"There was some jealousy towards Ka‘iana by some of the other chiefs," explains Mel Kalahiki. "Ka‘iana had been to China, he knew some English, and he was regarded by the ladies as the handsomest of chiefs. This did not go unnoticed by Ka‘ahumanu. It is said that she was attracted to him, and that Kamehameha knew of this.

"When they were on Moloka‘i, Ka‘iana was left on the fringes of decision making. He was not invited to the Council of Chiefs meeting on that island, as they were discussing about invading O‘ahu. Ka‘iana realized he was outside of the loop. So he joined forces with the O‘ahu chief."

His wife Kekupuohi, however, remained loyal to Kamehameha. "Apparently she was a great beauty and had been married to Kalani'opu'u," Mel says. "He died, according to Kamakau, around 1772. She may have been a very young wife. Kamakau says that she did learn to read."

According to Kamakau (1992: 172), as the canoes were approaching O‘ahu, Ka‘iana jumped into his wife's canoe and rubbed noses with her. "Why this kiss?" she asked. "I am leaving you to follow the sons of my older brother," he replied, meaning he was joining forces with Kalanikupule. "I will not follow you," she said, "for I must go with my chief."

"Ka‘iana's wife came up Nu‘uanu side with Kamehameha's forces," Mel continues. "And he went down from here with Kalanikupule. Down below Wyllie he was wounded, and when he fell, his wife was coming up the road, and the word got back to her, and she ran up there, grabbed her husband, and he died in her arms. Just like the battle stopped when she went on her knees; both sides stopped.”

"Kamehameha’s forces stopped to sacrifice Ka‘iana after he had been killed," Jerry adds. "They did this at Kawananakoa heiau, which is located on the south corner of the Royal Mausoleum grounds today. Then they continued until the battle was over."

"Kamehameha paid him honors with a special kahili," Mel concludes. "It’s in the Bishop Museum.

Pacific Worlds > Nu‘uanu > Native Place > Battle of Nu‘uanu