| |
 Hawaii,
the newest and by far most unique state of the union, lies miles away
from the mainland. Separated from the rest of us by the vast Pacific,
the fiftieth United State stands alone-literally. But what really
makes Hawaii so different? It's not the magnificent mountains covered
by a lush green carpet or the tranquil trade winds gracefully bending
rows of palm trees this way and that. It's not the tropical atmosphere
that vacationers seem to bask in, or the miles of oceanfront beaches
that welcome sun worshippers, young and old. So what gives the islands
such a special distinction? Royalty. Yes, that's right-kings and queens.
Hawaii is the only state that was once ruled by a royal family starting
with King Kamehameha the Great.
Born in 1758
on the Big Island of Hawaii in North Kohala, the infant king was
originally named, Paiea, meaning "Hard-Shelled Crab". Paiea was
the son of Keoua, a high chief, and Kekuiapoiwa, the daughter of
King Alapai. Legend tells us that Kekuiapoiwa gave birth to her
son right after an appearance of Halley's Comet. The unusual celestial
event prompted the kahunas, or high priests, to predict that this
boy would grow to be the slayer of chiefs and sole ruler over the
islands. As a result, Alapai ordered the death of all male infants,
but his grandson was secretly whisked away by the priests and quietly
raised by a childless couple until he came of age. Separated from
his family, Paiea took the name Kamehameha, meaning "The Lonely
One."
Eventually,
Kamehameha came under the guidance of his uncle, Kalaniopu'u, Chief
of the Big Island. Known for his well-developed fighting skills,
the young Kamehameha was named keeper of the war god upon his uncle's
death in 1782. This meant that he was second in command next to
Kalaniopu'u's son and heir, Kiwaloa. For a time, the cousins remained
at peace until a dispute occurred between their chiefs launching
several altercations. In the end, Kiwalao was killed and Kamehameha
became King of the Big Island, but he didn't stop there.
 He
continued attacking and conquering each of the islands one by one.
With the help of two Englishmen, Isaac Davis and John Young, who
taught him about western warfare, Kamehameha invaded Maui with cannons.
The battle that ensued in Iao Valley is remembered as one of the
bloodiest. Fatalities were so high that the nearby waters were actually
dammed up with bodies.
By 1795, Kamehameha
was the undisputed king of all the Hawaiian Islands except Kauai.
Determined to take over this last island, he launched war canoes
from Oahu, but rough seas forced him to turn back. Several years
later and with 800 more canoes, he attempted another attack-only
this time from the Big Island. The planned raid never took place
as he ended up in Maui instead. From there, he attempted to peacefully
negotiate with Kauai's chief, Kaumauli'i. Words didn't work so Kamehameha
returned to Oahu with his men, fully intending to invade Kauai,
but before he could, an unexpected outbreak of what was probably
typhoid fever or cholera swept through the ranks killing many of
his followers. The kahunas believed this epidemic was an evil sign
and advised the king against attacking Kauai. Instead, Kamehameha
offered his protection to the island and the chief agreed to act
as its tributary ruler. Their agreement lasted until Kaumauli'i's
death when Kauai finally became part of the Kamehameha kingdom.
.
As king, Kamehameha
had ultimate power, but to help him rule successfully, he appointed
a governor to each island. He outlawed the common practice of human
sacrifice and with the Mamalahoe Kanawai, or "law of the splintered
paddle", he ensured that the chiefs did not abuse the Hawaiian people.
This law is still part of the State of Hawaii's Constitution.
King Kamehameha
was said to be a commanding figure-almost seven feet tall. He reigned
supreme for twenty-four years until his death in May 1819 at the
age of 70. Deeply mourned by his people, his remains, considered
to have mystical powers, were hidden in a secret cave somewhere
on the Big Island. The exact location is unknown. Hawaiian folklore
says that the servants who buried him were killed to ensure the
burial site would never be revealed. It is also said that one mysterious
family still cares for his grave.
 Three
statues commemorate Hawaii's greatest king. The most famous one
stands in Honolulu directly across the street from the Iolani Palace.
An imposing eight and half feet high, the bronze and gold statue
was created in Florence, Italy by Thomas Gould, an American sculptor.
Once finished, the larger-than-life statue was sent by ship to Honolulu,
but the ship itself sank near the Falkland Islands taking Kamehameha
with it. A second statue was cast from the original mold and safely
sent to Honolulu where it was dedicated in 1883. It remains one
of the most photographed sights in the state.
Eventually,
the original statue was raised and sent to Kamehameha's birthplace
on the Big Island where it stands today. Then, in 1969, a third
figure was sculpted from a mold of the Honolulu statue. This one
was erected in the Hall of Columns in the U.S. Capitol Building
in Washington, D.C.-a fitting place for such a prominent leader.
Each year
on June 11th, the state of Hawaii officially commemorates the Great
Unifier's birthday by celebrating King Kamehameha Day. His statues
are draped with vibrant floral leis while colorful parades and ceremonies
are held throughout the islands.
Before Kamehameha,
the islands were ruled by multiple chiefs who constantly fought
each other for power. Their bloody history ended when Kamehameha
brought the islands together under one regime. A true warrior, he
was not afraid to fight for what he believed in. A wise and gentle
ruler, he united the islands and for the first time brought peace
and a sense of well being to the Hawaiian people.
|
|
