I ngā tau 1780 me 1790 ka whawhai ngā ariki o Hawaii kia tū rangatira. Ko Kamehameha tētahi o ngā toa rangatira nei i whiwhi ai i ngā pū a te Pāhehā, ka patu haere i ana hoariri, ā, ka tupu haere tana mana. I te tau 1810 kua tapaina ko Kamehameha te ariki nui o ngā moutere katoa; ko ia tonu te Kīngi tuatahi o Hawaii. Ko te wā o tana matenga ko te tau 1819.