Battles in Kohala

Kohala

Battle 6: Hiʻiaka dislodges the ferocious Mahiki moʻo community

Hiʻiaka was travelling into the uplands above Waipio Valley when she was denied passage by Moʻolau, leader of the Mahiki moʻo in the region. With this she “resolved once and for all to make an end of this arrogant nuisance and to rid the island of the whole pestilential brood of imps and moʻo” (Emerson 2005:50). She took up fierce battle with the Mahiki forces, but neither side could gain an advantage. Again the warriors in Pele’s family entered the fray, and when “the battalion of gods moved against the moʻo, it was a rout and a slaughter” (Emerson 2005:53). Although Westervelt (1999:124) ends his version with the death of Moʻolau, the Emerson version suggests that Moʻolau and some other moʻo managed to survive, and they “hid themselves away in caves and secret places, some of them even, presuming apparently upon their power of disguise, had taken refuge in the remote scattered habitations of the people” (Emerson 2005:54). So while the settlement of moʻo was forcibly disbanded above the deep valleys of the windward coast of Kohala, some of those displaced residents were able to integrate with people in the surrounding hinterlands.

Emerson, N.B. 2005. Pele and Hiʻiaka: A Myth from Hawaiʻi. Revised Edition, Edith Kanakaʻole Press, Hilo.

Westervelt, W. D. 1999. Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battle 13 through 21: Rival chiefs battle on the windward side

Around that same time, neighboring chiefs in Kohala tussled with one another for dominance of the northwest peninsula of the island (Beckwith 1970:419; Fornander 1918:215). The rivalry between the two chiefs came to blows when Kukuipahu made the mistake of snubbing his wife’s brother Kapunohu at the chiefly court. Kapunohu took his magic spear named Kanikawi that he had wrangled from the god Kanikaʻa, and offered his services to the rival chief Niuliʻi who ruled in the lands just to the east near Polulū. Emboldened, Niuliʻi launched an attack against Kukuipahu at Piauwai [13] along the east side of the Wainaia Gulch, at the border between the two territories. The Niuliʻi faction, under the leadership of Kapunohu pushed the Kukuipahu warriors across the gulch and they fought again in ʻIole [14], and then engaged the main body of Kukuipahu’s forces that were stationed just above Hinakahua in Kapaʻau [15]. It was in this battle that Kukuipahu was killed and Kapunohu downed 3,200 opponents with one fling of his magic spear. The fight moved further westward to Lamakee in Kaʻauhuhu [16] where the warrior Paopele brought forth his incredible war club Keolewa to make a stand against the advancing Niuliʻi army. This club was so big it blocked the sunlight and held back the winds, and 4,000 men were needed to carry it. Kapunohu balked at first, but overcame the mighty Paopele with one toss of Kanikawi. The remainder of the Kukuipahu forces fought in a running retreat to Kaluawilinau at Puʻuepa [17], and then to ʻUpolu [18], then to Puakea [19] and Kamilo [20]. The Niuliʻi forces finally vanquished their foes in the uplands of the ahupuaʻa of Kukuipahu [21].

Beckwith, M. W. 1970. Hawaiian Mythology. The University of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu.

Fornander, A. 1918-1919, translated by T. G. Thrum. Fornander Collection of Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-Lore. Memoir of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Volume V. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battle 22: The last stand of the old dynasty

The descendants of Pili established themselves as island rulers and local chiefs. Their stories of the supernatural Kana, Kamiki, Hiʻiaka, Pele and others infiltrated with and ultimately superseded the traditions of old. For five more generations after the arrival of Pili and Pele, the new order established and maintained titular control over the island (Fornander 1996:40; Malo 1951:247) while the strong district chiefs maintained control over their own territories and did not bother much about the concerns of an island ruler. One day sometime between the late 1100s and the early 1400s, Kamʻiʻole, a chief from Kaʻū of the older Nanaʻulu lineage challenged the new order.

