Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-27
THE GREAT HAWAIIAN



the sculptor Could. which stands In front
o. the Government building. II Is a worthy
memorial OF the great chief, who brought
all the islands under one strong govern
Hent. put end to teudal anarchy and
ircessant petty wars, and prepared the way
for civilization and Christianity
He was born on a stormy November
night. about 1913, at Halawa in kohaia.
Hawaii where all the forces of that island
we're then mastering for the invasion OF
Maui His lineage was one of the highest.
TO. his father. Keoua, was half-brother
Of Kalaniopuu. who was King OF Hawaii at
The time of the discovery of the islands by
Captain Cook This king engaged In ire
qeent wars with the chiefs of Maui, IN
which his nephew, kamenameha, distin-
guished himself as brave and skfiiful war
Tor. He was also believed to have taken
an active part in the ARRAY in which Cap
tain Cook was killed. At the council held
In 1870 to settle the succession kwaiao,
son of Kalaniopuu, declared to be the
heir to the throne, and Kamehameha to
hold the second place in the kingdom. to-
gether with the charge of the war-god,
Kukaili- noku, and his temples. AT the
death of Kalaniopuu in 1852. kamefameha,
who was then over forty years of age, was
peac efully occupied In cultivating his pat
rimony in Kohala. building canoes and
fishing.
Anticipating civil war, which usually en-
sued on the death of king the-fear great
chiefs of kona sent for Kamehameha. and
prevailed upon him to put himself at their
head. The Quarrels which broke out over
the redivison of lands led to the battle
OF Mokuohai. south of kealakekua bay, IN
which kiwalao was slain.
BY this victory Kamehameha became SOW
ereign of Kona and Kohala. while ktoua
kuahuula. brother of kiwalao. held Ka-u
and Keawemauhih, his uncle. ruled over
Hilo.
The rest of the group was under the sway
Of Kahekili and his brother kaeo. For eight
years more the situation remained unchans-
ed and every attack on Hilo or Maui was
repealed.
At length. in 1856 after an interval of
seven years. ships began to visit the islands
and brisk trade sprang up.
From the first Kamehameha showed his
superior foresight and sagacity by his pol
ICY toward foreigners. He protected them
from the treachery of Kaiana and other
chiefs, and gradually built up a reputation
for good faith. hospitality and fair deal
ing which secured him the friendship of
white and a lions share of their
trade In this way he came into possession
OF a number of muskets. as well as some
field pieces. and. what was more. had the
faithful services and advice Of John Young
and Isaac Davis.
With these advantages he now entered
upon a new career of victory. In 1870 he
oyerran Maui and routed its defenders with
fearful carnage in the lao valley. He even
d
obliged to return Immediately to Hawaii.
where Keoua had conquered Hilo and Ham
akua,an was carrying all before him. After
two bloody and undecisive battles, Keoua
was forced to retire to Hilo, but meanwhile
Maui was reoccupied by Kahekiis forces.
Soon after this a fight took place of
Waimanu. Hawaii. between the fleets of the
two parties. in which Kamehameha S supe-
riority in artillery gave him the victory. To-
ward the end of 1871 Kamehameha sent his
two chief counseiors to Kau to invite Keoua
to a friendly conference a Kawaihae. On
Keoua's arrival there he and his retinue
were slaughtered in the act Of landing
and their bodies offered up in the new heiau
Of Puukohola. This treacherous assassina-
ton made Kamehameha sole master of the
Island of Hawaii. but 1t forms the chief
blot on his fame.
Vancouver's three visits to the islands
form era in their history, and his MEM
DRY will always be cherished as that of a
wise and generous benefactor. He intro
duced cattle and sheep and various useful
plants. but refused all requests for guns
or powder. He gained the entire confidence
of Kamehameha. for whom he had a small
deeked vessel built called the Britannia.
In his many conversations with the king he
gave him excellent advice in regard to his
intercourse with foreigners the manage
ment of his Kingdom. the discipline of his
troops. ETC. He also labored to impress
upon him the principles of justice and hui
mainly and told him of the one true God,
Creator and Ruler Of all nations These in
StFuCtlOnS maze a Oeet) impression on haU-
ehameha and influenced all his after life.
In July, 1874, the aged Kahelxii died and
his kingdom quickly fell to pieces from the
folly and treachery of his heirs. In the fol-
lowing December his brother, Kaeo, and his
son. Kalanikuppule. engaged in a suicidal
war in which Kaeo was defeated and killed
by the help of Capt. Brown and his men.
In return for this. 'Kalani of Oahu treach-
erously murdered Capt. Brown and Capt.
Gordon in Honolulu harbor, but he man
aged the affair SO badly that the surviving
seamen retook the vessel and sailed TO
Hawaii with all their arms and ammuni-
ton.
Kamehameha and his counselors saw
that the time had now come to strike. As
soon as possible he mustered the largest
and best-equipped army that had yet been
seen on the islands. In the spring of 1875
he sailed with an immense fleet of war
canoes, and occupied Maui and Molokai
without opposition. Here Kaiana, turbu-
lent and ambitious chief, deserted with
his followers, and landing in Koolau,
joined the side of Kalanikupule.
kama Killed in Battle.
They intrenched themselves in Nuuanu
valley, but were speedily overpowered by
numbers and driven UP the valley. some
of them being hemmed in and forced over
the .'Pali." Kaiana was killed in battle
by "a cannon shot, but KaIanikupuie was
hunted down. and sacrificed in the heiau
at Moanalua. This battle, which was
fought about the end of April. 1895, made
Kamehameha master of all the islands ex-
cept Kauai and Niihau. The next year he
sailed for Kauai, but was driven back by
a tempest, which wrecked many of his ca
noes. He was then obliged to return In
haste to Hawaii to put down an fnsurrec-
ton raised by Namakeha -Kaiana's
brother This was the last of his wars.
He now exerted himself in organizing
and consolidating his government He
divided all the lands in the Kingdom
among his followers according to their
rank and services. He appointed men of
ability and fidelity governors of the prin-
cipal islands. In all his appointments he
showed great shrewdneSs and insight into
character. and was never imposed upon
by worthless adxenturerS. Robbery, MUIR
der and theft were suppressed throughout
the kingdom, until. as the old-sayfng has
1t, the old men and children could sleep
In the highways in safety. He also ex-
erted himself to promote agriculture. to
encourage industry and-to repair the raw
ages of his wars
After six years residence on Hawaii dur
ing which the famous fleet of war canoes
called ..peleleu' were built for the INVASION
of Kauai he returned to Oahu, where he
resided until ISL After he had made vast
preparations for the conquest of Kauai a
terrible peStiience broke out in 1S0i-5. which