High Chiefess Kalola Pupuka-o-Honokawailani

## High Chiefess Kalola Pupuka-o-Honokawailani: A Pivotal Figure in Hawaiian Royalty

High Chiefess Kalola Pupuka-o-Honokawailani, also known as Kalola Kekuipoiwa or Kalola Nui, was a prominent and highly sacred aliʻi (chiefess) of Maui during a transformative period in Hawaiian history. Her life, spanning approximately from 1735 to 1790, was intricately woven into the complex political and social fabric of the Hawaiian islands, particularly through her powerful lineage and strategic marital alliances. The first Europeans to encounter her referred to her as 'Rora-rora' [1].

Born around 1735 on Maui, Kalola Pupuka was the daughter of King Kekaulike, the aliʻi nui (paramount chief) of Maui, and Kekuʻiapoiwa I [2, 3]. This parentage placed her at the apex of Hawaiian nobility, granting her immense kapu (sacredness) and political influence. She was a full-blood sister to Kamehamehanui Aiʻluau and Kahekili II, both significant figures in their own right [4]. Her birth year is generally approximated as c. 1735, and her death occurred around 1790, at the age of approximately 55 years old [Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, Geni.com]. The exact circumstances of her death are not widely detailed in historical records, but it is understood to have occurred in the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Kalola Pupuka's family lineage was extensive and strategically important. She entered into several significant marital alliances that further solidified her position and produced offspring who would play crucial roles in the unification of the Hawaiian Kingdom. She married King Kalaniʻōpuʻu of Hawaii, with whom she had a son, Kīwalaʻō, who later became a king [5, 3]. Her marriage to her brother-in-law, Chief Keōua, resulted in a daughter, Kekuiapoiwa Liliha. Kekuiapoiwa Liliha, in turn, married Kīwalaʻō, and their union produced Queen Keōpūolani, who became the highest-ranking wife of Kamehameha I and the mother of two future kings, Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III [5, 3]. Kalola also married her brother, Kamehamehanui Aiʻluau, a practice known as niau pio, which was reserved for the highest-ranking aliʻi to preserve sacred bloodlines. From this union, she bore Kalanikauikikilokalaniakua, a chiefess of such high rank that the sun was not permitted to shine upon her, and she was allowed to climb the kapu heiau (sacred temples) of the gods. Tragically, Kalanikauikikilo committed suicide in 1808 at Honuakaha by taking the kālaipāhoa poison, protesting the marriage of her niece (Keōpūolani) to Kamehameha I [6, 4]. At the time the American ship *Eleanora* visited Maui in 1790, Kalola was also married to a chief named Kaopuiki [7, 8].

Kalola Pupuka's political role was primarily that of a high chiefess, wielding significant influence through her lineage and marital connections. While direct accounts of her specific political decisions or wars are less detailed than those of male aliʻi, her strategic marriages were instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the islands. Her children and grandchildren, particularly Keōpūolani, were central to the establishment and continuation of the Kamehameha Dynasty. Her presence and alliances were crucial in the intricate power dynamics among the warring chiefs of the various islands. For instance, she watched the Battle of Kepaniwai from Manienie in ʻĪao Valley, a pivotal conflict where Kamehameha I conquered Maui [Appendix 3.7 – Cultural Resources]. Her acceptance of Kamehameha I's conquest of Maui in 1795, along with her granddaughter Keōpūolani, was a significant moment, indicating a shift in allegiance that helped consolidate Kamehameha's power [Kauai's history of peaceful strength and leadership]. Her influence, though often behind the scenes, was profound, as her high rank and connections provided legitimacy and stability to the emerging political order. She navigated the turbulent period of inter-island warfare and the eventual unification under Kamehameha I, ensuring her family's continued prominence.