Kamʻiʻole sent “emissaries through the several districts, he appealed to the native chiefs and people to join him in a revolt against Kanipahu, for the purpose of transferring the sovereignty of the island to a ruler of the old Nanaula line, and restoring to them the simple worship of their fathers and the possessions of which they had been despoiled by the southern invaders” (Kalakaua 1990:105).

He was successful in rallying so many chiefs and commoners that the island ruler Kanipahu (from the Pili line) fled to Molokaʻi without battle (Kalakaua 1990:105). But Kamaʻiʻole turned out to be an oppressive ruler. His reign “had been eighteen years of almost continued turmoil and popular dissatisfaction” (Kalakaua 1990: 106). Soon the same district chiefs and island citizens that had helped him into power schemed to depose him. They sought the advice of Pāʻao (Malo 1951:248), or a high priest of the Pāʻao lineage (Fornander 1996:40), who got in touch with the deposed old ruler Kanipahu on Molokai. Kanipahu had spent the previous 18 years fending for himself, growing hunched over with calloused hands. Such a bearing did not befit a king, so the humbled Kanipahu suggested that the rebellious planners approach his son Kalapana who was being raised in secret in Waimanu in Kohala on the island of Hawaiʻi.

Kalapana and his allies raised a large force, and they set out to ambush Kamaʻiʻole at ʻAnaehoʻomalu (Malo 1951:251). The smaller army of Kamaʻiʻole managed to survive for a short time positioned behind a stone wall, but they ultimately fell. From that day forward the Nanaʻulu lineage was always respected for its powerful and ancient heritage, but it was never again the ruling lineage in Hawaiʻi. Instead the Pili Dynasty reigned until 1893.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kalakaua, D. 1990. The Legends and Myths of Hawaii. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Malo, D. 1951. Hawaiian Antiquities: Moʻolelo Hawaiʻi. Translated by N.B. Emerson. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication 2, Second Edition, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battle 23: Kauholaninuimahu suppresses a rebellion

Many years passed, and six island rulers came and went before the next recorded battle on the island. It is possible that after the Pili line subdued the old royal Nanaʻulu line that peace reigned on the island for 100 years. It is also possible that not every hostile encounter that occurred was recounted in the oral and ultimately written histories. As Fornander says “at least the report of none has come down to our time” (Fornander 1996:70). Island chiefs did set out to attack other islands during this period, but those battles took place elsewhere. In the meantime, power struggles within the Pili dynasty supplied ample motivation for subsequent armed conflict on the island of Hawaiʻi.

Sometime between the late 1200s and the middle 1500s the ruler of Hawaiʻi island Kauholaninuimahu was busy on the neighbor island of Maui when his wife rallied Noakua and other chiefs to revolt against him in his absence (Kalakaua 1990:215; Malo 1951:256). Kauholaninuimahu had to paddle back with an army to the island of Hawaiʻi with only the few warriors that he had with him at the time. Upon landing in Kona in the territory of trusted chiefs he found that the rebellion was unpopular, so it was not difficult to secure an army that was able to swiftly and thoroughly crush the revolt in a battle near Waimea. It was Kauholaninuimahu’s son Kihanuilulumahi, that brought the celebrated war trumpet Kihapu into the control of the Pili lineage (Beckwith 1970:349; Fornander 1996:72).

Beckwith, M. W. 1970. Hawaiian Mythology. The University of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kalakaua, D. 1990. The Legends and Myths of Hawaii. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Malo, D. 1951. Hawaiian Antiquities: Moʻolelo Hawaiʻi. Translated by N.B. Emerson. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication 2, Second Edition, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battle 31: Keawenuiaʻumi suppresses a rebellion

Soon after Keawe established himself as island ruler with his seat of power in Hilo, there was a time of “internal war, anarchy, and confusion” when the powerful district chiefs refused to acknowledge his leadership (Fornander 1996:111). Armies from each of the six districts rebelled, and all were killed at a great battle at Puʻumaneo in Kohala. Keawe kept their bones as trophies.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battles 33 through 39: Lonoikamakahiki eliminates rebellious chiefs

