The Moʻolelo of Kaʻahumanu 

{Written by S. M. Kamakau} 

     It was a time of war and a time of difficulties when Kaʻahumanu was born; the aliʻi of Oʻahu were at battle with the aliʻi of Molokaʻi and Maui. The aliʻi of Hawaiʻi were fighting with the aliʻi of Maui. Consequently, East Maui became a district for the King of Hawaiʻi. The King of Hawaiʻi placed a royal governor in the district of Hāna. 

     Kaʻahumanu’s parents fled in defeat and went to live with the governor of Hāna, Mahihelelima. 

     Whereas, the father of Kaʻahumanu battled with the aliʻi against Kahekili, the King of Maui. The parents of Kaʻahumanu fled, and that is the reason for them living in Hāna. 

     Kaʻahumanu was born at Mapuwena in Kaʻuiki, at Hāna. Nāmāhana was her mother, the daughter of Kekaulike, the son of Kaʻulahea, the kapu rulers of Maui. The father of Kaʻahumanu was Keʻeaumoku, the son of Keawepoepoe, the son of Kalanikauleleiaiwi, the daughter of Keakealani, the royal rulers of Hawaiʻi. 

     The year 1768 is the year Kaʻahumanu was born at Kaʻuiki, Hāna. Her afterbirth and umbilical chord are at Kaniamako.That is where she was raised. Nāmāhana placed servants: Apo, Eleeleioho, and Wahineaa, along with attendants to care for her. 

     When there was war, the stronghold of Kaʻuiki was attacked and was in trouble. The parents of Kaʻahumanu hid her and her attendants in a small cranny on the sea cliffs. The parents thought should the stronghold of Kaʻuiki fall, their daughter would be elsewhere and she could be taken secretly by canoe and saved. 

     But her well-being was cared for until the end of the war. She was raised at Kawaipapa, and at Wānanalua, until she was eleven years old. The parents returned to Hawaiʻi to Kapalilua. 

     In the year 1782, Keʻeaumoku went to the aid of Kamehameha, and Kamehameha was victorious; Kīwalaʻō died, with the nation going to Kamehameha. Keʻeaumoku became Kuhina Nui for Kamehameha. 

     The Kona district went to Keʻeaumoku. Kahaluʻu was his for Mokuʻōhai, where he suffered injury. The parents of Kaʻahumanu lived in Kahaluʻu, and she too lived there. 

     In the year 1785, Kamehameha lived at Kauhola, Kohala. Kaʻahumanu was ordered to become his wife through hoʻāo. 

Pertaining to the Hoʻāo Marriage of Kaʻahumanu with Kamehameha. 

     The hoʻāo marriage was honored with Kamehameha’s kuhina, and the aliʻi, and the kaukau aliʻi, the soldiers, and so forth. A great banquet was held for the marriage. Kamehameha returned immediately to Kona. 

     After Kaʻahumanu became Kamehameha’s wife, she was famous for being a fine woman; she had no equal; there was none who surpassed her firey redness. 

     Her skin was nicely white, she was a good height, her body had a nice spread, her cheeks were nicely rounded, and her eyes were sweet and red. 

     She was a woman who was fond of pride and did not like beauty in others. She belittled other female royalty, as well as beautiful makaʻāinana women. 

     She was an aliʻi wahine who did improper and filthy things with other women; the desire of this royal woman was sleeping with women. 

     When Kamehameha saw the superior beauty of Kaʻahumanu, she was cared for very well and assigned guardians. She was a favorite wife of Kamehameha. 

     In the year 1801, Kamehameha honored Kaʻahumanu and held a parade for her at Kailua, Kona, Hawaiʻi. It was done to raise Kaʻahumanu higher than his women retainers. This day was called “Ka lā hoʻokahakaha o Kaʻahumanu,” [The parade day of Kaʻahumanu]. 

Kaʻahumanu was a Woman Who Loved Her Husband. 

     When Kamehameha was taken by another woman, that being her own younger sister Kaheiheimālie Hoapiliwahine, Kaʻahumanu grieved with aloha for her man lost to another woman. She therefore swam out to sea four miles or perhaps six, at the Hawaiʻi shore, and from Keʻei to Hōnaunau; it was at night that she swam out into the ocean, due to her aloha for her husband Kamehameha. 

