Who is Kamehameha the Great?
Monarch Was First To Unite Islands
On June 11, the state celebrates the birth of King Kamehameha the Great, also known as Kamehameha Paiea.
Kamehameha (pictured, left) united the Hawaiian Islands for the first time in 1810 and became the archipelago's first royal figure. Peace and prosperity came with his rule.
Legends said that Kamehameha was born on a stormy night during which a bright star (Kokoiki) appeared in the sky. Historians believed that this star was Halley's Comet, which traversed the Hawaiian skies in 1758.
Kahuna (priests) believed that this child would grow up to become ruler of all the Hawaiian Islands. Word of this prophecy spread to Alapai, an already ruling chief on the island of Hawaii, who then ordered the infant to be put to death.
Kamehameha's mother secretly gave her child to a childless couple who raised her son in Waipi'o Valley. Alapai later discovered that Kamehameha was still living, but allowed him to return to court.
Kamehameha had grown to be a very bright and ambitious individual. He used the knowledge of Westerners to his advantage and rivaled his cousin Kiwalao for power. War broke out between the two cousins, but in the end Kamehameha came out victorious and went on to conquer each island, except for Kauai, which was given to him. He established the Hawaiian Kingdom and ruled until 1810. Kamehameha died in 1819, and his two sons, Kamehameha II and III succeeded him.
Kamehameha (pictured, left) united the Hawaiian Islands for the first time in 1810 and became the archipelago's first royal figure. Peace and prosperity came with his rule.
Legends said that Kamehameha was born on a stormy night during which a bright star (Kokoiki) appeared in the sky. Historians believed that this star was Halley's Comet, which traversed the Hawaiian skies in 1758.
Kahuna (priests) believed that this child would grow up to become ruler of all the Hawaiian Islands. Word of this prophecy spread to Alapai, an already ruling chief on the island of Hawaii, who then ordered the infant to be put to death.
Kamehameha's mother secretly gave her child to a childless couple who raised her son in Waipi'o Valley. Alapai later discovered that Kamehameha was still living, but allowed him to return to court.
Kamehameha had grown to be a very bright and ambitious individual. He used the knowledge of Westerners to his advantage and rivaled his cousin Kiwalao for power. War broke out between the two cousins, but in the end Kamehameha came out victorious and went on to conquer each island, except for Kauai, which was given to him. He established the Hawaiian Kingdom and ruled until 1810. Kamehameha died in 1819, and his two sons, Kamehameha II and III succeeded him.Copyright 2003 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
