Kamakahelei

Kamakahelei was the queen or Aliʻi Nui of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau in the 17th century. Kamakahelei was powerful because she had lineage from all of the islands which prevented Aliʻi from the other islands from coming to Kauaʻi for conquest. She also had the gift of deep pule or prayer. Kauaʻi at the time of her rule was called Kauaʻipuleʻo or Kauaʻi of prayer because Kamakahelei was widely known to be able to pray people to death who wished harm upon Kauaʻi. 

Kamakahelei’s son was King Kaumualiʻi, the last reigning Aliʻi of Kauaʻi. Kaumualiʻi was born in the sacred grounds of Holoholokū Heiau (across Coco Palms) in Wailua who, along with Kamakahelei, became known for fending off King Kamehamhea’s attacks on Kauaʻi not once, but twice until Kaumualiʻi intelligence and diplomacy led him to become a vassal king to spare Kauaʻi’s people from bloodshed. 

Kamakahelei is also the great grandmother to Queen Kapiʻolani who is one of the most well known and beloved women in Hawaiʻi. Upon her death Kapiʻolani willed her land holdings to the children of Hawaiʻi, particularly those who are sick by establishing a hospital for mothers and babies that is still functioning today as Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children. 

Kamakaheli is holding a lei made of maile and mokihana and draped around Hāʻupu in honor of Hinaiuka. Mokihana is the plant of Kauaʻi and is endemic to Kauaʻi, meaning it is not found anywhere else in the world, not even on the other islands. The lei extends from Kamakahelei’s hands to the other end of the mural and serves as the moʻokūʻauhau or the line, lineage, or succession that interconnects the past to present and the future. Kamakahelei’s embrace signifies that she is still in powerful prayer in protection of Kauaʻi till this day.

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