     As a result, Kaʻahumanu placed an edict upon herself, it being called an ʻAumoana. That name remained with her in life and in death. 

     When Kamehameha sailed for Oʻahu in the year 1803, a year in which Keʻeaumoku, the father of Kaʻahumanu was ill, at Kapāpoko in Poko. 

     Kamehameha went to see this illness of Keʻeaumoku, and Kamehameha said to him, “If you die, my kingdom will be conspired against.” Keʻeaumoku said, “There is no one who willl go against your nation; there is only one who will rebell, that is Kaʻahumanu, your wife, but if you are very careful, there will be no rebellion. For if your wife has aloha for someone else, she will give away your nation.” When Kamehameha heard the words of Keʻeaumoku, Kamehameha proclaimed an edict pertaining to his favorite wife, Kaʻahumanu. The aliʻi who commits adultery with Kaʻahumanu, the punishment is death. 

     In the year 1809, Kamehameha was at Wailuku. An aliʻi committed adultery with Kaʻahumanu; Kanihonui was his name, the son of Kamehameha’s sister. That aliʻi was punished with death, as per the edict proclaimed by Kamehameha upon his wife, Kaʻahumanu. 

     The aliʻi were therefore afraid to sleep with Kaʻahumanu, because Kanihonui, Kamehameha’s nephew was killed for sleeping with her. 

     Kaʻahumanu was the pinnacle, being made into a place of refuge, along with the lands of god of Kamehameha, Kūkāʻilimoku. 

     All the while Kamehameha was alive, Kaʻahumanu’s mana over the nation continued. 

     The majority of the chiefly cousins, the uncles, the brothers, the younger sisters, the ministers, the war leaders, the commanders in battle, the warriors of Kamehameha were associated with Kaʻahumanu. That is perhaps one of the reasons Kamehameha made Kaʻahumanu a great favorite. 

     This status remained with Kaʻahumanu, and all the aliʻi recognized it in Kaʻahumanu living with her husband Kamehameha; therefore the aliʻi trusted Kaʻahumanu. 

     In the year 1819, Kamehameha died. It was ordered that the nation from Hawaiʻi to Kauaʻi go to Liholiho, and that Kaʻahumanu would be the Kuhina Nui of the nation. 

     Kaʻahumanu, Keōpūolani, and Hoapiliwahine were the royal women who urged King Liholiho to eat freely, and to let the royal kapu collapse, along with the godly kapu, and all the minor kapu.  

     While Liholiho, Kamehameha II ruled the nation, there was only one Kuhina Nui, that being Kaʻahumanu; to Kaʻahumanu belonged the mana over the nation. It was she who gave land to the favorites of the King, and it was she who divided up the lands of the King. 

     The younger sisters and brothers were below Kaʻahumanu. 

     The younger sisters and brothers were Hoapiliwahine, Piʻia, Nāmāhana, Keʻeaumoku, Kalanimoku, Kuakini, Nāihe, Kaikioʻewa, Ulumeheihei, Kawelookalani, Pākī, and Koakanu, and all the aliʻi of the generation. There was one voice that they heeded, Kaʻahumanu’s. 

     The ʻai noa battle at Kuamoʻo was over, and the nation was firm under Liholiho, and to Kaʻahumanu went a number of major governmental positions. 

     The favorites and the youths were taken as attendants for Liholiho the King, until the land was stabilized. 

     The American missionaries arrived in Kailua in the month of March, in the year 1820. The aliʻi conferred with the King about the missionaries living here, and about them coming ashore. The aliʻi were unsure about the missionaries living here. An old haole of Kamehameha’s named ʻOlohana (John Young) urged the aliʻi, saying that these were good people, that they were kahuna of God in heaven. 

     These were the kahuna spoken of by G. Vancouver to Kamehameha, that he would return to Britain and send some kahuna. But these were not kahuna from Britain, they were from America, but there is but one God in heaven. 

     Therefore, the aliʻi and King Liholiho agreed to them staying for a year, and if their actions were pono, they could stay; and if not pono, they would be banished. 

