The Aliʻi nui of Maui was the supreme ruler of the islands of

Maui Maui (; Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ) is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2). It is the List of islands of the United States by area, 17th-largest in the United States. Maui is one of ...

, one of the four main

Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands () are an archipelago of eight major volcanic islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the Hawaii (island), island of Hawaii in the south to nort ...

as well as the smaller island of

Lanai Lānai is the sixth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island in the chain. It is colloquially known as the Pineapple Island because of its past as an island-wide pineapple plantation. The island's on ...

. The title is the same as that of the ''Alii nui'' of the other islands. The title or phrase ''Mōʻī'' is sometimes used for the title of the monarchs of Maui; however, it is not an ancient word in the

Hawaiian language Hawaiian (', ) is a critically endangered Polynesian language of the Austronesian language family, originating in and native to the Hawaiian Islands. It is the native language of the Hawaiian people. Hawaiian, along with English, is an offi ...

and has origins in the mid 19th century. The only monarchs to officially hold the title of ''Mōʻī'' are

Kalākaua Kalākaua (David Laʻamea Kamanakapuʻu Māhinulani Nālaʻiaʻehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua; November 16, 1836 – January 20, 1891), was the last king and penultimate monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, reigning from February 12, 1874, u ...

and his sister

Liliʻuokalani Queen Liliʻuokalani (; Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Kamakaʻeha; September 2, 1838 – November 11, 1917) was the only queen regnant and the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ruling from January 29, 1891, until the overthrow of th ...

Overview

The monarchs of

, like those of the other Hawaiian islands, claim descent from

Wākea In the Hawaiian religion, Wākea, the Sky father weds Papahānaumoku, the earth mother. The two are considered the parent couple of the ruling chiefs of Hawaii. ''Wākea'' was the eldest son of Kahiko ("Ancient One"), who lived in Olalowa ...

and

Papa Papa is a word used in many languages as an affectionate term for father. Papa or PAPA may refer to: Geography and geology * Papa, Samoa, a village on the island of Savai'i * Papa, Scotland, various islands * Pápa, a town in Hungary *Papa rock ...

. They were sometimes referred to as ''Mōī'' beginning in the mid 19th century, and would later become commonly translated from the

into English as the word "

king King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

Paumakua Paumakua is a name of one ancient chief who lived in ancient Hawaii and was Alii nui of Maui. He is described in legends as a ruler of the island of Maui. His genealogy is given in ancient chant '' Kumulipo''. Because of his father, he is also k ...

, the first ruler of Maui, was thirty-first in line of descent from Wakea. In the beginning, from about Paumakua of Maui down to

Kawaokaohele Kawaokaohele (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian for "our days of poverty") was a Aliʻi, High Chief who ruled the island of Maui in ancient Hawaii. Biography Kawaokaohele was a son of Kahekili I and Haukanuimakamaka, who was a High Aliʻi, Chiefess an ...

's reign, the ''Alii nui'' of Maui only controlled the much larger western portion of the island while the chiefs of Hana remained independent.

Mauiloa Mauiloa was a High Chief (''Aliʻi'') of Maui. He is mentioned in legends and old chants and was likely a semi-historical person or character from myths. He had control over portions of Western Maui and relied on the allegiance of many district ...

had tried to unite the island once, but troubles with the Hana chief continued. It was under

Piʻilani Piʻilani ("ascent to heaven") (born ca. 1460) ruled as Alii nui of Maui, Chief of the island of Maui in the later part of the 15th century. At the time Maui was an independent Monarchy, kingdom within the List of islands of Hawaii, islands of Haw ...

's reign that he conquered the east and united Maui for the first time.

Kahekili II Kahekili II, full name Kahekilinuiʻahumanu, (–1794) was an () of Maui. His name was short for Kāne-Hekili after the Hawaiian god of thunder. Because Kāne-Hekili was believed to be black on one side, Kahekili tattooed one side of his body fr ...

expanded his empire by conquering the neighbouring island of

Oahu Oahu (, , sometimes written Oahu) is the third-largest and most populated island of the Hawaiian Islands and of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu's southeast coast. The island of Oahu and the uninhabited Northwe ...

in 1783 and through marriage of his brother allied himself with the Queen of Kauai. However, his son Kalanikūpule was the last of his line. Maui was weakened when Kalanikupule and his uncle, Kaeokulani, fought over the succession to the throne. Maui along with Oahu fell to

Kamehameha I Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; to May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii ...

in 1795 and ushered in the

Kingdom of Hawaii The Hawaiian Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ɛ ɐwˈpuni həˈvɐjʔi, was an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country from 1795 to 1893, which eventually encompassed all of the inhabited Hawaii ...

''Alii nui'' of Maui

*Alii nui

*Alii nui Lono-a-Pi'ilani *Alii nui Kiha-a-Pi'ilani *Alii nui Kamalalawalu *Alii nui

Kauhiakama Kauhiakama (Kauhi-a-Kama) was a king of the island of Maui in ancient Hawaii. He was a son of Chief Kamalalawalu and his wife, Piʻilaniwahine I. Kauhiakama married Kapukini, who was descended from Līloa. Their child was son Kalanikaumakaowāk ...

*Alii nui

Kalanikaumakaowākea Kalanikaumakaowākea (or Kalanikaumaka-o-Wākea) was an ''Aliʻi nui'' of the island of Maui in ancient Hawaii. He was named after the god called Wākea, who is the Sky father In comparative mythology, sky father is a term for a recurring co ...

*Alii nui Lonohonuakini 17th century *Alii nui Kaulahea II *Alii nui Kekaulike 1700s–1736 *Alii nui Kamehamehanui Aiʻlūʻau 1736–1765 *Alii nui

1765–1794 *Alii nui Kaeokulani 1794 *Alii nui Kalanikūpule of Maui and Oahu 1794–1795 *Incorporated into

's kingdom

Hāna

During the early years of the Kingdom of Maui the island was divided in half. The much larger western side was under the rule of the descendants of

, and East Maui, comprising the districts of Koolau, Hāna, Kipahulu, and Kaupo, was at times under independent rulers. The monarchs of Hāna, like those of the other Hawaiian chiefdom, probably claimed descent from Wakea and

Pāpa In religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law or a law of the deities. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered ...

. These monarchs were in some sense district chiefs and

vassal A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerain ...

s of the Western rulers of Maui. From Eleio to Hoolae the aliʻi of Hāna remained mostly free from West Maui under Kakaalaneo to

. The sixth ''Aliʻi Nui'' of Hāna, Hoolae, became a subject of

and even allowed his daughter to marry Piʻilani's son

Kiha-a-Piʻilani Kiha-a-Piilani was an Aliʻi nui of Maui (tribal chief of Maui). He was born ca. 1510. Kiha was a son of Piʻilani, who built great ''heiau'' (temple). Kihaʻs mother was named La’ieloheloheikawai. Shortly after Piʻilani died, Kihaʻs brother ...

. The aliʻi of Hāna's allegiance to the West Maui ''Mōʻī'' were always precarious, even in later times after Piʻilani's conquest. The main strategic advantage of the aliʻi of Hāna was their command of the fortress of Kauwiki, considered impregnable.

Hāna chiefs

*Aliʻi nui Eleio of Hāna during the reign of Kakaalaneo *Aliʻi nui Kalahaeha of Hāna *Aliʻi nui Lei of Hāna *Aliʻi nui Kamohohalii of Hāna *Aliʻi nui Kalaehina of Hāna *Aliʻi nui Hoolae of Hāna

References

External links

*
Hawaiian Roots: Maui Kings
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mo'i Of Maui