Kaikilanialiʻiwahineopuna married Kanaloakua‘ana, then she married his younger brother Lonoikamakahiki (also known as Lono). Sometime between the middle 1500s and the middle 1600s Kanaloakua‘ana peacefully passed the power of island ruler to Lono, who ruled jointly with his spouse after that. Lono enjoyed travelling, but while away from the island of Hawaiʻi for a long time, the district chiefs took power. Lono heard of the revolt, and returned to gather an army of troops that were loyal to his brother Pupuakea and Iwikauikaua, a scion of the senior line of ʻUmi (Kalakaua 1990:336). They met at Puʻuanahulu, where they marched down to Wailea [33] to attack the rebel chiefs (Fornander 1996:120; Kalakaua 1990:339). The rebels retreated north along the coast and made an unsuccessful stand at Kaunaʻoa [34]. They retreated north again where they picked up reinforcements and moved inland to Puʻupā [35] and fought there. Lono’s forces chased the mobile rebel army back down to the coast at Puʻukohola [36] where most of the remaining rebels were defeated. Lono hounded the stragglers northwards where chief Kanaloanuiokeakawaiea was killed at a battle at Kaiʻōpae [37] (the name means “shrimp sea”, and it was said that warriors there were as numerous as shrimps (Pukui, Elbert and Moʻokini 1974:70). The fighting continued over the Kohala mountains at Kaiʻopihi [38]. The last of the rebel forces were eliminated at Puʻumaneo [39], the place where other rebels had been defeated just a generation before.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kalakaua, D. 1990. The Legends and Myths of Hawaii. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Pukui, M. K., S. H. Elbert, and E. T. Mookini 1974. Place Names of Hawaii (Revised and expanded edition). The University of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battles 40 through 42: Lonoikamakahiki defends the island from the invasion from Maui by Kamalālāwalu

Rulers from different islands would get together for festivals, marriage, sport and other matters. Hawaiʻi island ʻai moku travelled to neighboring island Maui and visited with the renowned ʻai moku of Maui Kamalālāwalu. While the leaders were cordial to one another, their respective chief councilors were less accommodating, and tension grew between the two parties. As soon as Lonoikimakahiki left to return to his island, Kamalālāwalu (also known as Kama) sent out a spy to determine the status of things on Hawaiʻi, with particular concern for their readiness for war. The spy reported back to Kama that there were few men to defend the island. Kama was delighted with this news and he gathered his forces as quick as he could.

His huge invasion fleet landed at Puakō (Elbert 1959:184; Kamakau 1992:56). A brave chief from Waimea named Kanaloakuaʻana defended his lands with a tiny army, hoping to stall the invaders until Lonoikamakahiki could gather his forces. Kama’s large army quickly overpowered the tiny army at Kuanaʻoa [40] (Fornander 1996:123). Kama’s army then moved inland where they set up camp on the puʻu Hōkūʻula that overlooks Waimea.

Having encountered little resistance, the invasion seemed to be going well for Kamalālāwalu. Partially blinded by his success, Kama was easily persuaded by two other Waimea chiefs, Kumaikeau and Kumakaia, who flattered Kama into thinking that his future victories on this island were assured. They advised Kama to destroy the many canoes that they had used to travel from Maui to remove any opportunity for escape by the fleeing Hawaiʻi island soldiers in the battle to come. They also advised Kama to camp out on the large hills overlooking Waimea to command the greatest defensive and offensive location around. This seemed like good local intelligence, and Kama proceeded to smash his canoes and set up camp above the village.

