Aliʻi facts for kids

The aliʻi were the traditional noble people of the Hawaiian islands. They belonged to a family line of rulers called the noho aliʻi.

The word aliʻi means something similar in the Samoan language and other Polynesian languages. In Māori, it is pronounced "ariki".

Who Were the Aliʻi?

In ancient Hawaii, the aliʻi were important noble people. They were part of a special social group. This group included both higher and lesser chiefs across the islands. The noho aliʻi were the actual ruling chiefs. People believed the aliʻi were related to the gods.

There were eleven different levels of aliʻi, for both men and women. Some aliʻi were also kahuna. These were priests, experts, craftspeople, and canoe makers. Each Hawaiian island had its own main aliʻi nui who led their island. The aliʻi were important in Hawaiian government until 1893. That year, Queen Liliʻuokalani was removed from power. This happened with help from the United States government.

Different Kinds of Aliʻi

Samuel M. Kamakau, a Hawaiian historian, wrote a lot about the different aliʻi ranks. These ranks showed how important a chief was.

• Aliʻi nui: These were the supreme high chiefs of an island. No one was above them. The four largest Hawaiian islands usually had their own aliʻi nui. These islands were Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Oʻahu. The island of Molokaʻi also had its own rulers. But later, Molokaʻi became part of Maui and Oʻahu. The title Mōʻī was special for the highest chief of Maui. Later, this title was used for all rulers of the Hawaiian Islands.
• Aliʻi nui kapu: These were sacred rulers. They had special rules or "taboos" that others had to follow around them.
• Aliʻi Piʻo: This rank was for chiefs born from a brother and sister who were full siblings. Famous Piʻo chiefs were the royal twins, Kameʻeiamoku and Kamanawa.
• Aliʻi Naha: These chiefs were born from half-siblings. A well-known Naha chief was Keōpūolani.
• Aliʻi Wohi: These chiefs were born from close relatives who were not siblings. Kamehameha I was a famous Wohi chief. These chiefs had a special kapu wohi. This meant they did not have to follow the kapu moe (prostration taboo).
• Kaukaualiʻi: These were lesser chiefs who served the aliʻi nui. This rank could change. It often meant a relative born from a lower-ranking parent. If a kaukaualiʻi son had children with a lower-ranking aliʻi mother, their children would have an even lower rank. Eventually, the family line could become makaʻāinana (commoners). Kaukaualiʻi could gain a higher rank by marrying a higher-ranking aliʻi.

Some kaukaualiʻi families were important to the Kamehameha rulers. They helped with different service tasks. Members of these families married into the Kamehameha family. Examples include Charles Kanaʻina and Kekūanāoʻa. Some kaukaualiʻi carried Kāhili, which were royal standards made of feathers. They also served the higher-ranking aliʻi. During the time of the monarchy, some of these chiefs got important jobs. They worked in the Hawaiian government and the king's special council. All Hawaiian monarchs after Kamehameha III had kaukaualiʻi fathers. These fathers married higher-ranking wives.

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See also

In Spanish: Aliʻi para niños