Maelo was the District Chiefess or Queen Regnant of Kona on Oahu. The Kingdom of Oahu was divided among the descendants of Maweke, a legendary blue blood alii from which the Northern royal bloodlines spouted, during her lifetime. Technically she was a vassal of Lakona, the King of Oahu, but she did not have to deal with the hassle of her overlord. Unlike the District Chiefs of later times, she enjoyed much more independence and power.
She was born in the late 13th or early 14th century, a generation after the last days of the migratory period which ended with the departure of Laamaikahiki, one of the last to brave those waters separating Tahiti and the Hawaiian Islands.[1] Her parents were the High Chief Kuolono of Kona and the High Chiefess Kaneakaleleoi. Paternally, she was on the Mulielealii-Moikeha branch of the Maweke Family.[2] She was great-great-grandfather of Moikeha, the first King of Kauai, after Puna of Kauai; through his eldest son Hookamalii.[3]
Maeo was sixth in descent from Maweke, along with her contemporaries, Lakona and Kaulaulaokalani. Lakona, the titular Moi of Oahu, ruled over Ewa, Waianae, and Waialua districts, while Kaulaulaokalani ruled over Koolau. The former was her fourth-cousin, both being great-great-great-grandchildren of Mulielealii; the latter was her fifth-cousin, both being great-great-great-great grandchildren of the celebrated Maweke. The island was divided between these three, with Maelo ruling Kona on the Western shores. Maelo married Lauli-a-Laa, one of the sacred sons of Laamaikahiki and the brother of Ahukini-a-Laa, King of Kauai. This marriage was one of the first between a Nanaulu chiefess, of the Maweke Family on Oahu, to a descendant of the southern Ulu line.[4] Their only son was Laulihewa and through this son, she was the great-great-great grandmother of Mailikukahi,[5]
| Husband (Kane) | Wife (Wahine) | Children (Keiki) |
|---|---|---|
| Maweke | Naiolaukea | Mulielealii |
| Keaunui | ||
| Kalehenui | ||
| Mulielealii | Wehelani | Moikeha |
| Kumuhonua | ||
| Olopana | ||
| Moikeha | Henauulua and Hooipo i Kamalanae |
Hookamalii |
| Haulanuiaiakea | ||
| Kila | ||
| Umalehu | ||
| Kaialea | ||
| Kekaihawewe | ||
| Laukapalala | ||
| Hookamalii | Keahiula | Kahai |
| Kahai | Keheau | Kuolono |
| Kuolono | Kaneakaleleoi | Maelo |
| Lauli-a-Laa | Maelo | Laulihewa |
| Laulihewa | Akepamaikalani | Kahuoi |
| Kahuoi | Pelea | Puaakahuoi |
| Puaakahuoi | Nononui | Kukahiaililani |
| Kukahiaililani | Kokalola | Mailikukahi |