Soon Lono gathered many warriors from all over to defend his island (one estimate is at 400,000 soldiers (Elbert 1959:190) which is likely an exaggeration). A battle took place on the other puʻu that overlooks Waimea, called Puʻuʻowāʻowaka [41], where the two champions from each island met to start the fight. Pupuakea killed Maui’s champion Makakuikalani, and immediately thereafter the Hawaiʻi army began to slaughter the Maui troops. The Maui forces were known for their reliance on, and excellent use of, slings and sling stones in battle. But there were no usable stones on the top to the two puʻu. They had been tricked. And worse, the Maui warriors that were lucky enough to flee the melee in Waimea found only useless canoes at the grassy shoreline of Puakō. Few of the Maui forces escaped the slaughter there [42]. The slain body of Kamalālāwalu was taken to Kahaluʻu and dedicated through sacrifice at the luakini heiau Keʻekū.

Elbert, S. H. (editor) 1959. Selections from Fornander’s Hawaiian Antiquities and Folklore. The University of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kohala and Kona

Battles 43 through 46: The divided island in Civil War

Lonoikimakahiki ruled the island peacefully after that for many years. Keakealanikane, the son of Kanaloakua‘ana and Kaikilanialiʻiwahineopuna, became island ruler after Lonoikimakahiki passed away. During this time, there were two powerful districts: the Hilo district under the leadership of the chiefly ʻI family, and the Kohala district ruled by the chiefs of the Mahi family. These two families could act independently of the island ruler, and in one example of such, an army of warriors from Kohala under the leadership of one of the Mahi chiefs set out for a raid on Maui. Tension between the ruling island chief and the influential district chiefs split the island into two rival factions sometime in the 1600s: those from the east in Hilo, Puna, and Hāmākua; and those from the west and south in Kohala, Kona, and Kaʻū. Kamakau states that this “war” lasted “several centuries”, but it may have been as short as an estimated 20 years during the reign of Keākealaniwahine, the ruling granddaughter of Keākealanikane.

Although many battles may have been fought during this time, only a few specific battles have been recorded. It appears that the Hilo side often had the upper hand, even when the Kona forces retreated to their fortresses (Kamakau 1992:63). There was a battle at Kahinaʻi [43], and one at Huʻehuʻe [44] where the Hilo forces broke into secret burial caves. The Hilo army was also victorious at Mahiki [45], and this battle may be the one mentioned by Desha (2000:193) where the Kuahuʻia forces from Hilo fought against Keakealaniwahine. Another battle took place at an undisclosed location between the Hilo chief Kuahuʻia who fought against the forces of Keākealaniwahine. Perhaps this is the battle known as Keoneʻula that took place at Pohakuomaneʻo [46] where the Kohala chief Mahiʻololī fought during the time of Keākealaniwahine (Kamakau 1992:75).

Desha, S. L. 2000. Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekūhaupi‘o. Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kohala and Kona and Hāmākua and Kaʻū

Battles 47 through 51: Civil War at the borderlands

During this time of warfare between the east and west sides of the island, there was also conflict between neighboring districts within the two major island factions. Desha (2000:193) mentions in passing a rebellion by Mahiʻololī, the famous chief from the powerful Mahi family in Kohala that was the chief counselor for Keakealaniwahine (Fornander 1996:128). Mahiʻololī rebelled against Mahiaeʻe (also known as Mahiua), a chief from Kona in an unspecified location that is presumed to have been in the homelands of Mahiaeʻe somewhere in Kona [47].

Mahiʻololī’s son, Kauauanuimahi (also known as Kauauaamahi), fought a protracted war against the forces from the eastern side of the island that were under the leadership of Mokulani. During this five year long struggle known as He Hale Māmala Koa (The House of Fragmented Warriors), the battle apparently moved all across the island from Mahiki [48], up and over Mauna Kea to Kalaieha [49], then up and over Mauna Loa to Kapuʻa [50] in southern Kona, and may have terminated at Kahuenaha [51] in barren Kahuku, Kaʻū.

Desha, S. L. 2000. Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekūhaupi‘o. Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battle 53: A battle in Kohala

There are a few other battles that are mentioned in passing without any information regarding when they were fought or who were the main protagonists in the fight. One of those was a battle called Kepaia that took place somewhere in Kohala [53] (Kamakau 1992:233).

