Battle of Nuʻuanu
Nuʻuanu Valley and Pali cliffs, Oʻahu, Hawaii
What happened
Kamehameha I of Hawaiʻi Island led his army against the forces of Kalanikūpule, ruler of Oʻahu. Kamehameha was conquering the Hawaiian Islands one by one, and Oʻahu had been weakened by civil war. His army landed on the south shore near Waikīkī, split up to get around the Oʻahu defences, and cleared enemy cannons from the valley heights. The Oʻahu army was pushed all the way up Nuʻuanu Valley to the edge of the high Pali cliffs, where the fighting ended.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the decisive battle in Kamehameha's campaign to unite Hawaiʻi. After it, his kingdom became known as the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.
What came next
In 1810 Kaumualiʻi, ruler of Kauaʻi, agreed to join the kingdom peacefully, completing the unification of the islands. Kamehameha ruled until his death in 1819.
Did you know?
Kamehameha is also remembered for the 'Law of the Splintered Paddle', which declared that elderly people, women and children should be safe beside the road.
Timeline
- May 1795Kamehameha's army lands on Oʻahu.
- May 1795Kamehameha wins the Battle of Nuʻuanu.
- April 1810Kauaʻi joins the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi peacefully.
- May 1819Kamehameha I dies.