     Kaʻahumanu and Keōpūolani liked the missionaries. However at that time they did not understand of the righteousness of God. The cousins Keʻeaumoku and J. A. Kuakini were educated in the reading and writing of the haole, from the haole that lived with them as malihini. The two of them took care of the haole, giving them land. That is one reason Kaʻahumanu followed along with listening to the righteousness of the enlightened lands. 

     There were many educated haole living with Kamehameha; some were captains, some while some were doctors. 

     One of the educated haole that lived with Kamehameha was named Naea in Hawaiian; he was a doctor. 

     He told Kamehameha that God was in heaven. That haole was from Britain. He was however not a kahuna; he was someone imitated by the aliʻi. God is in heaven. 

     Keōpūolani and Kaʻahumanu understood clearly that eating freely was right. For Kamehameha ate with this haole, Naea, and he [Naea] ate with Kaʻahumanu, with Keōpūolani, and the other chiefesses. 

     This haole taught that the idols were not god; god is not wood, god is not man, they do not have mana. In Britain, God is in heaven. 

     That is probably the reason Kaʻahumanu closely immitated the free eating, and she agreed to allow the missionaries to live upland. 

     Kaʻahumanu however did not immediately convert to the righteousness of God when the missionaries arrived. Here are possible reasons that she did not convert at that time. 

1. She was vexed being under kapu of an edict placed upon her by her husband. At the death of Kamehameha, she was freed from her grief, andshe wanted relief from her imprisonment. 
2. The frivolity remaining within her. Kaʻahumanu was a chiefess who drank rum, and she participated in excessive debauchery, and gaiety, and adultery, while taking the husbands of others. The behavior of the King, Liholiho were just like the behavior of the kahu of the aliʻi. 

     Kaʻahumanu also went on Liholiho’s circuits of Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi. When Kaʻahumanu reached Kauaʻi, she took Kaumualiʻi, the aliʻi of Kauaʻi, as her husband. When Liholiho returned to Oʻahu, it was with Haʻakūlou, the wife of Kaumualiʻi; being that Liholiho took Haʻakūlou as a wife for him and his other wives. 

     Kaʻahumanu lived on Kauaʻi with Kaumualiʻi in the year 1822. Perhaps it was in the month of August. 

     Kaʻahumanu wanted to look for Nihoa. It was the first time that Nihoa was found, that island to the north-west of Niʻihau. 

     It was heard of in tales and mele, and in the exploits of Kawelo. Therefore, Kaʻahumanu wanted to see it for herself, and they found it with a boat they sailed on together. That was when it first was considered an island in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Kaʻahumanu desired to take her husband Kaumualiʻi touring on Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. 

     In order that the aliʻi and kaukau aliʻi and makaʻāinana see that her husband was the aliʻi of Kauaʻi, Kaumualiʻi. Kaʻahumanu and Kaumualiʻi first reached Waialua on Oʻahu. There, admiration was first given to her husband, Kaumualiʻi. 

     In the same fashion she took her husband on a circuit of Oʻahu, and then sailed to Maui, and went all the way to Hawaiʻi. 

     On Hawaiʻi, Kaʻahumanu heard that Keʻeaumoku had taken ill, therefore Kaʻahumanu and her husband Kaumualiʻi went back. 

     In the year 1823, on March 23, Keʻeaumoku, the chiefly Governor of Maui, her cousin died. 

     Ulumeheihei Hoapili was chosen as Governor of Maui. 

     In the same year, a missionary from Britain who lived in the Archipelago of Bolabola landed here, Rev. Ellis, along with some of the devout from Bolabola; Auna and his wife, Kaua and his wife, and a woman Kaaumoku. 

     Auna folks lived with Kaʻahumanu. They were some of her examples, and they taught Kaʻahumanu the nature of God in heaven. 

     Kaomi was the son of a Bolabola by Keʻeaumoku; her name was Moe. Kaomi was King Kauikeaouli’s favorite, who turned the Hawaiian nation to wrongdoing in the year 1832. That Kaomi was one of those who taught Kaʻahumanu the word of God. 

     Kaomi was Kaʻahumanu’s main teacher, and it was he who taught the retainers of the aliʻi. 

     In the year 1824, Kaʻahumanu sent her teachers to teach the Pīāpā [alphabet] after the death of her husband, Kaumualiʻi, and the rebellion on Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, and Oʻahu; So too did the other aliʻi send out their Pīāpā teachers to their lands. However, Kaʻahumanu stood at the top for sending out school teachers to teach. 

