Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

400 hogs or O‘ahu and Kauai

In 1791, Kahekili, King of Oahu, Molokai and Maui, was on Maui with his brother Kāʻeokūlani (Kā‘eo,) King of Kauai, preparing to resist the threatened invasion of Maui by Kamehameha of Hawai‘i. Captain Brown was a British trader; Brown’s three-vessel trading squadron included the ‘Butterworth’ (under Captain Brown,) ‘Prince Lee Boo’ (under Captain Sharp) and the ‘Jackal’ (under the command of Captain Alexander Stewart.)

Captain Brown seems to have entered into some sort of a politico-commercial agreement with Kahekili – that included guns, powder and canons. It’s not clear if the deal was for 400-hogs or “the whole right & property of the Islands Woahoo (O‘ahu) & Atooi (Kauai.)” On December 12, 1794, Brown assisted in a great battle; Kalanikūpule himself with the main army held the middle ground between ʻAiea and the taro patches; Captain Brown’s men were in boats guarding the shoreline. Kalanikūpule was able to overcome attacks by Kā‘eo and held O‘ahu (which he later lost to Kamehameha.)

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Kepuwahaʻulaʻula

“(S)everal islands were ruled by independent kings, who were frequently at war with each other, but more often with their own subjects. As one chief acquired sufficient strength, he disputed the title of the reigning prince. If successful, his chance of permanent power was quite as precarious as that of his predecessor. In some instances […]

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Holoholokū

Hānau ke aliʻi I loko oHoloholokū, he aliʻi nuiHānau ke kanaka I loko oHoloholokū, he aliʻi noHānau ke aliʻi mawaho aʻe o HHoloholokū ʻaʻohe aliʻihe kanaka ia. The child of a chief born inHoloholokū is a high chief;The child of a commoner bornin Holoholokū is a chief;The child of a chief born outsideof the borders […]

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Kauaʻi

Poetically the island is reportedly called, “Manōkalanipō”, or “Kauaʻi a Manō” after the ancient chief who was largely responsible for elevating Kauaʻi’s ancient society to sophisticated heights of advancement and productivity.  (NativeKauai) Geologically, Kauaʻi is the oldest of the main inhabited islands in the chain. It is also the northwestern-most island, with Oʻahu separated by […]

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Kamakahelei

Captain James Cook’s crew first sighted the Hawaiian Islands in the dawn hours of January 18, 1778.  His two ships, the HMS Resolution and the HMS Discovery, were kept at bay by the weather until the next day when they approached Kauaʻi’s southeast coast. Cook sailed along the coast searching for a suitable anchorage.  His […]