Aliʻi nui of Maui facts for kids

The Aliʻi nui of Maui was the highest leader or "supreme ruler" of the island of Maui, one of the main Hawaiian Islands. They also ruled the smaller island of Lanai. The title Aliʻi nui was used for the top leaders on other Hawaiian islands too. Sometimes, the word Mōʻī was used for Maui's rulers, but this word is not very old in the Hawaiian language. It started being used in the mid-1800s. Only Kalākaua and his sister Liliuokalani officially held the title of Mōʻī.

Who Were the Rulers of Maui?

The rulers of Maui, just like the leaders on other Hawaiian islands, believed they were descendants of important ancestors named Wākea and Papa. From the mid-1800s, these rulers were sometimes called Mōʻī, which later became known in English as "king".

Paumakua, the very first ruler of Maui, was the thirty-first descendant from Wakea. In the beginning, from Paumakua's time up to Kawaokaohele's rule, the Aliʻi nui of Maui only controlled the larger western part of the island. The chiefs in the eastern area of Hāna remained independent. Mauiloa tried to unite the island once, but the chiefs of Hāna continued to cause trouble. It was under the rule of Piʻilani that the eastern part was finally conquered, and Maui became united for the first time.

Kahekili II was a powerful ruler who expanded his control. He conquered the nearby island of Oʻahu in 1783. He also made an alliance with the Queen of Kauaʻi through his brother's marriage. However, his son Kalanikūpule was the last ruler from his family line. Maui became weaker when Kalanikupule and his uncle, Kaeokulani, fought over who would rule next. In 1795, Maui and Oʻahu were taken over by Kamehameha I, which led to the start of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Important Aliʻi nui of Maui

Here are some of the notable Aliʻi nui who ruled Maui:

• Aliʻi nui Piʻilani
• Aliʻi nui Lono-a-Pi'ilani
• Aliʻi nui Kiha-a-Pi'ilani
• Aliʻi nui Kamalalawalu
• Aliʻi nui Kauhiakama
• Aliʻi nui Kalanikaumakaowākea
• Aliʻi nui Lonohonuakini (17th century)
• Aliʻi nui Kaulahea II
• Aliʻi nui Kekaulike (1700s–1736)
• Aliʻi nui Kamehamehanui Ailuau (1736–1765)
• Aliʻi nui Kahekili II (1765–1794)
• Aliʻi nui Kaeokulani (1794)
• Aliʻi nui Kalanikūpule of Maui and Oahu (1794–1795) - His rule ended when Maui became part of Kamehameha I's kingdom.

The Chiefs of Hāna

In the early days of the Kingdom of Maui, the island was split into two parts. The larger western side was controlled by the descendants of Paumakua. However, East Maui, which included areas like Koolau, Hāna, Kipahulu, and Kaupo, sometimes had its own independent rulers.

The leaders of Hāna, like other Hawaiian chiefs, likely claimed to be descendants of Wakea and Pāpa. These Hāna leaders were like district chiefs and sometimes acted as vassals, meaning they owed loyalty to the Western Maui rulers. From the time of Eleio to Hoolae, the chiefs of Hāna mostly stayed free from West Maui's control, especially during the reigns of Kakaalaneo to Kawaokaohele.

The sixth Aliʻi Nui of Hāna, Hoolae, eventually became a subject of Piʻilani and even allowed his daughter to marry him. Even after Piʻilani conquered Hāna, the Hāna chiefs' loyalty to the West Maui Mōʻī was often uncertain. A big advantage for the Hāna chiefs was their control of the Kauwiki fortress, which was thought to be impossible to capture.

Who Were the Hāna Chiefs?

Here are some of the chiefs who ruled Hāna:

• Aliʻi nui Eleio of Hāna (during the rule of Kakaalaneo)
• Aliʻi nui Kalahaeha of Hāna
• Aliʻi nui Lei of Hāna
• Aliʻi nui Kamohohalii of Hāna
• Aliʻi nui Kalaehina of Hāna
• Aliʻi nui Hoolae of Hāna