Read this article in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
Kauaʻi is a special and independent island. Its ancient name was Kamāwaelualani Moku. In the song chanted by Kahakuikamoana, Kauaʻi was the only “royal child” of all the islands given birth to. This is perhaps the reason that Holoholokū was especially prized as the birthing place of young aliʻi and how the saying arose,”If the chief is born in Holoholokū, he is a chief; if a chief was born outside of Holoholokū he was not a chief, but was a commoner.”
Did you know that the Naha stone in Hilo, the one one that Kamehameha liften and shook, was from Holohokū? Also the wondrous stone of Kapolei was from Kauaʻi?
Kauaʻi and Niʻihau was the only kingdom that did not fall under Kamehameha I, although he attempted to wage war upon Kaumualiʻi the last king of Kauaʻi. Because the island was not conquered, Hawaiʻi Island culture was not imported to Kauaʻi, for example, the procession of Lonoikamakahiki. The system of worship of Kūkāʻilimoku was also not established on Kauaʻi.
We are perhaps familiar with the poi pounders of Kauaʻi, namely the poi pounder with a hole and one shaped like a stirrup. They have the common pounder, namely the one with a knob handle but only Kauaʻi has the pounder with a ring and one shaped like a stirrup.
How about the famous demigods and heroes from Kauaʻi [such as] Palila, the one that split Olomana, the evil giant of Koʻolaupoko? Kamapuaʻa came from Kauaʻi and was the one who conqured Olopana of Oʻahu. Kawelo, the one who fished up ʻUhumākaʻikaʻi as a sacrifice towards his reconquest of the kingdom of Kauaʻi of his parents, From Kauaʻi came Lohiʻau, the beautiful chief of Hāʻena and lover of Pele.
The famous chief Mōʻīkeha (Mōʻikehā) lived at Puna, Kauaʻi although he was from Moaʻulanuiākea, Tahiti. He took in marriage Hoʻoipokamalanai. Their son was Kila who became the next king of Kauaʻi. His son from Luʻukia, was Laʻamaikahiki. He was the one who brought the drums from Tahiti named ʻŌpuku and Hāwea. Indeed, Hakipuʻu and Kūkaniloko’s people claim the drums to be theirs. This is true. Before Laʻamaikahiki returned to Tahiti, he went around the islands teaching the making of pahu.
Thus, the unique specialness of Kauaʻi. It was an independent kingdom in the time of Kamehameha. It was the source of many demigods. Kauaʻi culture and language was unique. Respond, oh Kamāwaelualani Moku!
