Laʻakapu was an ancient Hawaiian noble lady and a High Chiefess of the Big Island (Hawaiʻi) as a wife of Kahoukapu, Aliʻi Nui of Hawaiʻi.[1] She was the mother of the High Chief Kauholanuimahu,[2] who succeeded his father.
Laʻakapu of Hawaiʻi | |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Chief Kahoukapu |
| Children | Chief Kauholanuimahu |
Biography
editLady Laʻakapu was born in ancient Hawaiʻi as a daughter of Huanuikeʻekeʻehilani and Keomahuʻilani (Ke-ō-mahuʻi-lani). Laʻakapu had two siblings.[3] According to the famous historian Samuel Kamakau, Laʻakapu was a descendant of the nobleman Kila.
Chiefess of Hawaiʻi
editLaʻakapu married High Chief Kahoukapu[4][5][6] of Hawaiʻi, who was the grandson of the famous Chief Kalaunuiohua. The son of Laʻakapu and Kahoukapu was the High Chief Kauholanuimahu, who became a ruler of his island after his father's death. Through him, Laʻakapu was an ancestress of many nobles and chiefs.
There is a famous legend about Laʻakapu and the birth of Kauholanuimahu. According to this old legend, she was unable to produce a child, so she asked the priest for the solution, and he told her that she need to catch a certain species of fish. Laʻakapu could not please the priest two times, and when she lost her patience, priest finally told her which kind of fish he wants. Priest[7] performed a ritual, and he sacrificed the fish. This time, after Laʻakapu slept with Kahoukapu, she bore a son.
Other marriages
editOther consorts of Laʻakapu were Kanalukapu[8] and Lanakukahahauula. Children of Laʻakapu by Kanalukapu:
- Hilo (son)[9]
- Kapulaʻa (daughter)
Lanakukahahauula and Laʻakapu had a daughter, Lulanalomakukahahauula, who had three children.
It is not known when did Laʻakapu die.
Sources
edit- ^ Samuel Kamakau. Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. Kamakau mentioned Laʻakapu as the wife of Kahoukapu.
- ^ Family of Laʻakapu and Kahoukapu's son
- ^ Parents and siblings of the Lady Laakapu
- ^ The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine. 1932. Laʻakapu is mentioned as a wife of Kahoukapu.
- ^ Reginald Yzendoorn (1927). History of the Catholic Mission in the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. "...he puts thirty generations before Kamehameha, and with Kanipahu and Kalapana to whom he assigns the 23d and 22d generations, but with Kahoukapu as well, whose wife Laakapu is said by him..."
- ^ Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin. Bishop Museum Press, 1932.
- ^ Hawaiian word for a priest is kahuna. Kahunas were also considered to be wizards, a special class in ancient Hawaii.
- ^ Mary Kawena Pukui. Hawaiian Genealogies.
- ^ Abraham Fornander. An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origin and Migrations (Vol II): The Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Trubner & Company, Ludgate Hill, London (1880) / Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969.