Chief Kaniuhu ( Hawaiian: ''Aliʻi Kaniuhu'') was an ancient Hawaiian noble and the High

Chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

(Hawaiian: ''Aliʻi Nui'') of the Island of

Hawaiʻi Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

(the "Big Island"). He was a member of the “

Pili line Pili line (House of Pili, Pili dynasty; Hawaiian language: ''Hale o Pili'') was a royal house in ancient Hawaii that ruled over the island of Hawaiʻi with deep roots in the history of Samoa and possibly beyond further to the west, Ao-Po ("gathe ...

”, as a descendant of Chief Pilikaaiea and his sister

Hina Hina may refer to: People and deities * Hina (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Hina (chiefess), a name given to several noble ladies who lived in ancient Hawaii * Hina (goddess), the name assigned to ...

, who were born on

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...

(''Kahiki'').

Etymology

Kaniuhu’s name means “grief/sorrow” in Hawaiian. He is also called Kaniuhi.

Life

Early life and marriage

Kaniuhu was born on the Big Island, in

ancient Hawaii Ancient Hawaii is the period of Hawaiian history preceding the unification in 1810 of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great. Traditionally, researchers estimated the first settlement of the Hawaiian islands as having occurred sporadicall ...

, to the High Chief

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, ...

and his half-sister, Lady

Hineuki ::''See also "Hina (chiefess)".'' Hineuki (also called Hinakeʻuki or simply Hina; ''keuki'' = "tantalizer") was a Hawaiian noble lady and Chiefess of the island of Hawaiʻi as the wife of Kukohou, ''Aliʻi Nui'' of Hawaiʻi. She was named after ...

, whose sexual

union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

was considered sacred, according to the

laws Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. ...

of the

Hawaiians Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, First Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians) ( haw, kānaka, , , and ), are the indigenous ethnic group of Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii ...

. In ancient Hawaii, nobles born from the “sacred unions” were thought to be

gods A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greater ...

on the

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

. Whilst he was still a boy, he was

circumcised Circumcision is a surgical procedure, procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin ...

, which was a rite of passage for the boys in

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

. It is unknown did he have any siblings. The wife of Kaniuhu was Lady Hiliamakani, whose parents are not known. They had a son named

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 ...

.Peleioholani, Solomon Lehuanui Kalaniomaiheuila (1906). ''Genealogy of the Robinson family, and ancient legends and chants of Hawaii'',

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...

Bulletin Publishing Company.

Reign

Kukohou died in ca. 1185, and Kaniuhu became his successor. He was the third chief of the Pili line and he ruled until his death, in ca. 1215, when he was succeeded by Kanipahu. He was an ancestor of the King

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 ...

of the

Kingdom of Hawaii The Hawaiian Kingdom, or Kingdom of Hawaiʻi ( Hawaiian: ''Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina''), was a sovereign state located in the Hawaiian Islands. The country was formed in 1795, when the warrior chief Kamehameha the Great, of the independent island ...

References

{{Portalbar, Hawaii Year of death unknown Royalty of Hawaii (island) House of Pili