Keaunui
Ancient Hawaiian high chief
About Keaunui
Keaunui (Hawaiian for "Keau the Great") was a High Chief of ʻEwa, Waiʻanae and Waialua in ancient Hawaii. He was a member of the Nanaulu line and is also known as Keaunui-a-Maweke.
His mother was High Chiefess Naiolaukea, also known as Naiolakea. (In ancient Hawaii, it was common for nobles to have many names.)
His father was a high chief and “wizard” called Maweke, an Aliʻi of "the blue blood".
He had brothers named Mulielealiʻi and Kalehenui.
Keaunui married a woman named Wehelani (Hawaiian: lani = "sky"), and their children were: High Chief Laakona of ʻEwa High Chiefess and "witch" Nuakea of Molokai High Chief and "wizard" Moʻi
Keaunui had a granddaughter, Chiefess Kapau-a-Nuʻakea of Molokai.
Keaunui is traditionally credited with opening a navigable channel at Pearl Harbor.
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Who was Keaunui?
Ancient Hawaiian high chief
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Keaunui. https://biography.guide/keaunui/
MLA: "Keaunui." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/keaunui/.
Chicago: "Keaunui." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/keaunui/.
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