It was the custom for an aliʻi, or chief, to choose another aliʻi to raise his child. It was believed that this helped strengthen the political and social bonds between the aliʻi families. Keōpūolani chose Chief Kaikioʻewa to raise Kauikeaouli as his hānai, or adopted, son. Chief Kaikioʻewa took Kauikeaouli to his home in ʻOʻoma, Kekaha, in North Kona. He taught the young prince the ways of his people. The little boy received much love and attention from the chief and his family.

True or False

The custom of hānai was a benefit to both families.

After the missionaries arrived in 1820, his mother, Keōpūolani, converted to Christianity and wanted Kauikeaouli to learn this new religion too. The young prince was one of the first children to be educated by the missionaries. They taught him the Christian religion and introduced him to the English language.

True or False

Kauikeaouli was raised with Christian values.

Before leaving Hawaiʻi to sail to Great Britain, Liholiho and the council of chiefs made plans for governing the kingdom in his absence. Kauikeaouli was chosen to succeed Liholiho should Liholiho die while away from Hawaiʻi. Because Kauikeaouli was still a child, only about ten years old, Liholiho and the high chiefs chose Kaʻahumanu, the kuhina nui or co-ruler, to serve as regent. A regent is a person chosen to rule for a monarch when he or she is absent or too young to rule. Kauikeaouli was proclaimed king of Hawaiʻi in Honolulu on June 6, 1825.

True or False

At 10, Kauikeaouli wasn't considered old enough to rule.

Kaʻahumanu had ruled the kingdom for seven years, from 1825 to 1832. During that time, Kauikeaouli had been "the boy king." But at the age of eighteen, he was anxious to become the real king. The high chiefs, however, did not feel he was responsible enough to rule alone. The chiefs, therefore, chose Chiefess Kinaʻu to be the new kuhina nui (co-ruler) of Hawaiʻi. Kīnaʻu was a daughter of Kamehameha I and Kalākua. She was twenty-seven years of age and Kauikeaouliʻs half-sister.

True or False

By the age of 18, the high chiefs felt Kauikeaouli was old enough to rule alone.

In anger, Kauikeaouli rebelled. He went against Kīnaʻu and the chiefs and on March 15, 1833, took control of the government. He terminated Kīnaʻuʻs position as kuhina nui. He told the people that he alone would rule. He canceled most of the strict laws and brought back many of the old customs. Once again, people could dance the hula and play games like ʻulu maika and pūhenehene. Gambling and drinking increased and many people stopped going to school and church.

True or False

Missionaries had discouraged the hula, and in anger, Kauikeaouli brought it back.

Kauikeaouli wavered between ruling alone and giving in to pressure from the older chiefs. He saw the anger in Kīnaʻu. He knew the missionaries were upset. It was clear that the powerful few did not support his actions. Kauikeaouli realized that he could not be as strong a ruler as his father. Bending to outside pressures, in 1835 he was forced to return to sharing his powers with Kīnaʻu and the Council of Chiefs. Kīnaʻu returned as kuhina nui, to serve as co-ruler, and Kauikeaouli placed most of the responsibilities in her hands. Things settled back to the way they had been before Kauikeaouliʻs actions of 1833. People gradually returned to school and began attending church again.

True or False

In the end, Kauikeaouli proved himself to be as strong a ruler as his father.