Keōua Kūahuula was an ''
Alii'' (member of the royal class) during the time of the unification of the
Kingdom of Hawaii.
Family
His name means "rain cloud of the red
cloak
A cloak is a type of loose garment worn over clothing, mostly but not always as outerwear for outdoor wear, serving the same purpose as an overcoat, protecting the wearer from the weather. It may form part of a uniform. Cloaks have been and ...
".
His father was
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 ...
, the king at the time of the arrival of
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 ...
.
His mother was
Kānekapōlei
Kānekapōlei was a Native Hawaiian '' aliʻi wahine'' (queen) and wife of Kalaniʻōpuʻu, ''aliʻi nui'' (king/supreme ruler) of the Island of Hawaii and aunt of Kamehameha I, who were all present at Captain James Cook's death. She called atten ...
, one of the later wives of Kalaniōpuu,
and mother of
Pauli Kaʻōleiokū, the grandfather of
Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop KGCOK RoK (December 19, 1831 – October 16, 1884), born Bernice Pauahi Pākī, was an '' alii'' (noble) of the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Hawaii and a well known philanthropist. At her death, her estate was the la ...
and
Ruth Keelikolani.
This meant his older half-brother
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 ...
was in line to inherit the kingdom.
Later life
He was not happy, however, to receive no lands after his father died in 1781. He challenged his cousin
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. Th ...
, resulting in the
Battle of Moku'ohai
The Battle of Mokuʻōhai, fought in 1782 on the island of Hawaiʻi, was a key battle in the early days of Kamehameha I's wars to conquer the Hawaiian Islands. It was his first major victory, solidifying his leadership over much of the island.
...
. He escaped the battle to relatives in the
Kaū district to the South in 1782. Although Kamehameha controlled the West side of the island, repeated raids never resulted in a clear victory for either side.
In 1790, after escaping another attack, his party was caught in an eruption of
Kilauea, and lost two thirds of his army to lava.
He was killed in 1791 when Kamehameha invited him to the
Puukoholā Heiau in
Kohala. He was captured in what is sometimes called the Battle of
Kawaihae
Kawaihae is an unincorporated community on the west side of the island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii, north of Kailua-Kona. Its harbor is one of only two on the island, together with that of Hilo.
Description
The town's harbor includ ...
, and Keōua's body offered to sanctify the new temple.
He may have mutilated himself before landing so as to render himself an inappropriate sacrificial victim. As he stepped on shore, one of Kamehameha's chiefs threw a spear at him. By some accounts he dodged it, but was then cut down by musket fire. Caught by surprise, Keōua's bodyguards were killed.
Keoua had many wives including Kaʻiolaniokaʻiwalani, Hiʻileiohiiaka, Nalaniewalu and Luahiwa. He had several daughters and two sons.
on Kekoolani family web site
He was the last independent district ruler on the Hawaii (island), island of Hawaii.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuahuula, Keoua
1791 deaths
Royalty of Hawaii (island)
House of Keawe
Hawaiian military personnel
Year of birth unknown