Hao of Oahu

Hao, Prince of Oahu, was the High Chief of Ewa and Waianae. He would suffered the same fate as Priam of Troy, in the Ancient Greek myth of the Iliad.

Life

Early Life

Hao was born around the years 1500s and 1600s and probably most likely the early 16th century. He was the third child and third son of Kalaimanuia, the Alii Aimoku of Oahu, and her husband Lupe Kapukeahomakalii, a son of High Chief Kalanuili and High Chiefess Naluehiloikeahomakalii. Through his mother's side, he possessed the royal Oahuan and Mauian bloodlines and he was the grandson of Queen Kukaniloko and Luaia, Prince of Maui. Through his father, he was a descendant of the Koolau chief, Kalehenui and his daughter Hinakaimauliawa; and so partenally he was of the Kalehenui branch of the Maweke Dynasty.

Hao had three siblings. He was the younger brother of Ku-a-Manuia and Kaihikapu-a-Manuia; and elder brother to Kekela. Following the ancient customs the sons of the family were given over to their several Kahus or guardians, chiefs of high rank and GeneRally related to the parents, to be brought up by them and educated. This separation at birth between him and his two brothers May Be the reasons behind the villainy and cruelty that the brothers would one day do to each other, which would plunge Oahu into a state of civil war. And, so he was brought up with his own kahu at Waikele, Ewa, away from his mother and father, who had enough time to be good rulers but not enough to be good parents.

War with Ku

Prior to their mother's death she made the following dispositions of the government and the land. This action would prove to be as foolish as the action of Louis the Pious. She appointed Hao's elder brother, Ku-a-Manuia, to succeed her as Moi of Oahu, and she gave him the Kona and Koolaupoko districts for his maintenance. To Kaihikapu-a-Manuia, she entrusted the charge of the kapu, the religious cult, and her family gods, "Kukalani" and "Kuhooneenuu;" and for his maintenance she gave him the lands of Kalauao, the former royal seat; Aiea, Halawa, and Moanalua. Hao received the districts of Ewa and Waianae, but was subject in authority, however, to his two elder brothers. And to her daughter, Kekela, Kalaimanuia gave the districts of Waialua and Koolauloa. Thus, the kingdom was , as the Queen believed, left in good hands when she died at the age of ninety-one, during the sixty-fifth year of her reign.

His elder brother was greatly despised by the nobles, priests, and the general public because of his greedy and ambitious ways. Ku, discrediting his parents whose desires and commands he had disregarded and ignored, endeavored to wrest the inheritance of his two brothers and sister from their hands. For six years, Ku constantly argued with his two younger brothers, and finally, he resolved on an armed attack on Kaihikapu, who was at that time peacefully constructing the fishponds of Lelepaua and Kaihikapu at Keehi. The latter defended himself against this sudden attack; Hao came to his assistance, and a general battle was fought between Lelepaua and Kapuaikaula. In the Battle of Lelepaua and Kapuaikaula, Ku was finally slain and a memorial stone was erected on that field as marking the place where Oahu's tyrant king fell. This event would lead to further skirmishes and bloodshed.

Treachery at the Hand of his Brother

Hao recognized his brother as the Moi of Oahu, and he had no ambition of taking the position from his brother. He remain the district chief of Ewa and Waialua; his governing seat was his own childhood home of Waikele, in the Ewa District. He must have been a benevolent and just ruler because his court's wealth and the number of vassals and retainers, both nobles and commoners, that followed his banner, could outmatch his brother's seat at Waikiki. His wealth and charisma would not be his blessing but his downfall. On A Tour of the kingdom, his brother visited Waikele and was surprised and disturbed in his mind at the splendor of his brother's court. Kaihikapu knew that a chief with so abundant material resources might any day rise in revolt and assert his independence. Laumea, the High Priest and the Odysseus in this story, advice his king to avoid open conflict with Hao, since such an action would alienate Kaihikapu from the people and his sister Kekela and cause him to suffer the same fate as Kuamanuia. The priest advise to sent an offering of an enormous shark that Kaihikapu had been personally caught off the coast of Waikiki. After Hao received this and having no idea of his brother's intentions, he became occupied with dedicating the shark to the gods. Unbeknownst to Hao, armed men issued and slew Hao, his priests and his attendant chiefs, who were unarmed and unprepared. One is inclined to believe that the embellishments of the legends, a many other cases, are of a much later time, and that the actual fact of the matter was the sending of a valuable present, the bearers of which surprised Hao at the Heiau and killed him there.

The Waipahu plantation stables on the mountain side of the road across from the schoolhouse west of the town now occupy the site of the former heiau at Waikele. Nothing remain of this temple where Hao was surprised during worship and slain with his priest. Similar to Priam of Troy, Hao died in a temple.

Issue

His only was Napulanahumahiki, who escaped the assassins, the eventual takeover of the Ewa District and fled to Waianae, where he fought his uncle. And by marrying his aunt Kekela, Hao's sister, Napulanahu gain control over Waialua and Koolauloa. Although Kaihikapu never was punished for his treachery against his own brother, who had no intention to rebel against him; but Hao was avenged by his son when he stopped Kaihikapu from achieving unification of Oahu.

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