“…here, where there is a breathtaking view of the
jagged green volcanic peaks of Kaneohe and Kailua to the north, there is also a
long and very steep precipice tumbling to the lowlands” (253).
The Book
The Warrior King: Hawaii’s Kamehameha the Great takes the reader through the life of Kamehameha, the
man who unified the Hawaiian Islands. Prior to this, the islands were ruled by
various chiefs and there was always a struggle for power. Author Richard
Tregaskis does caution the reader that prior to 1778 (when Captain James Cook arrived),
there are no dates in Hawaiian history. There also was no written language in
Hawaii, all history was handed down orally.
Kamehameha
was from the island of Hawaii and was a great athlete, trained at the warrior
school. At the age of 14, Kamehameha moved the Naha Stone (similar to the sword
in the stone of the King Arthur legend); legend said that whoever moved this
stone would be Hawaii’s greatest king and one day unite the islands. The first
half of the book focuses on Kamehameha’s participation in various power struggles
among the various island chiefs. The arrival of British explorers begins to
have an effect on Kamehameha, for he sees the benefit of their goods
(particularly military) in his quest to control the islands.
In the
1790s, Kamehameha successfully conquers the islands of Maui and Molokai. After subduing
a revolt on Hawaii, Kamehameha sets his sights on Oahu. His forces face little
resistance in Waikiki because the island defenders moved inland toward the Nu’uanu
Pali Pass. The defenders thought the steep height and rugged terrain would slow
down Kamehameha’s forces and cannons. However, Kamehameha drove the defenders
into the lowlands, attacked, and the enemy was driven into the jagged mountain
pass. Now, Kauai was the last island left not under his control. It wasn’t
until 1810 that the leader of Kauai met with Kamehameha and agreed to submit to
his rule. Kamehameha’s last words, in 1819, were “I have given you-the greatest
good: peace. And a kingdom which-is all one-a kingdom of all the islands”
(303).
The Place
The Nu’uanu Pali Lookout provides gorgeous
views of Oahu, whether it is sunny or overcast. In order to get to the lookout,
you must drive down a long road that feels like you are in the jungle. After a
bit, there is an opening for a small parking lot. As you walk from the parking
lot to the lookout, you are suddenly greeted with a view of a green valley,
mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. It is easy to simply want to take in the
views for as long as possible. The park provides information about Kamehameha
the Great’s battle to unify the islands at this spot and visitors can visualize
the fighting that ensued.
There is a
fee for parking, put the lookout is free. Be prepared for a sudden change in
temperature when you exit your car. The wind is very strong and adds a chill to
even a hot and sunny day. When my family visited, we had just come from a day
at the beach and swimsuits and cover-ups did not keep us warm.
