Piʻikea facts for kids

Piʻikea was a powerful leader, a Princess of Maui, and a Queen consort (which means she was married to a king) of Hawaii. Her Hawaiian name, Piʻikea, means "the life ascends."

Piʻikea was the daughter of King Piʻilani and Queen La’ieloheloheikawai. She had two brothers, Kings Lono-a-Piilani and Kiha. Her father, Piʻilani, was famous for building a large temple. Some stories say he was a son of the god Kū.

Piʻikea's Family Life

Piʻikea traveled to Hawaiʻi and married King ʻUmi-a-Liloa. They had a son named Kumalae and a daughter named Aihākōkō.

Helping Her Brother

Piʻikea played a very important role in Hawaiian history. Her brother, Kiha, had to leave Maui. He went to Hawaiʻi to find safety with Piʻikea and her husband, King ʻUmi.

Piʻikea's Strong Support

Piʻikea strongly supported her brother Kiha. She spoke to King ʻUmi and convinced him to help Kiha. She wanted ʻUmi to help Kiha become the king of Maui instead of his older brother, Lono.

Preparing for Battle

King ʻUmi agreed to help. He gathered the chiefs and warriors from different parts of Hawaii. They prepared a large group to travel to Maui. Their goal was to remove Lono from power and make Kiha the new king.

The Invasion of Maui

King ʻUmi led the journey to Maui. Piʻikea and her brother Kiha went with him. Their brave warriors also joined the expedition.

Crossing the Channel

They crossed the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel, which is the water between Maui and Hawaiʻi. The fleet landed at Kapueokahi, a harbor in Hāna, Maui. This was where Lono, Kiha's older brother, lived.

The Battle for Kauwiki

Lono could not stop ʻUmi's forces from landing. So, Lono went to a strong fort on a nearby hill called Kauwiki. King ʻUmi's forces surrounded the fort. After some time and several tries, they finally captured the fort. Lono was defeated in the battle.

Kiha Becomes King

With Lono defeated, Kiha-a-Piʻilani was declared the new king of Maui. After achieving their goal, King ʻUmi and his forces returned to Hawaiʻi.