Hoapili


Ulumheihei Hoapili was a member of the nobility during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was a trusted military and political advisor to King Kamehameha I, known as Kamehameha the Great. Although trusted with one of the last symbolic rites of the Hawaiian religion, he later became a supporter of Christian missionaries.

Ulumheihei was born around 1775, during the reign of King Kalanipuu.352 His father was High Chief Kame eiamoku, known as one of the royal twins who helped Kamehameha I come to power. After his fathers death, he inherited his fathers counselor position in Kamehamehas court.352 In his youth he was athletic, standing about 6.5 feet tall. A story was told of how he once wrestled down an attacking bull by its horns.352 A few years after the 1795 battle of Nu uanu when Kamehameha conquered O ahu and Maui, Hoapili was left in charge of the island of O ahu and the royal court settled at Kamakahonu in presentday KailuaKona. His first marriage was to Chiefess Kalilikauoha . From her his daughter Kuini Liliha was born in 1802 or 1803, about the same time his father Kame eiamoku died. Other sources give Liliha as an adoptive daughter in the ancient Hawaiian tradition of hnai. He would definitely later become a respected foster parent for royal children. In 1810 the King of the island of Kaua i a

Source: Wikipedia