Keawe was believed to have lived from 1660 to 1725. He was son of
Keakealaniwahine, the ruling Queen of Hawaii and Kanaloakapulehu. He is sometimes referred to as King
Keawe II, since prior to him his ancestor was
Keawe-nui-a-'Umi. His full name Keawe-ʻī-kekahi-aliʻi-o-ka-moku means "Keawe, the foremost chief of the island". Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku, a strong leader, ruled over much of the
Big Island except district of Hilo which was still independent. He is said to have been an enterprising and stirring chief, who traveled all over the eight islands, and obtained a reputation for bravery and prudent management of his island. It appears that in some manner he composed the troubles that had disturbed the peace during his mother's time; mainly the conflict between the independent ʻI family of Hilo. It was not by force or by conquest, for in that case, and so near to our times, some traces of it would certainly have been preserved in the legends. He probably accomplished the tranquility of the island through diplomacy, as he himself married
Lonomaʻaikanaka, the daughter of Ahu-a-ʻI, and he afterwards married his son Kalaninuiomamao to Ahia, the granddaughter of Kuaʻana-a-ʻI and cousin to Kuahuia's son, Mokulani, and thus by this double marriage securing the peace and allegiance of the Hilo chiefs. who inherited their mother kapu rank. After his death, a civil war broke out over succession between his sons, Keʻeaumoku and Kalaninuiʻamamao, and a rival chief known as
Alapaʻinui, who was the son of his sister Kalanikauleleiaiwi and Kauakahilau-a-Mahi, son of Chief Mahiolole (Mahiololi) of the Kohala district. Alapaʻinui emerged victorious over the two brothers and their orphan sons (including
Kamehameha I's father), who were absorbed into his clan.
Hale o Keawe was an ancient Hawaiian
heiau originally built as the burial site for Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku. Today the reconstructed temple is part of the
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. The
House of Kalākaua and the
House of Kawānanakoa descend from his eldest son
Kalaninuiʻamamao. He could be called the father of
Hawaii. The
House of Kamehameha and the
House of Laʻanui descend from his second son
Keʻeaumoku Nui. == Ancestry ==