Pi'ilani
Encyclopedia
Piilani was a political leader of ancient Hawaii
.
He ruled the island of Maui
(and its smaller neighboring islands) as the 15th Moʻi of Maui.
The time of King Piilani is synonymous with the Golden Age of Maui (16th–18th centuries). In poetic forms, the Island of Maui is sometimes called Na-Hono-A-Piilani.
, the God of Light.
In order to assure the parentage of a royal child, especially the first born, his father Kawaokanele ordered that his bride be secluded from all male
company except himself until her pregnancy was assured. As the ancients tell that during this hymeneal seclusion of the Princess Kapa-laoa of O'ahu, Queen Consort of Maui, a strange incident occurred. In the early evening, the peace of the nuptial bower was shattered by the screams of Kapalaoa.
Under Hawaiian kapu
warrior guards were forbidden (except under pain of death) to approach the Princess. Only her ladies-in-waiting could come to the aid of their queen. As they entered the darkened room, they beheld a fearsome sight.
Resting upon the prostate princess was a huge dragon-like lizard. This form was one traditionally used by the dreaded God of Power and Destruction. It was Kū
in his physical manifestations. Even as the women watched, the dragon slowly rose in the semi darkness and disappeared. They were struck blind for their sacrilege in daring to behold a god.
When the Princess Kapa-laoa gave birth to a son he was given the name of Piilani, "the Ascent to Heaven", to memorialize the visitation of the divine Ku. This tradition bequeathed to the royalty of Maui, their claim of divine descent and also the belief that their kingdom could never be conquered
except by a descendant of Kāne
, god of life and creation. Kamehameha I
whose birth signified his descent from the Kane lineage—did take the
Kingdom of Maui.
, or temple, in the Hawaiian Islands. He brought Maui’s rise to political prominence—which continued for two-and-a-half centuries until invasion and conquest by Kamehameha the Great.
Out of Piilani’s three royal unions, the most significant was to his high-born first cousin La‘ielohelohe. Her father, Kalamakua, was a high chief of O‘ahu. Her mother, Kelea—a celebrated surfer who was reputed to be the most beautiful woman on Maui—was the sister of Piilani's father. The union of Pi‘ilani and La‘ielohelohe produced four offspring, all of whom were to play consequential roles in Maui’s and Hawai‘i’s history.
Piilani resided occasionally in Hana and Wailuku, and made frequent tours throughout his kingdom to collect taxes, promote industry and enforce order, he ruled from the royal capital at Lahaina, where he was born and is known to have died. His Lahaina residence and the nearby fishpond Mokuhinia became identified with a moo (water deity), which inhabited the cavern beneath Mokuʻula island in Mokuhinia pond. Following her death, Piilani's daughter Kala‘aiheana was deified as Kihawahine, the moo guarding the royal family and their descendants. Moku‘ula became the most sacred royal symbol for the next three centuries even down to the days of Keopuolani
and her sons Kamehameha II
and Kamehameha III
who used it as their capital.
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
.
He ruled the island of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
(and its smaller neighboring islands) as the 15th Moʻi of Maui.
The time of King Piilani is synonymous with the Golden Age of Maui (16th–18th centuries). In poetic forms, the Island of Maui is sometimes called Na-Hono-A-Piilani.
Royal Birth
Piilani was the 130th generation descendant of WakeaWakea
In Hawaiian mythology, Wākea is the eldest son of Kahiko , and lives in Olalowaia. Wākea is the ancestor of the aristocracy, the ali‘i. The priests and common people come from his brothers. In another legend, Wākea lives in Hihiku and marries Pāpā, also called Pāpā-nui or Pāpā-nui-hanau-moku, who...
, the God of Light.
In order to assure the parentage of a royal child, especially the first born, his father Kawaokanele ordered that his bride be secluded from all male
company except himself until her pregnancy was assured. As the ancients tell that during this hymeneal seclusion of the Princess Kapa-laoa of O'ahu, Queen Consort of Maui, a strange incident occurred. In the early evening, the peace of the nuptial bower was shattered by the screams of Kapalaoa.
Under Hawaiian 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...
warrior guards were forbidden (except under pain of death) to approach the Princess. Only her ladies-in-waiting could come to the aid of their queen. As they entered the darkened room, they beheld a fearsome sight.
Resting upon the prostate princess was a huge dragon-like lizard. This form was one traditionally used by the dreaded God of Power and Destruction. It was Kū
Kū
In Hawaiian mythology Kū or Kū-ka-ili-moku is one of the four great gods along with Kanaloa, Kāne, and Lono.He is known as the god of war and the husband of the goddess Hina. Some have taken this to suggest a complementary dualism, as the word kū in the Hawaiian language means "standing up" while...
in his physical manifestations. Even as the women watched, the dragon slowly rose in the semi darkness and disappeared. They were struck blind for their sacrilege in daring to behold a god.
When the Princess Kapa-laoa gave birth to a son he was given the name of Piilani, "the Ascent to Heaven", to memorialize the visitation of the divine Ku. This tradition bequeathed to the royalty of Maui, their claim of divine descent and also the belief that their kingdom could never be conquered
except by a descendant of Kāne
Kāne
In Hawaiian mythology, Kāne is considered the highest of the four major Hawaiian deities, along with Kanaloa, Kū, and Lono. He represented the god of procreation and was worshipped as ancestor of chiefs and commoners. Kāne is the creator and gives life associated with dawn, sun and sky...
, god of life and creation. Kamehameha I
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...
whose birth signified his descent from the Kane lineage—did take the
Kingdom of Maui.
Reign
Piilani unified East and West Maui. He built what is sometimes called the King's Highway, the first island-encircling trail in any of the islands. He build ceremonial architecture on a grand scale: Piilanihale, the largest heiauHeiau
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...
, or temple, in the Hawaiian Islands. He brought Maui’s rise to political prominence—which continued for two-and-a-half centuries until invasion and conquest by Kamehameha the Great.
Out of Piilani’s three royal unions, the most significant was to his high-born first cousin La‘ielohelohe. Her father, Kalamakua, was a high chief of O‘ahu. Her mother, Kelea—a celebrated surfer who was reputed to be the most beautiful woman on Maui—was the sister of Piilani's father. The union of Pi‘ilani and La‘ielohelohe produced four offspring, all of whom were to play consequential roles in Maui’s and Hawai‘i’s history.
Piilani resided occasionally in Hana and Wailuku, and made frequent tours throughout his kingdom to collect taxes, promote industry and enforce order, he ruled from the royal capital at Lahaina, where he was born and is known to have died. His Lahaina residence and the nearby fishpond Mokuhinia became identified with a moo (water deity), which inhabited the cavern beneath Mokuʻula island in Mokuhinia pond. Following her death, Piilani's daughter Kala‘aiheana was deified as Kihawahine, the moo guarding the royal family and their descendants. Moku‘ula became the most sacred royal symbol for the next three centuries even down to the days of Keopuolani
Keopuolani
Kalanikauikaalaneo Kai Keōpūolani-Ahu-i-Kekai-Makuahine-a-Kama-Kalani-Kau-i-Kealaneo was a queen consort of Hawaii and the highest ranking wife of King Kamehameha I.-Early life:...
and her sons Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
and 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...
who used it as their capital.