Alapaûi (full name: Alapaûinuiakauaua; also known as Alapaûi I or Alapaûi Nui, "Alapaûi the Great") (died 1754) was aliûi nui of Hawaiûi. He was a usurper to the throne, but was considered a good ruler, one who loved the common people, although there is a story that he was responsible for the death of Keà Âua, the first aliûi nui of unified Hawaiûi. Alapaûi's title in Hawaiian was aliûi nui.
Alapaûi was a son of Chief Kauaua-a-Mahi and Chiefess Kalanikauleleiaiwi. Alapaûi's brother was Haae-a-Mahi, and Alapaûi's half-siblings included Kekuûiapoiwa I and Kalanikeûeaumoku, who were also Alapaûi's first cousins by virtue of Kalanikauleleiaiwi's other marriages. The king of the island was Keaweûëkekahialiûiokamoku. Alapaûi ruled as the chief of Kohala, subordinate to the King of Hawaiûi.
After the death of his uncle Keaweûëkekahialiûiokamoku and the subsequent civil war between Kalanikeûeaumoku and Kalaninuiamamao, Alapaûi emerged as the victor and usurped the throne of Hawaiûi. He reigned during one of the bloodiest period of Hawaiian history in an era of great warrior king fighting for the domination over the neighboring islands.
War continued between the century-old rivals Hawaiûi and Maui during the early part of his rule while the old Kekaulike was still on the throne. After Kekaulike's death, his relations with Maui were friendly, and he helped his nephew Kamehamehanui Aiûlà «Ã»au regain his throne from his half-brother Kauhiaimokuakama. His reign also saw a bitter conflict between Hawaiûi and Oahu over the latter's invasion of the island of Molokai, where Alapaûi's relatives ruled. Alapaûi invaded Moloka`i and killed Oûahu's Ali`i Aimoku Kapiiohookalani (Kapiono-o-kalani) at the Battle of Kawela and later invaded the island of Oûahu in 1736. Kanaha-o-kalani became 21st Ali`i Aimoku of O`ahu succeeding his father Kapiiohookalani.
Kapiûiohookalani's brother Peleûioholani returned from Kauaûi and repelled Alapaûi's invasion force on O`ahu, taking up a counter-offensive on Moloka`i and Maui by allying with Chief Kauhiaimokuakama, Ali`i of Maui. The war eventually ended in a truce between Alapaûi and Peleûioholani.
When his niece Kekuûiapoiwa II was pregnant with Kamehameha I, she had a craving for the eyeball of a shark, a sign that the child would be a killer of chiefs. Alapaûi secretly made plans to have the newborn infant killed but was thwarted by the intervention Naeûole who escaped with the child. He later reconciled with the baby and allowed it to be raised at his court placing him in the charge of his favorite wife Keaka.
Alapaûinui had many wives, but only the names of three principal wives survived, and the name of one minor wife. Alapaûi's first wife was Keaka. Their son was KeaweÃȈ Âpala.
Alapaûi's second wife was Kamakaûëmoku and their daughter was Manono I.
Alapaûi's third wife was Kamaua with whom he had Kauwaûa, a daughter, and Mahiua, a son. Kauwaûa had two daughters: Julia Alapai and Kaulunae, who married Kanehiwa and was the mother of Lipoa, a son, and Julia Moemalie, a daughter.
Alapaûinui was also married to ûUmiaemoku; they had a child, Keaweamahi.
AlapaâÂÂi had many descendants, Duke Kahanamoku, Julia Alapai, and Kawaawaaiki AlapaâÂÂinui Naehu were some of many of Alapaûi's descendants.
After his death in 1754, Alapaûinui was initially succeeded by his son KeaweÃȈ Âpala, however, KeaweÃȈ Âpala would eventually be overthrown by KalaniÃȈ Âpuûu.