Kamehameha I

Background

The royal court raised Kamehameha. After his uncle died, his son Kīwalaʻō became king. Kamehameha was given the position of the Hawaiian god of war’s guardian, creating a divide between the families. Although Kīwalaʻō’s position as successor was irrefutable, Kamehameha’s possession of the war god encouraged him to rise within the ranks.

Kamehameha used his newfound confidence to challenge the authority of King Kīwalaʻō, and he eventually gathered a group of rebellious chiefs together to begin a civil war. For four years, many battles took place, and there was a great deal of jockeying for position and privilege amongst the chiefs. By 1790, he had much control of Hawaii. Kamehameha also had two English staff who knew how to handle muskets and cannons, which gave him a competitive edge over his adversaries. Thanks to their help, he won other territories on the island. Five years later, he managed to conquer Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Oahu. This victory meant he had gained control of most islands except for Kauai and Niihau, which yielded in 1810 without a fight. After centralizing power into his own hands, Kamehameha managed to organize the government into a period of peace. He managed to keep the way of his ancestors while still being contemporary enough to conduct business with foreigners efficiently.

Kamehameha passed away at Kailua, Kona, on the island of Hawaii. His bones were hidden, and the ceremony that followed was of traditional Hawaiian style, except that there was no human sacrifice. After his death, his favorite wife was made prime minister and a regent of the kingdom. Four statues were commissioned to honor King Kamehameha’s memory. Every June 11th, which is Kamehameha Day, these statues are draped with flower lei. The statues can be found in Downtown Honolulu, Kohala, Island of Hawaii, National Statuary Hall, Washington D.C, and Hilo, Island of Hawaii.