Category: Spirituality

1. Kalaikuahulu: Was a skilled kakaolelo (orator) and moo kuauhau (genealogist). He defeated a genealogist from Bora Bora during a genealogy reciting contest in Lahaina (1805). He was an important member of the council by 1809. He was instrumental in aborting a plot to kill Kaumualii during the meeting with Kamehameha in Honolulu Harbor in 1810.

2. Nahili: A skilled alihikaua (war general) who was placed in charge of one of the “Flying Ends” (these were those warriors on either side of the main body formation in battle) during the battle of Nuuanu. He was also appointed sailing master of Kamehameha. He died in 1813.

3. Kalaimamahu: A decendant of Liloa and younger brother of Kamehameha. He was an important principle chief from the beginning of Kamehameha’s rise to power. He was a pukaua war chief at the battle of Mokuohai and continued in the wars with rival chiefs. After the battle of Nuuanu, he is given the lands of Laluaokau, Pau, Waimanu and Laie. He dies on Oahu.

4. KEAWE A HEULU KALUAPANA: Uncle and inner circle member of the Ka Aha Ula o Kamehameha Kunuiakea from the beginning following the death of Kalaniopuu. For more information on this alii, please refer to full bio on individual portrait.

5. Kauakahikaha’ola: A renown Kahuna from Kauai. He was a counselor for Kalaniopuu and later served Kamehameha in the same capacity. He was appointed early to the council and was also a moo kuauhau (genealogist).

6. KE’EAUMOKU PAPAIAHIAHI: Inner circle member of the Ka Aha Ula o Kamehameha Kunuiakea from the beginning following the death of Kalaniopuu. He had the most turbulent personality of Kamehameha’s sacred circle of advisors. Trouble seemed to shadow him all his life. His father was Keawepoepoe and his mother was Kama`iku. His paternal line bestowed him with all the privileges extended to the royal house of Liloa of Hawaii. Through his maternal line came the royal blood of Kalani Piilani of Maui. His grandfather was Lonoikahaupu ruler of Kauai, and therefore he inherited all the kapu and status from those royal ancestors. He was a true pukaua (warrior leader). He was tall and stately but had a quick temper and was very fierce in battle. He was a half brother to the kapu twins Kame’eiamoku and Kamanawa who were all uncles to Kamehameha. He was also the father of Kamehameha’s favorite wife Kaahumanu. For more information on this alii, please refer to full bio on individual portrait.

7. Ka’aloa: He was one of the early appointed councilors of Kamehameha and previously served in that same capacity under Kalaniopuu. It is a measure of his ability and competence that he was asked to serve on the high councils of both great alii nui.
8. KAMEHAMEHA KUNUIAKEA Kamehameha Kunuiakea (Kamehameha) called the great, is the most well known of all Hawaiian chiefs. His name is known worldwide. His exploits and accomplishments are legion. It would be impossible to include even the highlights of his life in a bio-capsule such as this. For more information on this alii, please refer to full bio on individual portrait.

9. Keli’imaika’i: Kalanimalokulokuikapo’okalani (Keliimaika’i) was a younger brother of Kamehameha and one of his principle chiefs from the beginning. He is said to have been the favorite brother of Kamehameha. He was the father of Chief Kekuaokalani and Chiefess Ka’oanaeha, grandmother of Queen Emma Naea Rooke. After the battle of Nuuana, he was given the lands of Kaneloa in Waikiki, Kona and Punaluu, Ko’olauloa, O’ahu. He dies on O’ahu in 1809.

10. KEKUHAUPI’O: Kekuhaupi’o was the senior advisor to Kamehameha. Of the five members of the Aha ‘Ula (the sacred red chord) or symbolically the royal chiefly council tied together by blood, Kekuhaupi’o had the most influence on the life of the young Kamehameha. He was responsible for all the training of his young charge including military science, martial arts, use of weapons, genealogy, farming, fishing, and physical training. For more information on this alii, please refer to full bio on individual portrait.