     It was the year 1825 that Poki folks returned the coffins of King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu from Britain. 

     The aliʻi held an assembly to transfer the nation upon Kauikeaouli. 

     Kauikeaouli proclaimed the nature of his nation. “Mine is a nation of reading and writing. The aliʻi who learns reading and writing is an aliʻi of mine. The children of makaʻāinana who learn reading and writing is my man.” 

     Kaʻahumanu also made a proclamation before the aliʻi and the kaukau aliʻi and the makaʻāinana in the wide grounds of Honuakaha. 

     “O all you aliʻi, and kaukau aliʻi, you school teachers, and makaʻāinana of my dear aliʻi and mine. You have all heard the words of my dear aliʻi, “Follow the word of God that you may be righteous; and as for us, the women, we are an altar to sin.” 

     There were many proclamations made by Kaʻahumanu pertaining to the conversion of the Hawaiian nation to the righteousness of God. 

The Faith of Kaʻahumanu 

     It was in this year that there was the confirmation of Kaʻahumanu, her setting up of prayer meetings, and Kaʻahumanu’s converting of the old makaʻāinana women to the word of God. 

     Kaʻahumanu placed the care of King Kauikeaouli to Poki. He held the governorship of Oʻahu, and he cared for the belongings of the King from Hawaiʻi to Kauaʻi. 

     But as for Kaʻahumanu, there was only one important thing; and she was famous for humbling herself. Those who were called devout, those were who she spoke with and had discussions, and they were her favorites, and who she ate with. One of her main reasons for believing in righteousness. This was because of what Poki folks said about seeing the church of Saint Paul in Britain and the devout in that land. 

     Therefore, Kaʻahumanu had faith that the words which her teacher Rev. H. Bingham taught her were true. “ 

Kaʻahumanu Converting the Makaʻāinana 

     In the year 1825, following the proclamation at Honuakaha, Kaʻahumanu, Piʻia, Bingham, Chamberlain, and the fellow devout ones, along with those called poʻe hoʻoikaika [endeavorers]. This was the very first time Kaʻahumanu sought out the righteousness of God. This was the first time she converted the makaʻāinana. 

1. Kaʻahumanu desired to join with the old women of the countryside and pray with them. Kaʻahumanu taught each old woman personally the words of prayer: “E ka Makua i loko o ka lani, hoʻāno ʻia kou inoa, e hiki mai ai kou aupuni e mālama ʻia kou makemake ma ka honua nei, e like me ʻoe i mālama ʻia ma ka lani lā, e hāʻawi mai i ka ʻai na mākou no kēia lā; e kala mai hoʻi i ko mākou lawehala ʻana, me mākou e kala aku nei i ka poʻe i laweha mai iā mākou mai hoʻokuʻu ʻoe iā mākou i ka hoʻwalewale ʻia mai, e hoʻopakele ʻoe iā mākou i ka ʻino, no ka mea, nou ke aupuni, a me ka mana, a me ka hoʻonanimau loa ʻia i ke ao pau ʻole. ʻAmene. 

     Kaʻahumanu taught this to each old woman, that is the first teaching of the Lord’s prayer among the Hawaiians. 

     2. Kaʻahumanu taught this to the old women, go pray in a secluded place, and there tell God of your sins. Let one, or two, or maybe three pray in a secluded place, and there tell God of your sins. 

     Kaʻahumanu entered each house to humbly pray with the women and old women, all over Oʻahu. 

     At this time, the belief in God by the makaʻāinana increased. 

     The fruit of that labor of Kaʻahumanu was seen. The men built small prayer houses for their women adjoining their sleeping houses. 

     At that time, peganism died out, and no more seen were spirits, insanity, or sorcerers. Nor were seen the practice of burning sorcery. Corpses were deposited in a single grave with prayer to God, like what is done in Christian nations. 

     Following the death of Kahalaiʻa,in the year 1826, King Kauikeaouli resided at Waoʻala in Waialua for the purpose of cutting down sandalwood. 

     Kaʻahumanu also went on circuits to convert people to the word of god. She received the name Elizabeta Kaʻahumanu. And she lived at Waialua, where she turned the makaʻāinana toward virtue, while meeting together with the humble. 

