Maʻilikūkahi Explained

Chief Maʻilikūkahi (Hawaiian: Aliʻi Maʻilikūkahi; Hawaiian pronunciation: Mah-ee-leeh-koo-kah-heeh; also known as Maʻilikukahi) was a High Chief (aliʻi nui) of the island of Oahu in ancient Hawaii around 1480 A.D.^{[1] [2]} He is known today from the old chants as one of the early and beneficent rulers of Oʻahu.^[3]

He was the founder of the House of Maʻilikūkahi (Hawaiian: Hale o Maʻilikūkahi).

Biography

Maʻilikūkahi lived in the 15th or 16th century, but there is also possibility that he was born at the end of the 14th century.

He was born on Oʻahu as a son of the nobleman named Kukahiaililani (lani = "sky"). His mother was his fatherʻs spouse, a wife or a concubine of an unknown name.^[4] He was thus a paternal descendant of the High Chiefess Maelo of Kona district, O`ahu.

Maʻilikūkahi succeeded his relative, Haka of Oʻahu, and subdivided the land into numerous ahupuaʻa. He had many rivals.^[5]

Maʻilikūkahiʻs son was Chief Kālonaiki of Oʻahu, his successor.

See also

• Alii nui of Oahu
• Maweke, Maʻilikūkahiʻs ancestor

Notes and References

1. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin, Opseg 233. Bishop Museum Press, 1972.
2. Martha Warren Beckwith, Hawaiian Mythology
3. Edith Kawelohea McKinzie; Ishmael W Stagner. 1986. Hawaiian genealogies: extracted from Hawaiian language newspapers. Laie, Hawaii: Institute for Polynesian Studies, Brigham Young University--Hawaii Campus; Honolulu, Hawaii: Distributed by University of Hawaii Press.
4. In one chant, his mother is called Kokalola.
5. Glen Grant (1994). Obake: Ghost Stories in Hawai'i.