Kahakumakapaweo was the 12th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Kauai. He was born around the year 1530.
Kahakumakapaweo was Kuwalupaukamoku's son by his wife Hameawaha'ula. He was contemporary with Piilani of Maui, with Liloa of Hawaii, and with Kukaniloko of Oahu. He is remembered with great renown and affection throughout the group, not only as a good, wise, and liberal sovereign, but also as the ancestor, through his grandchildren, Kahakumakalina and Ilihiwalani, or numerous aristocratic families from Hawaii to Niihau, who in after ages took a special pride in tracing themselves back to the high and pure-blooded kapu chiefs of Kauai.
The last portion of the ancient history of Kauai, from the time of Kahakumakapaweo until the close of the eighteenth century, is the most unsatisfactory to whoever undertakes to reduce the national legends, traditions, and chants to some degree of historical form and sequence. The legends are disconnected and the genealogies are few. The indigenous Kauai folklore of this period was singularly obscured and thrust in the background by that of Oahu during the ascendancy of Kualii and of Peleioholani, and by that of Maui during the time of Kaeokulani. When, subsequently to this period, after the death of Kamehameha, Kaumualii, the last independent king of Kauai, removed to Honolulu and became the spouse of Kaahumanu, most of his nobles followed him thither, and Kauai folklore suffered a further eclipse. That the ruling families of Kauai were the highest tabu chiefs in the group is evident from the avidity with which chiefs and chiefesses of the other islands sought alliance with them. They were always considered as the purest of the “blue blood " of the Hawaiian aristocracy; and even at this day, when feudalism has vanished and the ancient chants in honour of deceased ancestors are either silent or chanted, it is no small honour and object of pride to a family to be able to trace its descent from Kahakumakapaweo through one or the other of his grandsons, Kahakumakalina or Ilihiwalani. But of the exploits and transactions of most of the chiefs who ruled over Kauai during this period, there is little preserved to tell.
His son Kalanikukuma, by his wife Kahakukuka'ena, succeeded him as king of Kauai.
| Preceded by Kuwalupaukamoku |
Alii Aimoku of Kauai | Succeeded by Kalanikukuma |