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kohala and Kona

Battles 56 through 60: Maui forces of Kekaulike attack Hawaiʻi

Alapaʻinuiakauaua installed two grandsons of Keawe commanders, Kalaniopuʻu and Keoua (Kamakau 1992:66). While Alapaʻi settled into his new and turbulent role as island ruler, the Maui ruler Kekaulike attempted to take advantage of the discord on Hawaiʻi by attacking (Fornander 1996:133). Kekaulike’s invading fleet of warriors engaged Alapaʻi’s army somewhere in Kona [56]. There was also a battle at sea [57] with warriors in canoes. Repelled by Alapaʻi’s naval force, Kekaulike sailed northward and proceeded to destroy villages in Kekaha [58], cut down cocoanut trees in Kawaihae [59], and slaughter villagers in Kohala [60] (Fornander 1996:133; Kamakau 1992:66). For the next few years Alapaʻi took the fight to Maui, Molokaʻi, and Oʻahu, with poor results.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battles 66 through 68: Rebels challenge the new ʻai moku Keaweʻōpala

Before passing away in 1754 Alapaʻi apointed his eldest son Keaweʻōpala as the island ruler (Kamakau 1992:78). Keaweʻōpala redistributed control of some lands into the hands of his favorites, and in doing so, provoked others to rebel. Keʻeaumoku and some other chiefs led a rebellion at Kekaha [66], where Keaweʻōpala’s forces repulsed the rebels at the shoreline. The fight was carried out to sea in battles called Kaiomo and Mokukohekohe [67] (Kamakau 1992:78; Fornander 1996:145). There is also mention of a battle called Puʻukiʻililiʻ [68] (Kamakau 1992: 111) that may be the one that is said to have been just inland of Kawaihae (Desha 2000:29) at the northern end of the dry barren lands of Kekaha.

Desha, S. L. 2000. Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekūhaupi‘o. Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battle 72: New ʻai moku is challenged by Keʻeaumoku

Kalaniopuʻu decided to invade Maui in 1759 (Fornander 1996:147). Sometime after that Kalaniopuʻu’s old ally Keʻeaumoku rose up in revolt. Keʻeaumoku set up his command center at the hilltop fort called Pohakuomaneʻo (Itching Rock) at the border of Pololu and Honokane (Fornander 1996:148). This is likely the same place that rebel forces had resorted to in the past on several occasions, known as Puʻumaneo. Kalaniopuʻu marched his army over the mountains and successfully routed the rebels in a battle called Papaʻihaehae (Tearing Crab). Keʻeaumoku fled to the cliffs overlooking the ocean, dropped down with a rope to a canoe, and escaped to Maui (Kamakau 1992:82).

Kalaniopuʻu set out for another invasion of Maui in 1776. He fought many battles there, with action also on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. The young warrior Kamehameha had many opportunities to hone his skills in those battles.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battles 89 and 90: Kamehameha repulses an invasion from Maui

Forces from Maui under the direction of the chief Manonoikauakāpekulani landed at Hala‘ula while Kamehameha was away in Laupāhoehoe (Desha 2000:186). These invaders set about plundering and fomenting rebellion among the locals against Kamehameha. Keʻeaumoku led the Hawaiʻi island forces into the upland of Hālawa [89] and met the Maui warriors. The combat moved down to the shore of Hāpu‘u [90] where the Hawaiʻi troops captured Manonoikauakāpekulani and vanquished the Mauians.