In terms of cultural contributions, Kalola Pupuka embodied the traditional Hawaiian system of kapu and aliʻi sacredness. Her own high rank, and that of her daughter Kalanikauikikilokalaniakua, underscored the importance of maintaining pure bloodlines and adherence to ancient religious practices. The tragic suicide of Kalanikauikikilo in protest of a marriage that was seen as a dilution of sacred lineage highlights the profound cultural values and traditions that Kalola and her family upheld. While specific quotes or chants directly attributed to her are not readily available in accessible historical records, her life itself is a testament to the oral traditions and genealogical importance within Hawaiian culture. Her story is preserved through the extensive genealogies and historical accounts that document the ruling chiefs of Hawaii. She was a living embodiment of the kapu system, a complex set of laws and prohibitions that governed Hawaiian society, ensuring social order and maintaining the sacredness of the aliʻi. Her role in perpetuating these traditions, particularly through her high-ranking offspring, was a significant cultural contribution.

Her relationship to the Hawaiian Kingdom and other aliʻi was foundational. As the mother of Kīwalaʻō and the grandmother of Keōpūolani, she was a direct link to the future of the unified kingdom. Her family's power and prestige were critical in legitimizing Kamehameha I's rule, especially through his marriage to Keōpūolani, who carried the highest kapu. Kalola Pupuka's alliances and offspring ensured the continuation of powerful bloodlines that were essential for the stability and spiritual authority of the new kingdom. Her strategic marriages created a web of kinship that bound together the most powerful chiefly lines, laying the groundwork for the eventual political consolidation of the islands. She was a central figure in the intricate network of aliʻi relationships that defined pre-contact and early post-contact Hawaiian society.

Kalola Pupuka's legacy is primarily remembered through her descendants and her integral role in the events leading to the unification of the Hawaiian Islands. She is recognized as a key ancestral figure, particularly as the mother of Keōpūolani, who, as Kamehameha I's sacred wife, bridged the old order with the new. While there may not be specific places or institutions directly named after her, her influence is deeply embedded in the genealogical records and historical narratives of the Hawaiian monarchy. Her life exemplifies the power and sacredness of the highest-ranking aliʻi wahine (female chiefs) and their indispensable contributions to the political and cultural landscape of pre-unification and early Kingdom Hawaii. Her story is a vital component of understanding the intricate relationships and powerful figures that shaped the Hawaiian Kingdom and its enduring legacy of sovereignty and cultural identity. Her role as a matriarch of such a significant lineage ensures her place in Hawaiian history, even if her direct actions are less documented than those of her male counterparts. She represents the enduring strength and influence of high-ranking women in Hawaiian society.

### References

1. Wikipedia. (n.d.). *Kalola Pupuka*. Retrieved from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalola_Pupuka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalola_Pupuka) 2. Ancestry.com. (n.d.). *Kalola Pupuka O Honokawailani*. Retrieved from [https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/kalola-pupuka-o-honokawailani-24-s7m9hv](https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/kalola-pupuka-o-honokawailani-24-s7m9hv) 3. FamilySearch.org. (n.d.). *Kalola Pupuku o Honokawailani (1730–1790)*. Retrieved from [https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LZ2W-6NC/kalola-pupuku-o-honokawailani-1730-1790](https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LZ2W-6NC/kalola-pupuku-o-honokawailani-1730-1790) 4. Geni.com. (n.d.). *High Chiefess Kalola Pupuka-O-Honokawailani Kekuiapoiwa Nui, of Maui*. Retrieved from [https://www.geni.com/people/High-Chiefess-Kalola-Pupuka-O-Honokawailani-Kekuiapoiwa-Nui-of-Maui/6000000010290664639](https://www.geni.com/people/High-Chiefess-Kalola-Pupuka-O-Honokawailani-Kekuiapoiwa-Nui-of-Maui/6000000010290664639) 5. Kamakau, S. (1992). *Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii*. Honolulu: Kamehameha Schools Press. 6. Fornander, A. (1880). *An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origins and Migrations, and the Ancient History of the Hawaiian People to the Times of Kamehameha I*. Vol. 2. London: Trübner & Company. 7. *Appendix 3.7 – Cultural Resources*. (n.d.). Retrieved from [https://www.honoapiilanihwyimprovements.com/pdfs/deis/app_03_07.pdf](https://www.honoapiilanihwyimprovements.com/pdfs/deis/app_03_07.pdf) 8. *Kauai's history of peaceful strength and leadership*. (n.d.). Retrieved from [https://www.facebook.com/groups/241367199708954/posts/2077127952799527/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/241367199708954/posts/2077127952799527/)