Kamehameha I

Kamehameha I, known in full as Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea, was the pivotal figure in Hawaiian history responsible for uniting the warring islands into a single kingdom. His birth name was Paiʻea, and he later adopted the honorific Kamehameha the Great. His full name, Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea, reflects his noble lineage and significance. He was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Kamehameha I's birth is shrouded in some historical ambiguity, with sources placing it between 1736 and 1761. Historian Ralph Simpson Kuykendall suggested a birthdate between 1748 and 1761 [13]. However, Samuel Kamakau, a Native Hawaiian historian, placed his birth around 1736, a date supported by Abraham Fornander, who estimated Kamehameha was over eighty years old at his death in 1819 [13] [16]. The exact date of his birth is often associated with the appearance of Halley's Comet in 1758, though this conflicts with other accounts of his life [12] [14]. He was born in Ainakea, Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island, to Kekuʻiapoiwa II and Keōua Kalanikupuapaʻīkalaninui Ahilapalapa [4] [5] [6]. He died on May 8 or 14, 1819, in Kamakahonu, Kailua-Kona, Kona, Kingdom of Hawaii [44] [45] [46]. His final resting place remains a secret, hidden according to ancient Hawaiian custom to protect his *mana* (spiritual power) [47].

Kamehameha's early life was marked by political intrigue and conflict. He was raised in the court of his uncle Kalaniʻōpuʻu, who was the ruler of Hawaiʻi Island. Upon Kalaniʻōpuʻu's death in 1782, the kingship passed to Kīwalaʻō, but Kamehameha was given a prominent religious position as guardian of the war god Kūkaʻilimoku and control of the Waipiʻo Valley district [151]. This division of power led to strained relations and ultimately to conflict. Kamehameha gained the allegiance of several chiefs from the Kona district and, after the Battle of Mokuʻōhai, he secured control over Kohala, Kona, and Hāmākua on Hawaiʻi Island [155].

The unification of the Hawaiian Islands was a long and arduous process. Kamehameha utilized both military prowess and diplomatic skill. He acquired Western weapons and advisors, such as Isaac Davis and John Young, who proved invaluable in his military campaigns [25] [157] [200]. His forces invaded Maui in 1790, defeating Kalanikūpule at the Battle of Kepaniwai [170]. After consolidating his power on Hawaiʻi Island, he launched a major campaign in 1795, conquering Maui and Molokaʻi at the Battle of Kawela, and then Oʻahu at the decisive Battle of Nuʻuanu [185]. This battle is famous for the tragic event where over 700 of Kalanikūpule's men were forced over the Pali's cliff [185]. The last island, Kauaʻi, was peacefully ceded to Kamehameha in 1810 through negotiation with its king, Kaumualiʻi, after two failed invasion attempts by Kamehameha [191]. This act completed the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under his rule, establishing the Kingdom of Hawaii.

As the first monarch of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom, Kamehameha I implemented significant reforms. He unified the legal system and promoted trade with Europe and the United States [196]. He is particularly remembered for the *Kānāwai Māmalahoe*, or Law of the Splintered Paddle, which he established after an incident in 1782 where he was attacked by two fishermen. Instead of punishing them, he blamed himself for attacking innocent people and declared a law protecting non-combatants during wartime: "Let every elderly person, woman, and child lie by the roadside in safety" [198]. This law is a testament to his sense of justice and remains a foundational principle in Hawaiian law. Kamehameha was also deeply religious, serving as the holder of the war god Kūkaʻilimoku. While he considered the possibility of Christianity, he ultimately remained devoted to traditional Hawaiian gods, believing they provided him with *mana* and justified his rule [200].

Kamehameha I's legacy is profound and enduring. He is celebrated as the visionary leader who brought peace and unity to the Hawaiian Islands after centuries of internecine warfare. The Hawaiian public holiday, King Kamehameha I Day, established in 1871 by his grandson Kamehameha V, honors his achievements [332]. Institutions like Kamehameha Schools, founded by his great-granddaughter Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, continue his legacy of education and cultural preservation. His statue stands in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C., representing the state of Hawaii [122]. His influence extends even to popular culture, with the famous Kamehameha attack in the Dragon Ball series named after him [335]. The Apple TV series *Chief of War* also depicts his story [336].

Kamehameha had numerous wives and children. While the exact number of wives is debated, with estimates ranging from 21 to 30, and children numbering around 35, only the children through his highest-ranking wife, Keōpūolani, succeeded him to the throne [48] [49] [50]. His family lineage is complex, with his parents being Kekuʻiapoiwa II and Keōua Kalanikupuapaʻīkalaninui Ahilapalapa. His half-brother was Kalaniʻōpuʻu. His most notable children who succeeded him were Liholiho (Kamehameha II) and Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) [104] [105].

In summary, Kamehameha I was a transformative leader who, through strategic warfare, diplomacy, and wise governance, forged the Hawaiian Kingdom. His legacy is one of unity, law, and cultural preservation, profoundly shaping the identity and future of the Hawaiian people.