Kanipahu ruled as the 4th Alii Aimoku of Hawaiʻi 1215–1245. He was of the Pili line of Hawaii chiefs.
After Kani-pahu lived on Molokai and it was discovered that he was a chief, he was taken (as husband) by Hualani, the ruling chiefess of Molokai. One of the neverforgotten fact of Kanipahu's descendants was this marriage. Hualani was the great-granddaughter of Nuakea, who was the granddaughter of Maweke and wife of Keoloewa. Beside Hualani, of Molakai and Oahu descent above mentioned, he also married Alaikauakoko, who ast on time, whether previously or subsequently cannot now be ascertained, was the wife of Lakona, king of Oahu. With one or the other two sons Kanaloa, father of Kalapana and Kalahuimoku I, ancestor of Akahi'akule'ana.
He was believed to have been the chiefly (ali'i) ancestor, but he was not to be a ruling chief for long. He was the rightful ali'i of the island of Hawaii and a descendant of Pili-Kaiaea. Because the island of Hawaii had been brought under the sway of Kama'iole, Kanipahu left his sons with some trusted friend in the secluded Waimanu Valley, Hamakua and Kanipahu sought refuge for himself at Kala'e on Molokai. He left his two sons on Hawaii. On Molokai he lived as a simple commoner, doing his own work and carrying his own burdens. He took to wife a woman of Kalae, and was so frequently set to the work by his father-in-law carrying burdens - water and other things - that he contracted callosities on his shoulders. The children he had by Hualani were still considered ali'i.
Kamaiole had revolted against Kanipahu, and, being successful, had driven him out of Hawaii. But because of the oppressiveness and severity of Kamaiole's rule on Hawaii, the high priest of the Pa'ao family of Hawaii asked Kanipahu to return. Paao accordingly sent a messenger to Kanipahu, who was living at Kalae on Molokai. On his arrival at Kalae, the messenger went before Kanipahu, bearing in his hand a pig as a gift. Coming into his presence, he said, "I have come to ask you to return and be the king of Hawaii. The people of Hawaii have rejected Kamaiole as unworthy." Kanipahu refused, as the legend says, because he was ashamed of the hump on his shoulders contracted during the many years of hard and toilsome labor that he had lived on Molokai. He told the messengers to go to Waimanu, Hamakua, and they would find his grandson, Kalapana, whom they should enthrone as king. The priest sent for Kalapana, and Kama'iole was killed. Kalapana was then made king of Hawaii. Kanipahu remained on Molokai and died there.
David Malo said Alaikauakoko was the mother of Kalapana, making Kalapana Kanipahu's son instead of grandson. Kalapana was more probably son of Kanaloa and Mako'ani. David Malo skips this generation, showing Kalapana as the son of Kanipahu.
| Preceded by Kaniuhu |
Aliʻi Aimoku of Hawai‘i 1215 - 1245 |
Succeeded by Kalapanaku'io'iomoa |