| Kalaniʻōpuʻu-a-Kaiamamao | |
| Aliʻi Nui of Kaʻū Aliʻi Aimoku of Hawaiʻi | |
| House: | House of Keawe |
| Father: | Kalaninuiamamao |
| Mother: | Kamakaimoku |
| Spouse: | Kalola Pupuka-o-Honokawailani Kalaiwahineuli Kamakolunuiokalani Mulehu Kānekapōlei Kekupuohi[1] |
| Issue: | Kīwalaʻō Kalaipaihala Pualinui Keōua Kuahuʻula Keōua Peʻeale Kaoiwikapuokalani |
| Birth Date: | 1729 |
| Death Date: | April 1782 (aged 52–53) |
| Death Place: | Kāʻilikiʻi, WaioʻahukiniKaʻū |
Kalaniʻōpuʻu-a-Kaiamamao (c. 1729 – April 1782) was the aliʻi nui (supreme monarch) of the island of Hawaiʻi. He was called Terreeoboo, King of Owhyhee by James Cook and other Europeans. His name has also been written as Kaleiopuu.
Kalaniʻōpuʻu was the son of Kalaninuiamamao and his wife Kamakaʻīmoku, a high ranking aliʻi wahine (female of hereditary nobility). She had another son, Keōua, with another husband named Kalanikeʻeaumoku. This made her the grandmother of Kamehameha I. During his reign, Alapainui had kept the two young princes, Kalaniʻōpuʻu and Keōua, close to him out of either kindness or for political reasons.[2] [3]
Kalaniʻōpuʻu-a-Kaiamamao was the king of the island when Captain James Cook came to Hawaiʻi, and the king went aboard Cook's ship on November 26, 1778.[4] After Cook anchored at Kealakekua Bay in January 1779, Kalaniʻōpuʻu-a-Kaiamamao paid a ceremonial visit on January 26, 1779, and exchanged gifts including a ʻahuʻula (feathered cloak)[5] and mahiole (ceremonial helmet),[6] since it was during the Makahiki season. Cook's ships returned on February 11 to repair storm damage. This time relations were not as good, resulting in a violent struggle when Cook tried to take Kalaniʻōpuʻu hostage after the theft of a longboat, which led to Cook's death.
Kalaniʻōpuʻu-a-Kaiamamao died at Kāʻilikiʻi, Waioʻahukini, Kaʻū, in April 1782. He was succeeded by his son, Kīwalaʻō, as king of Hawaiʻi island; and his nephew, Kamehameha I,[7] who was given guardianship of Kū-ka-ili-moku, the god of war. His nephew would eventually overthrow his son at the battle of Mokuʻōhai. The island of Hawaiʻi was then effectively divided into three parts: his nephew Kamehameha ruled the western districts, his younger son Keōua Kuahuula controlled Kaʻū, and his brother Keawemauhili controlled Hilo.