Desha, S. L. 2000. Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekūhaupi‘o. Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kohala and Hāmākua

Battles 94 through 96: Keōua advances into Kamehameha territory

Keōua pressed his advantage while Kamehameha was away by marching his forces westward into Kamehameha’s defenseless territory. Keōua’s troops ravaged the countryside, destroying agricultural fields, stone walled fishponds, heiau, and the homes of the commoners (Fornander 96:240). By the time Kamehameha and his army returned to Hawai‘i, Keōua was in Waimea. Kamehameha’s troops landed at Kawaihae and marched uphill where they were ambushed by Keōua’s troops in the forests of Mahiki [94] (KSBE website; Desha 2000:281). The fighting pushed eastward into Pāʻauhau [95] (Kamakau 1992:151) or Kaʻao (Desha 2000:281). The cannon named Lopaka, taken from the Fair American, figured prominently in this battle. It served Kamehameha’s forces well until it was captured in a charge by one of Keōua’s chiefs (Fornander 1996:324). It was then used successfully against Kamehameha’s crew until the powder ran out.

The battle was indecisive with many casualities on both sides, and the fighting moved east to Koapapa [96] (alternatively spelled Koapapaʻa in Kamakau 1992:350) near Kūkaʻiau (Desha 2000:285). The fighting was fierce on a wide open plain well suited for battle. Kamehameha’s troops had greater fire power in guns, but Keōua’s warriors were successful in hand to hand combat in removing those from their opponents. Once again there was no clear winner, but many warriors fell at the Battle of the Empty Guns (Desha 2000:285).

Kamehameha went back to Waipi‘o and Kohala (Kam 92:151-152), and Keōua took his time moving back to his home in Kaʻū. While passing by the volcano at Kīlauea, it burst forth in a massive outpouring of cinder and ash, killing many warriors and their families.

Desha, S. L. 2000. Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekūhaupi‘o. Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kaleinamanu literary archive: Maku mele

Kohala and Hāmākua

Battles 103 and 104: Kepūwaha‘ula‘ula (Battle of the Red-Mouthed Canon)

Kawaihae was the base for many of Kamehamheha’s military operations, and it was there that he built the luakini heiau called Puʻukoholā in preparation for his final push for conquest. While working on the heiau and considering ways to overcome Keōua, armies from the western islands were mounting an attack on the homelands of Kamehameha only a few miles away on the other side of the Kohala mountains. By this time in 1791 the O‘ahu ruler Kahekili had joined forces with the Kaua‘i ruler Kā‘eokulanai (often referred to as Kā‘eo), creating an alliance that held authority over all Hawaiian islands except the island of Hawai‘i. Kamehameha had been unsuccessful in defeating his island rival Keōua in 10 years of battle; how were they going to fair against an invasion from all of the other islands combined?

One fleet of invaders arrived at Waipi‘o, and began by breaking apart the ancient sacred temples of Paka‘alana and Moa‘ula (Desha 2000:296). Another fleet landed at Hālawa [103], ravaged the villages, and destroyed the few warriors stationed there before heading out to sea to join their comrades in Waipiʻo (Fornander 1996:243).

Kamehameha mobilized his fleet, and they encountered the invading forces on the ocean off the coast of Pali Hulaʻana at Waimanu [104] (Desha 2000:299; Fornander 1996:244; Kamakau 1991:162). Canons mounted on canoes and the use of muskets were an unusual addition to the armament in this sea battle in Hawaiʻi. The roar and the flash of the gunnery earned the battle the name Kepūwaha‘ula‘ula (Battle of the Red-Mouthed Canon). Kamehameha may have also had the western ship the Fair American at his disposal in this engagement. Many of the invaders’ canoes were sunk, and those that survived had nowhere to go upon reaching land. Kamehameha’s navy was victorious.

Desha, S. L. 2000. Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekūhaupi‘o. Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Fornander, A. 1996. Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu.

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.

Kohala

Battle 108: The last battle on the island

Immediately after the battle at Kuamo‘o, Liholiho sent Hoapili as war leader to subdue the last of the rebels from Hāmākua. Hoapili landed at Kawaihae and marched his troops to Waimea suppressing the last rebellion there. Many rebels escaped into the woods of Mahiki, one of the centers of rebellious Hawaiʻi over the centuries (Kamakau 1992:228).

Kamakau, S. M. 1992. Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, Revised Edition. The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu.