Piʻilani

Piʻilani (born ca. 1577)^[1] ruled as the 15th Mōʻī of the island of Maui, as an independent kingdom within the islands of Hawaii in the later part of the 16th century. He is the first ruling ali'i to unite the island under a single line.^[2] His rule was peaceful for most of his reign. His father was Kawaokaohele^[3] and his mother was Kepalaoa.^[4] Pilʻilani and his offspring are important in legends of Maui, in the same way as Liloa and his son ʻUmi-a-Liloa in the legends of the island of Hawaii.^[3] The two family lines of Piʻilani and Liloa were closely associated although from separate islands. ʻUmi was a supporter of Lono-a-Piilani, Piʻilani's son, when he went to war. The lineage would continue in west Hawaii and east Maui in lesser lines and would be seen in the lines of Moana Kane from Liloa and Pi'ilani Wahine from Piʻilani in the couples marriage and offspring.^[5]

Piʻilani's father and grandfathers, came from western Maui and with Piʻilani himself, for the first time this family would now control the eastern side as well.^[6] Piʻilani began building a roadway that would wrap around the entire island of Maui, the first such road in the islands. It was wide enough for eight men to walk aside each other. It was completed by his son and today some sections of Piʻilani Highway still use the old path where, in places, the old stones are still visible.^[7] After Piʻilani's death the line of succession would become a struggle that would be similar to that of ʻUmi and Hakua of Hawaii.^[6]

Family tree

References