| Keōua Kuahuʻula | |
|---|---|
| Ali'i Nui of Ka'ū | |
| The site of his death is a National Historic Landmark | |
| Spouse | Kaiolaniokaiwalani |
| Father | Kalaniʻōpuʻu |
| Mother | Kanekapolei |
| Born | circa 1762 |
| Died | 1791 Puʻukoholā Heiau |
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Keōua Kuahuʻula was an Aliʻi (member of the royal class) during the time of the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
His name means Keōua (a common first name) of the "red altar".[1] His father was Kalaniʻōpuʻu, the king at the time of the arrival of Captain James Cook. He was born about 1762.[2] His mother was Kanekapolei, one of the later wives of Kalaniʻōpuʻu.[3] and mother of Pauli Kaʻōleiokū, the grandfather of Bernice Pauahi Bishop and Ruth Keelikolani. This meant his older half-brother Kiwalaʻo was in line to inherit the kingdom.
He was not happy, however, to receive no lands after his father died in 1781. He challenged his cousin Kamehameha I, resulting in the Battle of Moku'ohai. He escaped the battle to relatives in the Kaʻū district to the South in 1782. Although Kamehameha controlled the West side of the island, repeated raids never resulted in a clear victory for either side.
In 1790, after escaping another attack, his party was caught in an eruption of Kilauea, and left footprints in volcanic ash still visible today. He was killed in 1791 when Kamehameha invited him to the Puʻukoholā Heiau in Kohala. He was captured in what is sometimes called the Battle of Kawaihae, and Keōua's body offered to sanctify the new temple.
He married at least once, to Kaiolaniokaiwalani and perhaps had two more wives, with several daughters and perhaps two sons.[4] He was the last independent district ruler on the island of Hawaiʻi.
| Preceded by Kiwalaʻo |
Aliʻi Nui of Kaʻū 1782-1791 |
Succeeded by Kamehameha I part of Kingdom of Hawaii |