Pauli Kaʻōleiokū (c. 1767–1818) was a

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

Early childhood

Pauli Kaʻōleiokū was born in about 1767. His mother was High Chiefess

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 attent ...

, a wife of

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 ...

. His paternity is a matter of some debate. However, it is known that Pauli Kaōleiokū was an ''ali'i po'olua''. Both

and

Kamehameha Kamehameha may refer to: House of Kamehameha *House of Kamehameha, the dynasty of the Hawaiian Kings **Kamehameha I (1736–1819), first king of the Hawaiian Islands **Kamehameha II (1797–1824), second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii **Kamehameha ...

accepted him as their own son. A dispute is not suggested by this from Hawaiian tradition as po'olua was a common and formally acknowledged, chiefly acceptance that enhanced the offspring's lineage. He was admitted into manhood by the traditional ''awa'' ceremony around 1778. Shortly after that, he was among the first to meet Captain Cook when he came to the islands. He was known to be an expert spear thrower because of his ability to predict where a moving target would go to.

Battle of Mokuʻōhai

In 1782

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 ...

won his first decisive victory towards conquering the islands. King Kalaniʻopuʻu had died a year before leaving his son Kiwalaʻo to rule in his place. Keōua Kūahuula was left nothing by his father after his death. Enraged by this, Keōua made several provocative moves to insult the new ruler and would become Kamehameha's chief rival during the battle that would ensue. Kamehameha received encouragement and the backing of several prominent figures instead of the new King. Kaōleiokū was Keōua's half-brother and supported him in the battle and afterwards, escaped with him to Kaʻū. Keōua was convinced by twins

Kamanawa ''For other persons with this name, please see Kamanawa II.'' Kamanawa (died c. 1802?) was a Hawaiian high chief and early supporter of King Kamehameha I, known as one of the royal ''Nīʻaupiʻo'' twins with his brother Kameeiamoku. He later be ...

and

Kameʻeiamoku Kameeiamoku (died 1802) was a Native Hawaiians, Hawaiian high chief and the Counselor of State to King Kamehameha I. He was called Kamehameha's uncle, but he was really the cousin of Kamehameha's mother, Kekuʻiapoiwa II, Kekuiapoiwa II. Birth a ...

to travel with them when summoned to Kawaihae by Kamehameha. Kaʻōleiokū was among the formal entourage. Keōua was resigned to a probable fate and surrounded himself with his selection of chiefs to die with in his own canoe. Others were ordered to accompany Kaōleiokū. As they came to shore to greet Kamehameha,

Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi (c. 1736–1804) was a Aliʻi, Hawaiian high chief and the father of Kaʻahumanu, Kaahumanu. He was the principal agent in elevating Kamehameha I to the throne of Hawaii and served in a capacity similar to commander in chief ...

stood from a distance with his men and threw a spear at Keōua, who, after a small fight, was killed. Kaōleiokū was saved by command of Kamehameha I, who did not intervene during the struggle moments before. Another popular version of this event states that Kamehameha's brother, Keliimaikai had attempted to intercede for Keōua but failed and when Kaōleiokū's group made shore, Keliimaikai demanded that Kamehameha kill the young man and his group stating: ''"You have killed my Hanai, and I will now kill yours"''. To which Kamehameha replied: ''"He shall not die: he is the child of my youth."'' After that, he was taken into Kamehameha's court and traveled to

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 ...

where he fought problematic Russians around 1816.

Family and legacy

He was the father of four children,

Kalanipauahi Pauahi (c.1804–1826) was a member of the royal family of 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 coun ...

, Hānuna, Keolaloa and Kōnia. Keōuawahine was the mother of Kalanipauahi and Hānuna, and Kahailiōpua Luahine was the mother of Kōnia and Keolaloa. He died February 19, 1818, supposedly, by means of ''akua hānai'', being secretly fed the scrapings of the wooden images of the poison gods, or the ''kālaipāhoa'' gods.John Papa Īī (1983). Fragments of Hawaiian History, Edition 2. Bishop Museum Press. . Page 124 He was a grandfather of

Keʻelikōlani Ruth Ke‘elikōlani, or sometimes written as Luka Ke‘elikōlani, also known as Ruth Ke‘elikōlani Keanolani Kanāhoahoa or Ruth Keanolani Kanāhoahoa Ke‘elikōlani (June 17, 1826 – May 24, 1883), was a member of the House of Kamehameha ...

and

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop KGCOK RoK (December 19, 1831 – October 16, 1884) was an '' alii'' (noble) of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii and a well known philanthropist. Ancestry, birth and early life Pauahi was born in Hon ...

Family tree

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaoleioku, Pauli 1760s births 1818 deaths Illegitimate children of Hawaiian monarchs Royalty of the Hawaiian Kingdom Burials at the Royal Mausoleum (Mauna ʻAla) Sons of kings