     In Kaʻahumanu’s faithfulness, she put aside her aliʻi stature and her pride above all the aliʻi. 

     Therefore, the aliʻi and kaukau aliʻi followed after her; there were no aliʻi seen at that time who participated in frivolities or drank rum. 

     Adultery, prostitution, and taking of another’s wife, or women taking the husband of another woman was under control. 

     King Kauikeaouli also was one who learned, and who put in effort to follow the teachings of the missionaries. Life was peaceful throughout the royal court. 

     There was not a single aliʻi who was seen being idle and not going to the house of prayer. The church was always seen filled with aliʻi and makaʻāinana. The aliʻi and makaʻāinana both made great efforts to go before the missionaries and those who were the first to join the church to testify before them. All of the aliʻi and makaʻāinana gave testimony before them. Those who gave testimony were called endeavorers. 

     It was three or four years perhaps that the nation was at peace with great tranquility. 

     Boki and his wife Liliha fell into drinking rum, and Boki started a house of intoxication; it was called Pōlelewa, and Boti made women into prostitutes with sailors and charged them. 

     And he condemned Kaʻahumanu and her sisters, Kekāuluohi and Kīnaʻu. 

     Boki also sought the life of Kaʻahumanu. There were uprisings once more, and the reason was Kaʻahumanu. Kaomi was his name, who fell into drinking, and fearing Kaʻahumanu, he went with Boki. Kaʻahumanu remained constant; there was one thing important to her, the word of God. 

     Kaʻahumanu said of the women, “We women are altars to sin, but we are saved by the word of God.” 

     In the year 1827, Kaʻahumanu sailed to Maui and Hawaiʻi for the word of God and to convert aliʻi and makaʻāinana to the word of God. 

     Kaʻahumanu also sailed to Hawaiʻi because of the illness of Kalanimoku. 

     Kalanimoku was Kaʻahumanu’s favorite male cousins among all her male cousins. 

     Kalanimoku was her companion in her youth, and they were both born atop Kaʻuiki. They were born together and grew up together. 

     Kaʻahumanu’s parents returned to Hawaiʻi. Kalanimoku’s parents also returned to Hawaiʻi. Kaʻahumanu became a favorite of Kamehameha’s. Kalanimoku became a favorite of Kamehameha’s in life and death. Their high status from Kamehameha was equal. 

     That is perhaps the reason for Kaʻahumanu’s great aloha for Kalanimoku, her cousin. Kalanimoku gave much assistance to Kaʻahumanu. Kahalaiʻa was another who greatly desired the death of Kaʻahumanu. Kahalaiʻa was the son of Kalanimoku’s sister. But Kalanimoku did not assist him. Kalanimoku assisted Kaʻahumanu; he was who sought out their power. Boki was also one who sought the death of Kaʻahumanu. Boki was Kalanimoku’s younger brother. But Kalanimoku did not lend him help. He helped Kaʻahumanu. Kalanimoku became a devout aliʻi right after the death of Keōpūolani. 

     His true devotion was seen in the rebellion on Kauaʻi in the year 1824. 

     That is why Kaʻahumanu had aloha for Kalanimoku; Kalanimoku was the one who excelled during the days of Kamehameha’s reign. Kalanimoku’s lands were divided from Hawaiʻi to Oʻahu. Kalanimoku was a favorite of Kaʻahumanu; there was no other one for them during their lifetime. 

     But Boki was antagonistic, and was cruel to Kaʻahumanu; at times he revolted and planned to wage war. Kaʻahumanu sometimes cried. The devout is who Kaʻahumanu spoke with about her problems. God is the support and the refuge of those who believe in him. 

     In the years 1827 and 1828, Kaʻahumanu made circuits, converting the makaʻāinana on Hawaiʻi and on Maui. There were many aliʻi who turned pious because of Kaʻahumanu’s efforts to make them devout aliʻi. The aliʻi of Hawaiʻi were Kuakini and Keōua his wife; Maheha Kapulikoliko; Kahahana; Kapiʻolani and Nāihe her husband; along with the kaukau aliʻi of Hawaiʻi, along with some of the makaʻāinana. 

(Not done.)