Keeaumoku Papaiahiahi

Keokinaeaumoku Pāpaokinaiahiahi 1736-1804 was a Hawaiian high chief and the noble father of Kaahumanu the Great. He served Kamehameha I as his chief counselor or "Prime Minister" and was the principal agent in elevating Kamehameha to the throne of Hawaii.Journal of a Residence in the Sandwich Islands, During the Years 1823, 1824 ... By Charles Samuel Stewart. Page 275]

He was born to Hawaii island chief Keawepoepoe and his wife Kūma‘aikū. He was called Ke'eaumoku by the people which literally means the "Island-climbing Swimmer".. Ke'eaumoku was a warlike and ambitious chief of Kona. He was among the first of five Kona chiefs to joined Kamehameha the Great against his cousin Kiwalao. Among the four other Kona chiefs were High Chief Kalua‘apana Keaweāheulu, Kamehameha’s uncle, Kekūhaupi‘o, Kamehameha's warrior teacher, Kame'eiamoku and Kamanawa, half brother of Keeaumoku on his father's side. [ [http://www.pacificworlds.com/nuuanu/memories/coatarms.cfm The Hawaiian Coat of Arms ] ]

In 1782, at the Battle of Moku‘ōhai in Ke‘ei, Kona; the young warrior Kamehameha led his warriors to victory, and Kīwala‘ō was killed, and when he died he was wearing an ‘ahu ‘ula (feathered cloak), which then became the property of Kamehameha (this feathered cloak is now in the collection of the Bishop Museum). One account states that the injured Ke‘eaumoku Pāpa‘iaheahe crawled to Kīwala‘ō, who also had been injured, and then Ke‘eaumoku Pāpa‘iaheahe slit the neck of Kīwala‘ō with a leiomano (shark-tooth weapon).He was commander-in-chief of Kamehameha's force in most of his war compaigns. He serve as Counsellor of State and was Kamehameha's Prime Minister. [http://www.hawaiianencyclopedia.com/part-1-complete-timeline-of-ha.asp Hawaiian Encyclopedia : Part 1: Complete Timeline of Hawaiian History ] ]

While preparing for an invasion of Kaumualii the king of Kauai, an epidemic of "ma‘i ‘ōku‘u" (likely cholera) kills thousands, and also infects King Kamehameha and many of his troops. Many of Kamehameha’s warriors die from the disease. Among them Ke‘eaumoku died in March 21, 1804.

Family

He married Namahana'i'Kaleleokalani, the widow queen of Kamehamehanui Ailuau, the late king of Maui. Namahana's brother, King Kahekili II, whowas King of Maui, was displeased that Namahana had taken Keeaumoku forher husband, and he became Keeaumoku's enemy. The people, including Namahana, stood in great fear of him, so she hid their first born child in a cave at Hāna, on Maui, at the very foot of the old battle hill, Kauiki. This child was Kaahumanu who would one day be the most powerful woman in the Hawaiian Kingdom. He married his daughter to Kamehameha when she was only 13 year of age and she soon became Kamehameha's favourite wife. He and Namahana gave birth to two other daughters Kaheiheimaile and Namahana Piia who also married Kamehameha. His eldest son George Cox Keeaumoku II served as Governor of Maui and his youngest son John Adams Kuakini served as Governor of Hawaii and Oahu. He and his children were the most influential "aliokinai" family of Hawaii in the beginning days of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Keeaumoku's great-grandsons Kamehameha IV, Kamehameha V and Lunalilo ruled Hawaii from 1855 to 1874.

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