The alii nui of Kauai was the sovereign ruler of the islands of Kauai and Niihau.

Overview The monarchs of Kauai, like those of the other Hawaiian islands, claim descent from Wākea and his wife Papa. Nanaulu, a descendant in the fourteenth generation from Wakea, was the ancestor of Moikeha but his dynasty was supplanted after two generations. The second, or Puna dynasty was established by Laʻa-mai-kahiki, eleventh in descent from Puna-I-Mua who was twenty-fourth in descent from Wakea. Of course, every alii lineage is ancient, but the northern kingdoms produced the great bloodlines that everyone wanted to graft into, including Kamehameha. Theirs is the "bluest blood", and the kingdoms they created, while very much like the kingdoms that Kamehameha's grandparents and parents created, had a slightly different culture. The last alii nui of Kauai of the old uninterrupted line of Puna was Kaweloaikanaka. After his overthrow by Kaweloamaihunalii and that monarch's eventual death, the kingdom of Kauai fell to Kualii of Oahu.

In 1810, Kaumualii, negotiated a peaceful end to his power with King Kamehameha I of Hawaii, in an effort to avoid bloodshed. The agreement allowed Kaumualiʻi to remain aliʻi nui until his death, when all lands would revert to Kamehameha's heir. After Kamehameha I's death, King Kamehameha II renegotiated the same deal and took no lands. This outraged Kaʻahumanu who came to the island after Kamehameha II had left and kidnapped Kaumualiʻi, taking him to Honolulu in 1821. After his death in 1824, his son George Kaumualii took back his birth name Humehume and attempted to re-establish an independent on Kauai, but was also eventually captured and taken to Honolulu.

List of alii nui of Kauai The known independent rulers were: Moikeha Haulanuiaiakea Laʻamaikahiki Ahukini-a-Laʻa, Kamahano Luanuʻu Kukona, 1350–1380 – sovereign of Kauai when Kalaunuiohua of Hawaiʻi invaded Kauaʻi. Kalaunuiohua made his descent on the coast of Koloa and was met in battle by Kukona's army. Kalaunuiohua's army was defeated and taken prisoner. Manokalanipō, 1380–1410 Kaumakaʻamano, 1410–1430 Kahakuʻaʻkane, 1430–1460 Kuwalupaukamoku, 1460–1480 Kahakumakapaweo, 1480–1510 Kalanikukuma, 1510–1540 Kahakumakaliua Hakumakaliua, 1540–1560 Kamakapu, 1560–1580 Kawelo-mahamahaia, 1580–1600 Kawelomakualua, 1600–1620 Kaweloaikanaka, 1620–1650 Kawelo-a-Maihuna-aliʻi, usurper (c.1650 – 1670) Kuike-ala-i-keuoʻo-o-kalani ʻUnu-i-akea Kūaliʻi, 1670–1730 Peleioholani, 1730–1770 Kamakahelei, (female) 1770–1794 Kaumualiʻi 1794–1810

See also Ancient Hawaii Kingdom of Hawaii Alii Aimoku of Oahu Alii Aimoku of Molokai Alii Aimoku of Maui Alii Aimoku of Hawaii

References

4. ˆ Ka Makaainana newspaper, June 1, 1896, p. 7.