Kaohelelani

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Kaohelelani or Kaohele was a Hawaiian chiefess and only daughter of Kalokuokamaile, half-brother of Kamehameha the Great who unifed the Hawaiian Islands in 1810; both being sons of Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui.

She was born in the District of Hāna on the island of Maui. Her mother was the High Chiefess Kaloiokalani of the chiefly family of Kahikinui and Honuaula. Her father was the High Chief of the District of Hāna, Kipahulu and Kaupo.

They named her Kaohelelani, and she was fated to be their only child. She was verging into maidenhood when her father died. His people showed their affectionate regard for him by making his grave on the highest peak of their country, Kauwiki. Upon news of his death reaching his brother Kamehameha he immediately assembled a retinue of followers and retainers to accompany his brother Kealiimaikai to bear his request to Kaloiokalani to permit her daughter Kaohelelani to take up her residence at his court, and to have his brother take charge of the vast patrimonial estate until Kaohelelani should reach her majority. This request was granted, for how could a weak woman go contrary to the wish of a powereful chief, as Kamehameha had grown to be, having by this time subjugated most of the Big Island.

As Kaohelelani approached maturity her uncle was looking around to obtain a matrimonial alliance for his fair niece. As the Waimea people, under the rule of their high chief Hinai, had shown reluctance to submit to the sway of the great conqueror, Kamehameha took the mild course of uniting the ruling families through an offer of the hand of his niece to Nuhi, the eldest son of Hinau. This offer was accepted and soon Kaohele was transported to her new home in Waimea.

The bait had taken its prey but King Kamehameha was sorely disappointed in his expectations. Kaohelelani became so attached to her new home and relative, and contented with them, that the anticipated intimacy between the two families was not realized. Or, possibly, she felt resentment toward her august relative owing to what happened to her old beloved home, for, after Kamehameha had conquered the Maui king, Kalanikupule. He began to partition out, to the chiefs who had aided him, the land that was the rightful heritage of his niece. Whatever disllusions she may have suffered, however, she bore in silence.

There were born to Nuhi and Kaohelelani first a daughter and then a son, the girl being named Kekaikuihala and the boy Gideon Peleioholani Laanui. ^[1]