Kanahaokalani

Kanahaokalani (c. 1731 - c. 1738) the 21st Alii Aimoku of Oahu (1737-1738). He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu. He was the only Oahu chieftain to die while an infant and who relied on a regent. He is sometimes referred to as "Kahahaokalani".

Reign

He was the son of Kapiohookalani, the elder son of Kualii, both king of Oahu. The legends are silent as to who was Kanahaokalani's mother, but must have been a chiefess of rank to secure his right to the throne. He succeed his father at a pretty young age. He was but a boy of six when his father Kapiohookalani died in the Battle of Kawela on the Island of Molokai. His age hint that he was born in 1730 or 1731, during his father's accession to the throne. Thus a regency was established for this child monarch. But the government remain unstable and the possibility of conquest threaten the island of Oahu during his reign.

Threat of Conquest

With rare forebearance in a barbarous chief, Alapainui neither annexed Molokai to Hawaii nor covered annexation by the name of protectorate; but reinstated the chiefs who had suffered from Kapiiohokalani's oppression, and allowed them to manage their own affairs, domestic or foreign, according to ancient customs. What Alapainui really sought for was the possible conquest of Oahu and annexation of Molokai would hindered Alapainui's force and manpower. This possibility arose out of Kanahaokalani's father's defeat at Kawela on the island of Molokai, which rendered more probable, perhaps, from the number of Oahu chiefs that had been killed in the battle, and the fact that Kanahaokalani, as King of Oahu, was but a young boy, thus inferring a regency, discord, and weakness in the Oahu government.

Stopping on Molokai only long enough to refresh his men and repair his own losses, Alapainui started with his fleet for the conquest of Oahu. Attempting to land at Waikiki, at Waialae, at Koko, and at Hanauma, Alapainui found the young Oahu king's regency fully prepared to meet the emergency ; and baffled and repelled at all these places, he sailed round the east side of the island and effected a landing at a place called Oneawa, in Kailua, district of Koolaupoko. Though unable to prevent his landing on that side of the island, the Oahu forces, after crossing the Pali of Nuuanu in great haste, succeeded in limiting the operations of the war to a mere series of skirmishes, thus protracting the contest for nearly a month.

Kauaian Aid

Immediately on the arrival of Alapainui's fleet on the coasts of Oahu, messengers were sent to the young king's uncle, Peleioholani, who at that time held the sovereignty over the western portion of Kauai, to come to the assistance of the Oahu chiefs. With the least possible delay Peleioholani started with a fleet and a number of warriors for Oahu, and joining their forces, took supreme command of the young king and his chiefs.

Among the Oahu chiefs was one Naili, chief of Waianae, brother of Kamakaimoku, the mother of Kalaniopuu and Keoua, and a cousin of Alapainui. It is not known on whose suggestion he acted, but being so nearly related to the principal Hawaii chiefs, he was considered the fittest man to approach Alapainui with overtures of peace. Advancing to the outposts of the Hawaii army in Kaneohe, he encountered Kalaniopuu and Keoua, and having made himself known to them, they conducted him to the headquarters of Alapainui at Waihaukalua, near the shore. He was cordially received, and Alapai expressed his willingness to meet and confer with Peleioholani with a view of terminating the war. It was agreed that the Hawaii fleet should move to a place called Naonealaa, in Kaneohe, and that Alapainui alone should go ashore unarmed, while Peleioholani on his part would advance from the lines of his army equally alone and unarmed. The meeting took place as arranged. The two sovereigns met on the beach, and acknowledging each other's right and dignities, a peace was concluded, and Alapai gave orders to evacuate Oahu.

Later life

It is probable Peleioholani usurped the throne from his nephew, but this would have cause unrest among the chiefs of Oahu. But Kanahaokalani remained in the dark until it was mentioned in 1738, the following year, that he died and his uncle had succeeded him as Sovereign King of Oahu. With his death ended the continuos line of succession from father to son of the Oahuan Kings from the days of Kaihikapu-a-Manuia, Kanahaokalani's great-great-great-great-great grandfather.

References

* Abraham Fornander, An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origin and Migrations, Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969. Page 138-141, 288-289