Empowering Change, Preserving Culture
From the time of Kamehameha the Great, the kālaimoku played an integral role in the governance of his kingdom. Kamehameha’s loyal and trusted regent, chief treasurer, chief counselor, commander in chief and supreme war leader during his rule was named Huʻeu Kālanimoku, a high chief from Hāna, Maui and an uncle to Kamehameha’s wife, Kaʻahumanu. His counsel and leadership aided Kamehameha significantly in successfully ruling a new unified Hawaiian kingdom fusing western practices with traditional Hawaiian customs. Kālanimoku continued to counsel and advise Kaʻahumanu, Kamehameha II, Liholiho and the council of chiefs after the passing of Kamehameha. He played a major role in dividing up the lands among the aliʻi, thus the term kālai (carve) moku (island, district).