Kalaimanuia was the 12th Alii Aimoku of Oahu. She reign as the titular sovereign chieftain or Queen of the island of Oahu and all its territories it may of claim at the time. She was Oahu's last queen regnant until Liliuokalani, the last queen of all of the Hawaiian Islands. Sometimes referred to as Kalanimanuia. According to Samuel Kamakau she reigned in the 1400s or from 1600-1665 which puts her as a contemporary of Kaikilani of Hawaii, which she was not; it was her grandson that lived in the 1500s or 1600s and was Kaikilani’s contemporary of.
Birth
She was the daughter of Kukaniloko, the first Moi Wahine, and her husband a Maui chief named Luaia, grandson of Kukaalaneo (Kakaalaneo), and was of very high rank and traced his lineage to Moi of Maui. She was born at Kukaniloko Birthstone, that famous birthplace of Hawaiian royalty. Her mele inoa (name chant) is still remembered today:
O ka ila io alii Manuia o Oahu,
Manuia, the chiefly flesh-and-blood birthmark of Oahu,
Nona ka moku waiho na lani,
Hers was the island left by the chiefs,
Waiho na kapu io o Laa.
The kapu left by Laa.
He hoolaa, he lau kamahele ka lani,
A consecrated one, a leafy main branch, was the chiefess,
He pua no ka hanai nole ne alii
A tenderly nurtured flower was this chiefess
Kalaimanuia spent her early childhood living mauka (toward the mountains) of Wahiawā rather than at the royal seat of Waikiki. Later, she moved to Kalauao in Waipahu and remained there until she became ruler of the kingdom. She resided most of her time at Kalauao, in the Ewa district, where the foundations of her residences are still pointed out at Kukiiahu and at Paaiau.
Reign
Kalaimanuia followed her mother, Kukaniloko, as Moi of Oahu. Kalanimanuia was acknowledged to have been an excellent chiefess. The chiefs and commoners lived in comfort on the island. The lands were fertile and were productive enough to sustain a comfortable life for the people. No taxes were levied on the people. No foreign or domestic wars appear to have troubled her reign, and little is known of her history in detail. She built many heiau and rebuilt those in disrepair. Among the heiau she built must have been one or more heiau Kūula (fish-god) which were constructed near the ocean's edge for worshipping praying, learning and even for protecting and storing fishing gear. Peace prevailed over the island of Oahu. As part of her management style, she frequently traveled around the island inspecting her lands. She was especially noted for building loko ‘ia or fishponds; three of which she had built for herself. To her is attributed the building of the great fishpond of Kapaakea, Opu, and Paaiau on Oahu.
Marriage and Issues
She married the High Chief Lupekapukeahomakalii. Lupe was a son of High Chief Kalanuili and High Chiefess Naluehiloikeahomakalii. Although his wife was ruler of the kingdom, he assisted with the administration of the government. The couple encouraged the people to build "men's chapels" (actually the hale mua or men's eating house) where the men could worship and eat alone. Lupe is highly spoken of in the ancient legends as a wise and kind man, who frequently accompanied his royal spouse on the customary circuits of inspection of the island, and assisted her in the government and administration of justice.
Kalaimanuia and Lupekapu had four children, three sons and one daughter. The first were Ku-a-Manuia, Kaihikapu-a-Manuia, and Hao; the latter was Kekela. According to ancient custom the sons were given over to their several Kahus or guardians, chiefs of high rank and generally related to the parents, to be by them brought up and educated. Thus Kuamanuia, was brought up at Waikiki, Kaihikapuamanuia, at Waimanalo, Koolaupoko, and Hao at Waikele, Ewa; but the daughter, Kekela, was brought up with her parents.
Death
Before her death Kalaimanuia made the following dispositions of the government and the land. She appointed her eldest son, 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 confided 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, Aiea, Halawa, and Moanalua. To Hao she gave the districts of Ewa Beach and Waianae, subject in authority, however, to his two elder brothers. And to her daughter, Kekela, she gave the districts of Waialua and Koolauloa.
Thus, the kingdom was left in good hands when Kalaimanuia died at the age of ninety-one. She died during the sixty-fifth year of her reign. The length of her reign as ruler of O‘ahu indicate that she was just and compassionate and cared for the people. She exemplified the traits of a benevolent and trustful ali‘i which afforded her full support from the chiefs and commoners alike. Had she not shown the traits of a good ali‘i, she would have been quickly replaced as ruler of the kingdom by her subjects.
References
Abraham Fornander, An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origin and Migrations, Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969. Page 91, 272-276
