Battle of Kepaniwai
ʻĪao Valley, Maui, Hawaiʻi, USA
What happened
Kamehameha I and his general Kekuhaupiʻo, from Hawaiʻi Island, fought the Maui army led by Kalanikūpule. While Maui's king Kahekili II was away on Oʻahu, Kamehameha's fleet landed at Kahului. His army advanced on the Maui chiefs guarding ʻĪao Valley, and two days of fighting left neither side beaten. On the third day, two cannons worked by John Young and Isaac Davis helped Kamehameha's side.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was one of the hardest-fought battles in Hawaiian history. It was an important step in Kamehameha's long campaign to unite the Hawaiian Islands.
What came next
The fighting moved to other islands over the next few years.
Did you know?
ʻĪao Valley is home to the ʻĪao Needle, a lava ridge that rises about 370 metres from the valley floor.
Timeline
- 1790Kamehameha's army fights at ʻĪao Valley.
- 1791Kahekili's invasion is defeated at sea.
- 1972ʻĪao Valley becomes a National Natural Landmark.