Kamehameha I biography


Kamehameha was born November c. 1758 in Kohala, Hawaii. At the death of King Kalaniopuu in 1782, the island of Hawaii was divided between his son, Kiwalao, and his nephew, Kamehameha. Relations were peaceful until 1782, when a dispute led to a war in which Kiwalao died. By 1795 Kamehameha had all but two islands under his control. When these were ceded, he became ruler of the entire island group.