11. Kawelo’okalani: A younger brother to Kamehameha and one of his principle chiefs from the beginning, which began at the battle of Mokuohai in South Kona that resulted in the death of Kiwala’o.

12. KAME’EIAMOKU: Kapu twin and uncle and inner circle member of the Ka Aha Ula o Kamehameha Kunuiakea. Of all the councilors, they are the most closely related to Kamehameha. The twins were also half brothers to Kahekilinuiahumanu, Kalola, Kamehamehanuiailuau, Kauhiaimokuakama, Kekumanoha, Ke’eaumokuapaiahiahi, Keawema’uhili and Namahana. The twins other relatives were listed among the who’s who of Hawaiian aristocracy. When Kame’eiamoku and Kamanawa were living on Maui, their older brother Kahekili made them kapu and sent them to Hawaii to stay by Kamehameha’s side and be his “kahu” (gardians). Kahekili is recognized as one po’olua father to Kamehameha. His other po’olua father was Keoua (half brother of Kalaniopu’u with the same mother) of Hawaii. The twins were instructed by Kahekili to protect, advise, guide and teach Kamehameha. They remained faithful to their young charge during the reign of Alapa’i, and after his death, Kalaniopu’u’s that followed. They continued serving well into Kamehameha’s own rise to power. They were by his side until their own deaths preceded the culmination of his conquests. For more information on this alii, please refer to full bio on individual portrait.

13. Hueo Kalanimoku: A grandson of Maui Alii nui Kekaulike and older brother to Kamauleule (Chief Boki) and Chiefess Wahinepi’o. He held the high office of Kalaimoku in the Aha Ula. He was also appointed Pukaua Nui (senior war chief) and Pu’uku Nui (Treasurer- with the duty of dividing lands, foods, and gifts to the al’I and makaainana by Kamehameha. He was the presiding chief on the island of O’ahu. The laws determining life and death were also in his hands. He masterminds the takeover of the islands of Kauai and Niihau following the death of Kaumuali’i. He was sent by Liholiho to squash the uprising of Kekuaokalani and his followers at the battle of Kuamo’o and abolished the last holdouts of the old religion. He died in 1827 in Kailua Kona.

14. KAMANAWA: see Kamee’iamoku bio. The twins are the most recognizable and best known of all of Kamehameha’s royal councilors. They are seen as heraldic supporters on the Royal Coats of Arms of the Hawaiian Monarchy from King Kamehameha III through the reign of Queen Lili’u’okalani. Kame’eiamoku holds the kahili and Kamanawa holds the spear. Kamanawa was also sent on multiple diplomatic assignments by Kamehameha. For more information on this alii, please refer to full bio on individual portrait.

15. HOLO’AE: A very famous and renown high priest, he was a descendant of Pa’ao and Piilani and was the Kahuna Nui of Kalaniopuu when Capt. James Cook landed at Kealakekua Bay. Holo’ae was a brother to Chiefess Kanekapolei, mother of Kalaniopu’u and Kaukoko the father of Kekuhaupi’o. He served as Kamehameha’s Kahuna Nui and performed rituals at the request of Kamehameha to determine the will of the ancestors on what turned out to be the last day of battle at Mokuohai which resulted in the death of Kiwala’o. He was assisted that day by his daughter Pine, wife of Kekuhaupi’o. He probably died during the early phases of Kamehameha’s battles of consolidation.

16. Hewahewa: A Kahuna Nui and councilor and was among those who were present at the death of Kamehameha at Kamakahonu, Kona. He was a member of the Pa’ao class of Kahuna Nui but later assited Liholiho, Keopuolani and Kaahumanu in the abolition of the Kapu system shortly following Kamehameha’s death.

17. Namakaeha: He was a half brother to Kaiana-a-ahuula. He revolted against Kamehameha in mid-1796 and is defeated by Kamehameha at Kaipalaoa in Hilo.