Kaikilani (16th-century-17th-century), also known as Kaʻikilani nui aliʻiwahine ʻo Puna, was a High Chiefess and ruler ''

Aliʻi Nui The aliʻi were the traditional nobility of the Hawaiian islands. They were part of a hereditary line of rulers, the ''noho aliʻi''. The word ''aliʻi'' has a similar meaning in the Samoan language and other Polynesian languages, and in Māori ...

'' of

Hawaiʻi island Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii ) is the List of islands of the United States by area, largest island in the United States, located in the U.S. state, state of Hawaii. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of High island, volcanic ...

. She was a legendary figure in Hawaiian native oral tradition who dates to around the 16th century in the western calendar. Her father was Kukaʻilani and mother was Kaohukiokalani, both half-blood siblings of their father, Kealiʻiokaloa, ruling chief of Hawai'i Island. She was married to Ali'i Lonoikamakahiki (not to be confused with the god

Lono In Hawaiian religion, the god Lono is associated with fertility, agriculture, rainfall, music and peace. In one of the many Hawaiian stories of Lono, he is a fertility and music god who descended to Earth on a rainbow to marry Laka. In agricultu ...

), son of Keawe-nui-a-‘Umi, and heir to the throne of Hawai'i island, the moiship. When the king died Lono did not feel he was ready for the responsibility of kingship and declined to rule until he had mastered the martial skills. Hawai'i Island was divided into three separate districts. Kona and Kohala had two rulers, Kanaloa-kua'ana and 'Umi-o-ka-lani; Ka-'u and Puna were ruled by Lono-i-ka-makahiki; Hilo and Hamakua we're ruled by Kumalae-nui-a-'Umi and his son, Makua. Kaikilani ruled as the first chiefess in Hawaiian history. When Lono had shown his martial skills to the satisfaction of his subjects he returned and took up the throne as Co ruler with Kaikilani. A crater on the planet Venus has been named ''Kaikilani'' in her honour, see

List of craters on Venus This is a list of craters on Venus, named by the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature. All craters on Venus are named after famous women or female first names. ''(For features on Venus othe ...

.Horner
Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, International Astronomical Union (IAU). Accessed March 2016

References

Fornander collection
Fornander,

Abraham Fornander Abraham Fornander (November 4, 1812 – November 1, 1887) was a Swedish-born emigrant who became an important journalist, judge, and ethnologist in Hawaii. Early life and education Fornander was born in Öland, Sweden on November 4, 1812, to An ...

Collection of Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-Lore. Accessed March 2016
Myths & legends of our new possessions & protectorate
by Skinner, Charles M. (Charles Montgomery), 1852–1907, Published 1900, Accessed March 2016

, Retold from ''King Kalakaua's The Legends and Myths of Hawai'i''
Kaikilani%5D in the Hawaiian Legends Index http://manoa.hawaii.edu/hawaiiancollection/legends/subjectsearch.php?q=Kaikilani
* David Kalakaua:
The Legends and Myths of Hawaii
' Hawaiian legends House of Līloa 16th-century women rulers 17th-century women rulers 17th-century monarchs in Oceania {{Hawaii-royal-stub