#220 in the Moʻolelo series. This is for my own purposes and will be basic to some readers, but perhaps helpful to others.
Born in 1783, Liholiho was raised traditionally by a kahuna and became Kamehameha II (sometimes written Tamehameha II) upon the death of Kamehameha I in May 1819. He was made to share power with Kaʻahumanu, who was Kūhina Nui (and also Kekuaokalani, who was Kahu, or guardian, of Kūkaʻilimoku). He capitulated in late 1819 to Kaʻahumanu’s desire to end the practice of ʻaikapu, sitting with her as she ate pork. This led to the battle of Kuamoʻo, a final stand for the Hawaiian religion, in December, 1819, where Kekuaokalani and his army perished.
In 1820, Protestant missionaries arrived in Hawaiʻi with Liholiho’s tentative permission, causing lasting change in the islands. They brought reading and writing, music and printing, along with their religion, and opened schools. Worried for the fate of his Kingdom globally in an era of imperialism, Liholiho departed for London, England in 1824 and died there, along with his wife Kamāmalu, of measles.
Liholiho ruled briefly during a period of tremendous change and attempted to navigate this tumultuous period. he attempted to use traditional Hawaiian knowledge to do so. This is seen in a famous quote of his. Once, when being praised for good decision making, Liholiho responded “Na wai ho’i ka ‘ole o ke akamai, he alahele i ma’a i ka hele ‘ia e o’u mau makua?” [Who would not be wise on a path walked upon by my parents and ancestors?].
the umiverse 