In 1961 the first edition of the English translation of Samuel Kamakau's Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii was published by Kamehameha Schools Press. Many contributed to make its publication possible. A group of Hawaiian scholars was first selected by the trustees of Bishop Museum to translate Kamakau's florid literary style into readable English. The group included Mary Kawena Pukui, Thomas G. Thrum, Lahilahi Webb, Emma Davidson Taylor, and John Wise. Mary Kawena Pukui then reviewed the entire translation, together with Martha Warren Beckwith, who added the footnotes. Dorothy Barrere and Caroline Curtis proofread the manuscript. The resulting book was an immediate success, and soon became a classic of Hawaiian history. Now, thirty years later, the book has long been out of print. Kamehameha Schools is happy to publish a new edition, with significant advantages over the former edition. While the original text has remained unchanged, the new edition combines the very limited original index with the extensive index and appendices prepared by Elspeth P. Sterling and originally published as a separate booklet by Bishop Museum Press. New photogra...

Many famous chiefs, mentioned in Hawaiian history, were descended from Hana-laa-nui. The ruling chiefs (noho alii) of Hawaii were of that particular lineage (mookuauhau), and with additions from those of the other islands, the genealogy of Hawaii's chiefs and their ancestors was made complete. Umi-a-Liloa [that is, Umi-son-of-Liloa] was a famous chief, and the reason for his fame was that it was he who united all of the districts of Hawaii through wars. The kingdom became his because of his humbleness and because of the prowess of his adopted (hookama) sons and his care of the god Ku-kaili-moku. Umi was of lowly birth (lepo popolo) [on his maternal side], but he rose until the kingdom was his through his victories in battle. Liloa was a ruling chief, a sacred high chief (alii nui kapu). His father, Kiha-nui-lulu-moku, and ancestors were also ruling chiefs. His mother, Wai-o-lea, belonged to an Oahu family of chiefs and so did his grandmother, Neula, and great-grandmother, Laa-kapu. That chiefly family belonged to Ewa. Liloa's wife was named Pinea. She was from Ewa and Koolaupoko [Oahu], and was his mother's younger sister. They ha...

The Story of Umi. 1 -- The Story of Kiha-a-Pii-lani. 22 -- The Story of Keawe-nui-a-Umi. 34 -- The Story of Lono-i-ka-makahiki. 47 -- Keawe's Reign. 64 -- Hawaii Under Alapai-nui. 66 -- Hawaii Under Ka-lani-opuu. 78 -- Captain Cook's Visit to Hawaii. 92 -- Events of Ka-lani-opuu's Time. 105 -- Kamehameha Wins Half Hawaii. 117 -- Ka-hahana Loses Oahu. 128 -- Kamehameha Wins All Hawaii. 142 -- Last Days of Ka-hekili. 159 -- Kamehameha's Conquest of Maui and Oahu. 168 -- Reminiscences of Kamehameha. 175 -- The Peaceful Transfer of Kauai to Kamehameha. 187 -- Death of Kamehameha. 200 -- Abolition of the Tabus Under Liholiho. 219 -- Hawaii Before Foreign Innovations. 229 -- Rule and Death of Liholiho. 246 -- The Childhood of Kau-i-ke-aouli, Kamehameha III. 259 -- The Career of Boki. 270 -- Kuini Liliha, 1830 to 1831. 297 -- Hawaii Under Ka-ahu-manu. 306 -- Roman Catholicism in Hawaii. 324 -- Premiership of Kinau. 334 -- Troubles Under the Premiership of. -- Miriam Ke-ka-ulu-ohi, 1839–1843. 350 -- A Constitutional Monarchy, 1839–1845. 366 -- Passing of the Chiefs. 379 -- Legislative Problems, 1845–1852. 396 -- Death of Kamehameha III. 4...