Kamaloohua facts for kids

Kamaloʻohua (also known as Kamalu-Ohua) was an important leader in ancient Hawaii around the year 1416. He was a powerful High Chief and the Moʻi, or King, of the island of Maui. His story comes from old Hawaiian legends and chants.

People believed that Kamaloʻohua was a descendant of a famous mythical chief named Paumakua of Maui. There are no archaeological records, like old buildings or tools, that tell us about him. His story is mostly known through the oral traditions of the Hawaiian people.

Kamaloʻohua's Family

Ancient Hawaiian chants tell us about the family lines of the Kings of Maui. This is called a genealogy.

Kamaloʻohua was the son of King Kuhimana and his sister, Kaumana I. This means his grandparents were King Alo of Maui and his wife, Moekeaea.

Kamaloʻohua married a woman named Kapu. We don't know who her parents were. The word kapu in Hawaiian means something sacred or forbidden.

Kamaloʻohua and Kapu had a son named Loe of Maui, who later became a king. Their grandson was King Kahokuohua of Molokai.

Famous Legends About Kamaloʻohua

There are two well-known stories about King Kamaloʻohua. One tells about a big war, and the other describes the arrival of people with lighter skin.

The War with Hawaiʻi Island

One legend says that King Kamaloʻohua was attacked by King Kalaunuiohua from Hawaiʻi island. King Kalaunuiohua defeated Kamaloʻohua and took him as a prisoner. Kalaunuiohua then traveled to Oahu island, bringing his prisoners with him. It's not clear if Oʻahu had a recognized ruler at that time.

Later, Kamaloʻohua was able to return to his home island of Maui. After this, it was a time of peace for his people.

Arrival of Light-Skinned People

Another interesting legend tells of a strange event that happened during Kamaloʻohua's time.

A boat called Mamala arrived at Wailuku on Maui. The captain was said to be Kaluiki-a-Manu. Other people on board included Neleike, Malaea, Haʻakoa, and Hika. There were both men and women among them.

The story says that Neleike became the wife of a man named Wakalana. They had a son named Alo-o-ia. These people were described as having light skin and bright, shining eyes. They were called poe ohana Kekea, which means "light-colored family."

Over time, these newcomers married into the Hawaiian people. Their appearance changed as they mixed with the local population.

It's important to remember that this happened long before Europeans were known to travel across the Pacific Ocean. Historians think these light-skinned foreigners might have been the crew of a Japanese ship that was blown off course by strong winds. Or, they might have been from the ships of Álvaro de Saavedra's expedition. The Hawaiian people clearly saw these castaways as different from themselves.

Another version of this same story exists. It is mostly the same but has slightly different names for the new arrivals. One version says this event happened during Kamaloʻohua's time, while another says it was during Wakalana's time. Both Kamaloʻohua and Wakalana lived around the same period.

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