Kaʻiana

Kaʻiana, also known as Keawe-Kaʻiana-a-ʻAhuʻula, (about 1755 – 1795) was a Native Hawaiian warrior and aliʻi of Puna, Hawai‘i, who turned against Kamehameha I in 1795 during his conquest of Oahu and then sided with the island's ruler, Kalanikupule.

Birth and family While Kaʻiana's place of birth is unknown, it is likely he was raised in Hilo. His mother was Kaupekamoku (w), the granddaughter of Ahia (wahine/female) from the "I" family of Hilo, Hawaii. His father was ʻAhuʻula-a-Keawe (k), a son of Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku (kāne/male). His name is sometimes recorded with different variations; Tianna, Tyaana, Ty-e-a-naa, Tianner, and Tayanah. Through his father, he is first cousin to much of the Island of Hawaii's nobility, including Kalaniʻōpuʻu (k), Keōua (k), and Keawemaʻuhili (k). His mother's pedigree included her paternal heritage to Oahu and Hilo, while her maternal line is from the Maui royal family. She was half-sister to Kekaulike (k).

He had two half-brothers from his mother with whom he maintained close relationships until their deaths rebelling against Kamehameha I. Their names were Nāmākēhā (k) and Nāhiʻōleʻa (k). Their fathers were of the Maui royal family. Nāhiʻōleʻa is considered one of the fathers of Kekūanaōʻa along with Kiʻilaweau (k), both husbands of Inaina (w) in a tradition called poʻolua. The three brothers helped conquer Oahu with Kahekili II in the early 1780s but moved to Kauaʻi after becoming dissatisfied and unsuccessfully rebelling against Kahekili.

On March 8, 1779, either Kaʻiana-a-ʻAhuʻula or his cousin Kaʻiana Ukupe is recorded as "Taiana" traveling aboard HMS Resolution from Kauaʻi to Niʻihau on the last leg of Captain James Cook's third and final voyage after the navigators death. The ship's surgeon David Samwell recorded that "Taiana" request to return to England with the ship was refused. His cousin Kaʻiana Ukupe, a son of Kaolohaka (k), was the father of Kaikioʻewa, the first governor of Kauaʻi who joined forces along with others to support Kamehameha I.

Kaʻiana was described by Captain John Meares in 1788: "He was near six feet five inches in stature, and the muscular form of his limbs was of an Herculean appearance". Meares also stated that he carried himself; "replete with dignity, and having lived in the habit of receiving the respect due to superior rank in his own country, he possessed an air of distinction".

Kahekili II's conquest of Oʻahu Around 1770 Peleioholani (k), the aliʻi nui or mōʻī (supreme ruler) of Oʻahu died and was succeeded by his son Kumahana (k) who was deposed by a meeting of the aliʻi (nobles) in council and replaced by Kahahana. Kumahana took his family to Kauaʻi where they were given refuge in Waimea. Kumahana's only son Kaneoneo married Kamakahelei, a queen regnant of Kauaʻi and died attempting to regain Oʻahu. In 1782 Kaʻopulupulu, the kahuna nui (high priest) of Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau died, removing the last obstacle to invasion for Aliʻi Nui, Kahekili II of Maui. His forces launched from Lahaina, Maui and landed in Waikiki on Oʻahu with warriors that included Kaʻiana, Namakeha, and Nāhiʻōleʻa. After Kahahana's defeat many of the forces remained on Oʻahu including Kaʻiana and his brothers. They lived at Kāneʻohe and Heʻeia on the Windward Coast of the island. After two years, there was resistance to Maui's occupation. The people of Oʻahu gained the support of some of the Maui aliʻi, most notable being Kaʻiana, Namakeha, and Nāhiʻōleʻa. The conspiracy was discovered and while many of the Maui men were killed, Kaʻiana and his brothers escaped to Kauaʻi, which was now ruled by Kamakahelei and her husband Kāʻeokūlani, a son of Kekaulike, making him a half-brother of Kahekili.

Kauaʻi On Kauaʻi, Kaʻiana and his brothers, as well as their families, were cared for by Kāʻeokūlani. When the first Europeans to return to the islands since the death of Cook arrived, they were greeted by Kāʻeokūlani and Kaʻiana, carrying his young daughter and accompanied by a large group of attendants. HMS King George and HMS Queen Charlotte were captained by Nathaniel Portlock and George Dixon. The ships anchored off Waimea on June 19, 1786. Dixon said that Kaʻiana's daughter was:

Portlock wrote in his journal about the first Christmas on Kauai, December 1786. He had passed out small presents to the women and children and was then surprised by gifts of pigs and fresh vegetables delivered to his ship from Kaʻiana. A few months after Portlock and Dixon had left the island, in the summer of 1787, the Nootka arrived captained by John Meares. The ship stayed only a few months before sailing off with Kaʻiana on board. When Dixon had returned from the Pacific Northwest, he was hoping to re-unite with Portlock and the King George at Kauaʻi in mid-September. He was told by ʻŌpūnui that another ship had arrived and left with Kaʻiana. He described Meares as "ʻeno", Hawaiian for a "wild and suspicious man" who had given no gifts in return for the provisions he was given. After his ship was provisioned Dixon returned gifts to Kāʻeokūlani of a large woollen cloak and an iron adze. Portlock returned on October 3, 1787, but finding Dixon gone, sailed on almost immediately.

Voyage with Meares On September 2, 1787, Ka'iana departed Hawai'i on John Meares' ship Nootka as Meares' guest. They arrived in Canton (Guangzhou) in October 1787. Ka'iana also visited Macau.

In southern China, Meares picked up three other Hawaiians left there by other Western ships. These three include a stout man and a boy from Maui, who were not specifically named, and a Hawaiian woman in Canton by the name of Wynee, who had been left there by Captain Charles William Barkley, on the British ship Imperial Eagle. Wynee and the unnamed man died of illness on the voyage home while the fate of the young boy was never recorded. Ka'iana, who remained by Wynee's bedside caring for her, contracted a fever as well. He reportedly became seriously distraught upon learning of her death, although he would recover. Wynee bequeathed to Ka'iana some trade articles she had acquired and asked him to deliver her remaining possessions to her father and mother.

After departing from Canton, Meares bought the ship Iphigenia. Meares gave command of the ship to William Douglas and transferred Kaʻiana to it.

Ancestry