The Legitimate Government in Hawaii Series: Some Alii Ancestors Documented
Review by Amelia Gora (2022)
The followin was posted on Facebook - social media on the web:
This is what I have so far in my research of Kaʻiana~
Kaʻiana, also known as Keawe-Kaʻiana-a-Ahuula,[1] (born about 1755 - died 1795[2]) was a Native Hawaiian (kānaka ʻōiwi/maoli) warrior and aliʻi (noble) of Puna, Hawai‘i,[3] who turned against Kamehameha I in 1795 during his conquest of Oahu[4] and then sided with the island's ruler, Kalanikupule.[5]
Birth, siblings and cousins
While Kaʻiana's place of birth is unknown, it is likely he was raised in Hilo.[6] His mother was Kaupekamoku (w) the granddaughter of Ahia (w) from the "I" family of Hilo, Hawaii. His father was Ahuula-a-Keawe (k), a son of Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku (k).[6][1] His name is sometimes recorded with different variations; Tianna, Tyaana, Ty-e-a-naa, Tianner, and Tayanah. Through his father, he is first cousin to much of the Island of Hawaii's nobility, including Kalaniʻōpuʻu (k), Keōua (k) and Keawema'uhili. His mother's pedigree included her paternal heritage to Oahu and Hilo, while her maternal line is from the Maui royal family. She was half sister to Kekaulike (k).[7]
Kaʻiana was described by Captain John Mears: "He was near six feet five inches in stature, and the muscular form of his limbs was of Herculean appearance". Meares also stated that he carried himself; "replete with dignity, and having lived in the habit of receiving the respect due to superior rank in his own country, he possessed an air of distinction".[8][9] He had two half-brothers from his mother with whom he maintained close relationships with until their deaths rebelling against Kamehameha I. Their names were Namakeha (k) and Nāhiʻōleʻa (k). Their fathers were of the Maui royal family.[10] Nāhiʻōleʻa is considered one of the fathers of Kekūanāoʻa along with Kiʻilaweau (k), both husbands of Inaina (w)[11] in a tradition called poʻolua.[12] The three brothers helped conquer Oahu with Kahekili II in the early 1780s but moved to Kauaʻi after becoming dissatisfied.[13]
His cousin Kaʻiana Ukupe, a son of Kaolohaka (k), was the father of Kaikioʻewa, the first governor of Kauaʻi who joined forces along with others to support Kamehameha I.[14] On March 8, 1779 either Kaʻiana-a-Ahuula or his cousin is recorded as "Taiana" traveling aboard the HMS Resolution from Kauaʻi to Niʻihau on the last leg of James Cook's third and final voyage before the navigators death.[10]
Kahekili II's conquest of Oʻahu
Around 1770 Peleioholani (k), the aliʻi nui or mōʻī (supreme ruler) of Oʻahu died and was succeeded by his son Kumahana (k) who was deposed by a meeting of the aliʻi (nobles) in council and replaced by Kahahana. Kumahana took his family to Kauaʻi where they were given refuge in Waimea. Kumahana's only son Kaneoneo married Kamakahelei, a queen regnant of Kauaʻi and died attempting to regain Oʻahu.[15] After the death of Kaʻopulupulu, the kahuna nui (high priest) of Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau in 1782, Kahekili II, aliʻi nui of Maui, no longer had any obstacle to invading. His forces launched from Lahaina, Maui and landed in Waikiki on Oʻahu with warriors that included Kaiʻana, Namakeha, and Nāhiʻōleʻa.[14] After Kahahana's defeat many of the forces remained on Oʻahu including Kaʻiana and his brothers. They lived at Kāneʻohe and Heʻeia on the Windward Coast of the island. After two years, there was resistance to Maui's occupation. The people of Oʻahu gained the support of some of the Maui aliʻi, most notable being Kaʻiana, Namakeha, and Nāhiʻōleʻa. The conspiracy was discovered and while many of the Maui men were killed, Kaʻiana and his brothers escaped to Kauaʻi, which was now ruled by Kamakahelei and her husband Kāʻeokūlani, a son of Kekaulike, making him a half-brother of Kahekili.[10][16]
Kauaʻi
On Kauaʻi he and his brothers, as well as their families, were cared for by Kāʻeokūlani who treated Kaʻiana as a brother. When the first Europeans to return to the islands since the death of Cook arrived, they were greeted by Kaʻiana carrying his young daughter and accompanied by a large group of attendants.[17] George Dixon says of Kaʻiana's daughter, that she was:
"..a fine child about seven years old; .. . he treated her with a fondness truly paternal, carrying her for the most part in his arms, and when fatigued, his attendants anxiously strove which should have the honour of bearing little Miss, till the father again reassumed his pretty charge".[17]
— George Dixon, A Voyage Round the World (1789)
Much more to follow! Aloha;
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