The Battle of Mokuōhai, fought in 1782 on the island of Hawaiʻi, was a key battle in the early days of Kamehameha I's wars to conquer the Hawaiian Islands. It was his first major victory, solidifying his leadership over much of the island.
Background
After King Kalaniōpuu died in the spring of 1782, his family took his remains to the royal mausoleum known as Hale o Keawe at the important religious temple Puuhonua o Hōnaunau. While Kalaniōpuu's son Kīwalaō had inherited the kingdom, his nephew Kamehameha was given a religious position, as well as the district of Waipio valley. When a group of chiefs from the Kona district, including his brothers and uncles, Keaweaheulu, twins Kamanawa and Kameeiamoku, and Keeaumoku Pāpaiaheahe, offered to back Kamehameha instead of Kiwalao, he accepted eagerly, traveling back from his residence in Kohala. Kīwalaō's half-brother Keōuakūʻahuula had been left with no territory from his late father. He went into a rage, cutting down sacred coconut trees belonging to Kamehameha and killing some of Kamehameha's men. Their bodies were offered as a sacrifice to Kīwalaō, who accepted them, and Kamehameha felt he had to respond to the challenge to his honor.
Battle
The battleground was just to the south of Kealakekua Bay, near the present-day community called Keei., on the bay now called Mokuakae, South of Palemano point. The name means "grove of ōhai trees". The tree, Sesbania tomentosa, is now endangered, and no longer grows in the area, so the site is only known from oral history. As tensions were building, women and children from both sides flooded into the "place of refuge", Puuhonua o Hōnaunau. Kameeiamoku was the first leader injured, but when Kīwalaō approached, Kamanawa came to his aid. Then Kīwalaō was knocked down by a sling stone, and the injured Kameeiamoku was able to slit his throat with a shark-tooth dagger. It was during this battle that the renowned red feather cloak of Kīwalaō was captured by Kamehameha the Great.
Aftermath
was captured but escaped to Hilo, and Keōuakūʻahuula fled to Kaū where he had relatives. After the battle, Kamehameha controlled the Northern and Western parts of the Big Island, including Kona, Kohala, and Hāmākua while Keawemaʻuhili controlled Hilo and Kīwalaō's half-brother Keōuakūʻahuula controlled Kaū. Kamehameha fought several more battles over many years to consolidate his control. In 1790, Keōua's party was to have their footprints frozen into volcanic ash, and in 1791 Kamehameha's forces finally killed Keōua at Puukoholā Heiau.
