band of ee. At the bottom edge a section is decorated with alternating rows of human teeth and rosettes or clusters of small fish teeth. This section appears to be bordered with mamo feathers. Probably the sections were added at later and separate dates, the human teeth being those of people whose mana
Mana
Mana is an indigenous Pacific islander concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects. The word is a cognate in many Oceanic languages, including Melanesian, Polynesian, and Micronesian....
was wanted to increase that of the kāei. One reason for the obscurity of the kāei could be that they were so sacred. The few kāei mentioned in legend were closely guarded to prevent them being viewed by the wrong people. For the unentitled to see, let alone touch, a kāei was death. Possibly one reason for the rarity and exceptional sacredness of the kāei is this unusually great mana. Even today, often items of personal use are considered to be kapu to their owner. In many hālau hula
Halau hula
A hālau hula is a school in which the ancient Hawaiian dance form called hula is taught. The term comes from hālau, a workshed, and hula, the traditional dance of the Hawaiian Islands. Prior to European contact, the Hawaiian language had no word for "school," as children learned from their parents,...
, it is forbidden to borrow someone else's instruments or costumes. So, to wear such a personal garment is to claim a direct link to the mana and fertility of the owner. In other words, to claim descent, either genealogical or spiritual. As mana could be dissipated and lost through careless use and dispersal, such a powerful garment would require great solicitude in its use and display.