Kamehameha
Kohala Kuamoʻo
The birth story of Kamehameha
Kohala Kuamoʻo Summary
By: Hannah Miyasaki
Kohala Kuamoʻo is a story about Kamehameha and Naeʻole. A chiefess named Kekuʻiapoiwa was about to give birth to a baby. Kahuna heard about this baby and it was said that he would become a high chief and would be a strong warrior. When Alapaʻinui (the chief of Hawaii) heard about this, he became scared because if the baby was to conquer anyone, it would be Alapaʻinui. Alapaʻinui had a plan to send out the warriors to end the baby's life, but the Kohala people also had their own plan… to save the baby. Their plan was that once the baby comes, Nae'ole (the Halawa chief) would take the baby all the way to ʻĀwini where his half sister and first cousin (Kaha) would take care of the baby. As Naeʻole went, he passed several places that were named after what happened. Some of these places are Kapaʻau, Halaʻula, Hōʻea, Hawi, Honomakaʻu and Makapala. Baby-Kamehameha and Naeʻole arrived at ʻĀwini where Kaha quickly nursed and hid Kamehameha. The warriors came to the cave in 'Āwini and only found Kaha with her own baby girl. So tired and disappointed, they left. This is the story of Kohala Kuamo’o.