Pilikaaiea

In Hawaiian mythology, Pili-kaʻaiea (or Pili-auau) was Aliʻi Aimoku of Hawaiʻi. He was sovereign king or chief.

Biography

He was called a 'grandchild' of Lanakawai of the Ulu line, but born and brought up in "Kahiki" (Tahiti).

Because the chiefs of (the island of) Hawaii had carelessly intermarried with junior chiefly lines, Paʻao went to Kahiki to find a relative of pure blood who could compete in rank with the chiefly lines of the other islands. He recites a chant to invite Lonokaeho to return with him. Lonokaeho declines the invitation, but sends Pili in his place.

Pili becomes high chief and wins the support of the people and he becomes the ancestor of the chiefs of Hawaiʻi on the Ulu line down to the late 19th century (Beckwith 1970:372-373).

His successor was king named Kukohou.

References

• M. Beckwith, Hawaiian Mythology (University of Hawaii Press: Honolulu) 1970.