Ke Kaua o Kuamoʻo – The Battle of Kuamoʻo
He keaka mele ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ʻo “Ke Kaua o Kuamoʻo” na ke kula ʻo Kamehameha ma Hawaiʻi e hahaʻi ana i ka hukihuki ma waena o ke aliʻi o Kona ʻo Kekuaokalani lāua me Liholiho. Ma hope o ka hala ʻana o ke aliʻi nui Kamehameha Paiea, ua hele a hihia ka pilina ma waena o Kamehameha II, Liholiho, me Kekuaokalani, ka mea nāna ke kuleana o ke akua Kūkāʻilimoku, ka mea nāna e kiaʻi i nā kapu. Aʻoaʻo akula ʻo Kaʻahmumanu iā Liholiho e ʻaʻe i ka ʻai kapu, e hoʻohiolo hoʻi i nā kapu o ke au kahiko. ʻAʻa aʻela ʻo Kekuaolkalani iā Liholiho me ka manaʻo e kaupale i kona kuleana i ke akua ʻo Kū, a pēlā nō i hua mai ai ia kaua kaulana o ka mōʻaukala Hawaiʻi ʻo ke kaua o Kuamoʻo. E nanea mai nō i kēia hōʻikeʻike na nā haumāna o ke kula ʻo Kamehameha ma Hawaiʻi me ke Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra.
Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi presents “The Battle of Kuamo’o” an ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi opera that reenacts the fateful conflict between Kona chief Kekuaokalani and Liholiho. The story begins months after Kamehameha the Greatʻs death and follows the power struggle between Kamehameha II, Liholiho, and the keeper of the war god, Kekuaokalani. With the advice from Kaʻahumanu, Liholiho decides not to reinstate the ʻai kapu, essentially striking down the ancient religious system. Kekuaokalani, the defender of the ancient gods, rises up in rebellion against Liholiho and engages in war with Liholiho in what is known in Hawaiian history as the battle of Kuamoʻo. Please enjoy this presentation by the students of Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi joined by the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra.