Kawanana Pai'ea

Kawanana Paiea (Kamehameha Prophecies)

by Kumu Keahi 10/27/04

THE 5 PROPHECIES: (1) When Ke-Ku'i-Apo-Aiwa was pregnant with Kamehama She was hungry for the "eye of the shark." When she shared this with the other chiefs, they recognized that as the "ho'ailona" (sign/omen) of a baby which will be an “eater” (destroyer) of chiefs.

(2) When Kamehameha was born at “Koko'iki” Heiau (“drops of blood” from the birth process) the Koko'iki Star (Haley's Comet) was blazing across the sky. It was prophesized that the child born under this star will be the next ruler of the islands.

Koko'iki Heiau is located in South Kona/Kohala ***************** With the rumors of these prophesies forthcoming, Alapa'i (Alii Nui) ordered that all boys below a certain age be slaughtered (sounds like the Bible). The new child was whisked away through Ha-wi (silenced voice, when all were told not to say a word that he was here), Kapa'au (floating malo when while crossing the stream, the malo slipped off and floated away) until some location where he was raised to be a warrior. He was trained in all things necessary for a chief, chanting, medicine, lua, navigation, government....etc. It was at this time he was given the name of Pai'ea (hard shelled "protected" crab). When he was training in isolation, he assumed the named Ka-mehameha. The lonely one. Eventually he was brought out of isolation when he was no longer considered a threat.

Let it be also known that Kamehameha was the decendant of TWO fathers, Keoua Kupaikalaninui and from Kahekili of Maui. In times of old, a child could be considered decended from both and receive all the rights and privileges of both. Kamehameha was considered "po'o lua" with two fathers. ******************* (3) At the age of about 14, Kamehameha was gathered with all the other chiefs around the NAHA stone in Hilo. And the young Chief Kamehameha stepped forward and lifted the NAHA stone (from Kauai's powerful kahuna clan called NAHA). The other chiefs recognized that the person who could lift such a large stone must be of the High Clan of Naha and will become the ruler of Hawaii.

(4) There was a gathering of the chiefs at another a luakini heiau called Pakini in southern Ka’u. A rebel chief Imakakoloa from Puna was caught by a one of Kalaniopuu’s kahu named Puhili. Kiwalao was to make offer the mohai to the gods. A mumbling of Kamehameha’s chiefs said that Kamehameha was not being left anything and would be left destitute. The secretly advised him to offer up the human mohai while Kiwalao offered the puaa. If he were to do this, he would be ruler over the land. Otherwise, he would likely be left desitute. Before Kawalao, Kalaniopuu, and many chiefs, Kamehameha offered the mohai.

(5) In the battles of Maui, and against two events were occuring. Kamehameha was unsure why he was not winning without ease. And Keoua was returning his people back to Ka'u after the battle of Moku'ohai. Pele erupted and took out A THIRD of Keoua's people. He noted that Kamehameha, keeper of Kukailimoku, was powerful but now he has Pele on his side. How does one compete against that? Kamehameha in his reflections decided that he needed some advice from the powerful Kahuna from Kauai named KaPouKahi. He was living in Waikiki Oahu at the time of the prophecy. When asked, KaPouKahi said that Kamehameha needed to build a heiua at Kawaihae and dedicate it to his god. Only then will he unify the island without a scratch against him.

Kamehameha immediately commissioned the building of this heiau to be done by all and everyone even the alii. Despite the Kapu against that, Kamehameha worked himself but to preserve the kapu in his bloodline, he forbid his younger brother Kelii-Maika'i to do any of the stone carrying. In fact, when he saw his brother carrying one of the stones on his back, he admonished him, forbid him to work, and had the stone taken into the deepest ocean and dropped there.

When the heiau was compeleted, Keoua was invited to be there for the dedication.Keoau, resolved to the dominion of his cousin, travelled by waakaulua to Kawaihae, but stopped up the coast first to "oki" (mutliate himself.. cut his penis) so as to defile the perfectness of sacrificing his body which was going to be very likely.

There are actually three heiau in the area. Mailekini heiau where Alapainui transferred the power to his son which Kamehameha thought was to be is. Kamehameha actually tried to restore this heiau in fulfillment of the KaPouKahi prophecy but then might have abandoned it for building an entirely new one above it (Puukohola). Under the water's of Mailekini bay is a submersed heiau dedicated to the mano called, Hale-o-Kapuni. It may likely be that this heiau is also for the eel (puni).