The Descendants

A great legend was once told about a future Hawaiian ruler.  The day a fiery light - with feathers like a bird - appeared in the sky was the day a great ruler would be born.  It was he who would unite all of the islands and would be known as a “killer of chiefs.”

On the day a child named Pai'ea was born into a noble family, on the island of Hawaii, the fiery light of Halley's Comet - with its feather-like tail - was visible in the Hawaiian skies.  Because of the legend, his parents worried that the current ruler - a man named Alapa'i who was himself a killer of chiefs - might order the death of their son. 

To be safe, they asked another nobleman to care for, and raise, Pai'ea.  Their concerns saved the child's life since Alapa'i had, indeed, ordered the baby's death. 

Five years later, the ruler relented and allowed Pai'ea to be raised by his own parents.  There he was taught the ways of the court, and the ways of war, by his teacher.

Some records tell us that Pai'ea was given a new name, based on his personality.  Other records say the name came about because the child was away from his parents for five years.  However it happened,  Ka mehameha means "solitary," or "lonely," in the Hawaiian language. 

Kamehameha was strong.  According to stories which survive about him, he was able to overturn a massive stone - called the Naha Stone - which reportedly weighed between 2.5 - 3.5 tons.  And ... he was anything but lonely in his drive to unite all of Hawaii's islands.

Born in 1758 (although other records say he was born in November of 1737), Kamehameha lived and ruled at the same time as American colonists were revolting against Great Britain.  Long before Hawaii became part of the United States, Kamehameha had fulfilled the legend - he had united the various islands of Hawaii:

• Hawaii  - “The Big Island”

• Kauai - “The Garden Island”

• Kahoolawe - “The Target Island”

• Lanai - “The Pineapple Island”

• Maui - “The Magic Island”

• Molokai - “The Friendly Island”

• Niihau - “The Forbidden Island”

• Oahu - “The Gathering Place”

As ruler of the newly formed Kingdom of Hawaii - in 1810 - Pai'ea would soon have two additional names:  "Kamehameha I" and "Kamehameha the Great." 

Kamehameha I instituted laws which governed a united Hawaii.  His first law protected civilians during war.  Known as the "Law of the Splintered Paddle," it required that every man, woman and child would be able "to lie down to sleep by the roadside without fear of harm." 

His stance on protecting civilians and non-combatants, during war, remains a model law and is part of Hawaii's state constitution.

His great-granddaughter - Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki - left her own mark on Hawaii when she willed her fortune - mostly tied-to Hawaiian land - to benefit Hawaiian children.

ISSUES and QUESTIONS to PONDER:   Do legends ever predict reality - like the legend of Kamehameha's birth? 

Kamehameha's "Law of the Splintered Paddle" - enacted in the late 18th century - remains a model for protecting non-combatants.  How does that law compare with the way non-combatants are treated in today's world?