The following is a list of ''Alii nui'' of Hawaii. The ''alii nui'' is the supreme ruler (sometimes called the "King" or ''Moi'') of the island. '' Alii'' refers to the ruling class of Hawaii prior to the formation of the

united kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. Here, "Hawaii" refers to the

island of Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii ) is the largest island in the United States, located in the state of Hawaii. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of , it has 63% of th ...

, also called "the Big Island".

''Alii nui'' of the Big Island

* Kapawa * Pilikaʻaeia, 1125-1155 *

Kukohou Kukohou (or Kukohoa) was High Chief of the Island of Hawaiʻi in ancient Hawaii. His title was ''Alii Nui'' — "Chief of the island". His famous descendant was King Kamehameha I. A member of the Pili line, Kukohou was son of Loʻe and his wife, ...

, 1155-1185 *

Kaniuhu Chief Kaniuhu ( Hawaiian: ''Aliʻi Kaniuhu'') was an ancient Hawaiian noble and the High Chief (Hawaiian: ''Aliʻi Nui'') of the Island of Hawaiʻi (the "Big Island"). He was a member of the “Pili line”, as a descendant of Chief Pilikaaiea an ...

, 1185-1215 *

Kanipahu Kanipahu was an ancient Hawaiian chief. He was of the Pili line. Kanipahu was a son of Chief Kaniuhu and Hiliamakani. After Kanipahu lived on Molokaʻi and it was discovered that he was a chief, he was taken (as husband) by Hualani, the ruling c ...

, 1215-1245 * Kamaʻiole, usurper of Kanipahu, deposed by Kalapana, 1245-1255 *

Kalapana of Hawaiʻi Kalapana was a High Chief who lived in ancient Hawaii. Kalapana is also known as Kalapanakuʻioʻiomoa and Kalapaua. Kalapanakuʻioʻiomoa is his longest name that includes the nickname. He is commonly known as either ''Kalapa'' or ''Kalapana''. ...

, 1255-1285 * Kahaʻimaoeleʻa, 1285-1315 *

Kalaunuiohua Kalaunuiohua (''nui'' = “great”, ''ohua'' = "servant") was a High Chief of the island of Hawaiʻi in ancient Hawaii. He was a member of the Pili line. Kalau is his short name. Life Kalaunuiohua was born on Hawaiʻi (the Big Island), as a so ...

, 1315-1345 * Kūʻaiwa, 1345-1375 *

Kahoukapu Kahoukapu was an ancient Hawaiian nobleman and High Chief of the Big Island — Hawaiʻi. He was a member of the Pili line—as a descendant of Pilikaʻaiea—and an ancestor of King Kamehameha I the Great of Hawai‘i, the first ruler of the Ki ...

, 1375-1405 * Kauholanuimahu, 1405-1435 * Kihanuilulumoku, 1435-1465 *

Līloa Līloa was a ruler of the island of Hawaii in the late 15th century. He kept his royal compound in Waipi'o Valley. Līloa was the firstborn son of Kiha-nui-lulu-moku, one of the ''noho aliʻi'' (ruling elite). He descended from Hāna-laʻa-nui. L� ...

, 1465-1495 * Hākau, 1495-1510 Unbroken line of rule to this point. Hakau, Liloa's first born and named heir, was overthrown by Liloa's second son Umi-a-Liloa; however, the hereditary line of Liloa is unbroken and continues. * 'Umi-a-Līloa, 1510-1525 * Kealiʻiokaloa, 1525-1545 * Keawenuiaʻumi, 1545-1575 *

Kaikilani Kaikilani (16th-century-17th-century), also known as Kaʻikilani nui aliʻiwahine ʻo Puna, was a High Chiefess and ruler ''Aliʻi Nui'' of Hawaiʻi island. She was a legendary figure in Hawaiian native oral tradition who dates to around the 16th ...

(female), 1575-1605 * Keakealani Kāne, 1605-1635 * Keakamāhana (female), 1635-1665 * Keakealaniwahine (female), 1665-1695 *

Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku Keaweīkekahialiiokamoku (c. 1665 – c. 1725) was the king of Hawaii Island in the late 17th century. He was the great-grandfather of Kamehameha I, the first king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was a progenitor of the House of Keawe. Biography He ...

, 1695-1725, co-ruler with his half-sister wife

Kalanikauleleiaiwi Kalanikauleleiaiwi was a Chiefess on the island of Hawaii in the late 17th century and early 18th century. She was considered to be the co-ruler of the island of Hawaii with her half-brother, Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku, the 21st King of Hawaii. ...

Hereditary line of Liloa is broken by the usurping rule of Alapainui. * Alapaʻinui, nephew of Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku and usurper of his son; 1725-1754. * Keaweʻopala The usurping line of rule ends with Keaweʻopala who is killed in battle while his son and heir,

Kalaimanokahoʻowaha ''Kalaimanokahoʻowaha'' (also known as Kanaʻina) was an aliʻi high chief of the island of Hawaii who lived during the period of Captain James Cook's visit to the islands. He was the chief said to have struck the first blow to Cook when he atte ...

, did survive to greet

Captain James Cook James Cook (7 November 1728 Old Style date: 27 October – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the British Royal Navy, famous for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 in the Pacific Ocean and ...

. The hereditary line of Liloa resumes through the grandson of Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku, Kalaniʻōpuʻu. *

Kalaniʻōpuʻu Kalaniōpuu-a-Kaiamamao (c. 1729 – April 1782) was the aliʻi nui (supreme monarch) of the island of Hawaiʻi. He was called ''Terreeoboo, King of Owhyhee'' by James Cook and other Europeans. His name has also been written as Kaleiopuu. Bio ...

Kīwalaʻō Kīwalaʻō (1760 – July 1782) was the aliʻi nui of the island of Hawaii in 1782 when he was defeated in battle and overthrown by Kamehameha I. Early life Kīwalaʻō was born in 1760 to Aliʻi Nui, Kalaniʻōpuʻu and his queen consort Kalol ...

, April 1782-July 1782, ''Alii'' of Kaū Kalaniʻōpuʻu's line ends with the death of Kīwalaʻō by Kamehameha's forces. *

Kamehameha I Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiikui Kamehameha o Iolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; – May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. T ...

''Alii nui'' of the Big Island

See also