NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhà(died January 1797) was a Hawaiian high chief (aliûi) who fought on multiple sides during the unification wars in the latter 18th century with his two brothers. Originally from Maui, he and his brothers defected a number of times and resettled on different islands before they allied themselves with King Kamehameha I who would become the first monarch of a unified Hawaiian Kingdom. In 1796, he rebelled in Hilo against King Kamehameha I and was defeated, captured and killed as a human sacrifice.
His name NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàmeans âÂÂThe lightning flash in the skyâ in the Hawaiian language. Born of the aliûi class of Hawaiian nobility, NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhÃÂ's mother Kaupekamoku, was the granddaughter of Ahia, from the ûI family of Hilo, and was also a descendant of Kalehunapaikua, the fourth son of KÃÂkuhihewa, aliûi nui of Oûahu. NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhÃÂ's father Kanaluihoûae was from the ruling family of Maui and a cousin or brother of Kekaulike, aliûi nui of Maui. He had two maternal half-brothers: NÃÂhiÃȈ Âleûa (son of Kuimiheua II of Maui) and Kaûiana (son of ûAhuûula-a-Keawe of Hawaiûi Island). As a descendant of the Maui chiefess Kaûakalani (or Kaûakaualaninui), NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàalso possessed a specific kapu called "Kekapupoûohoûolewaikalà(a head so sacred that it could not be exposed to the sun except at dawn)". Elizabeth Kekaûaniau, a later royal descendant from the same family, would explain that the kapu was only practiced on certain days and required the aliûi to position their head to the sun from sunrise to sunset.
NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàis first mentioned during the reign of his cousin Kamehamehanui Aiûluau, aliûi nui of Maui. He is listed with two other chiefs of LÃÂnaûi: Kalaimanuia and Kealiûiûaûa, as supporters of the Maui ruler. He would fight in the war of "Kapalipilo" in which pitted Kamehamehanui Aiûluau against the forces of KalaniÃȈ Âpuûu, aliûi nui of Hawaiûi, over the control of the districts of HÃÂna and Kipahulu in East Maui.
NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàand his brothers helped their cousin and Kamehamehanui Aiûluau's brother and successor Kahekili II, aliûi nui of Maui, conquer the island of Oûahu from its aliûi nui Kahahana in 1783. After the conquest, Kahekili set up his court at Kailua while his subordinate chiefs were sent to occupy different parts of the island. The brothers were stationed in KÃÂneûohe and Heûeia on the windward side of the island.
In 1785, the chiefs of Oûahu led by Elani of ûEwa, father of Kahahana, plotted to overthrow Kahekili II and ambush his forces. This conspiracy became known as the Waipiûo Kimopo (Waipiûo assassination). Kalaniulumoku, a nephew of Kahekili, was asked to take part in the conspiracy, and NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàand his brothers joined in support of him. However, Kahekili II discovered the plot before it materialized and retaliated severely by killing most of the rebel Oûahu chiefs. Many chiefs and chiefesses possessing the kapu moe (prostrating kapu) were killed or mutilated without regard to their exalted ranks. It was said that the bones of Oûahu chiefs killed were so numerous that Kalaikoa, a chief under Kahekili, built a house named "Kauwalua" from the remains of the slain.
The three brothers escaped to Kauaûi where they were welcomed by their cousin and Kahekili's half-brother KÃÂûeokà «lani who was married to the female ruler of the island, Kamakahelei. However, by 1788, the brothers were at odds with KÃÂûeo.
In 1789, NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàand his brothers sailed to Hawaiûi Island on the ship of British explorer John Meares. Captain Meares called the two brothers "Namaatehaw" or "Namitahaw" and "Tianna" and wrote that six of NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhÃÂ's relatives (four females) along with Kaûiana's wife and son were also given passage. At this time, the island of Hawaiûi was divided between the Kamehameha I and his cousin Keà Âua Kà «Ã»ahuûula, whom the brothers would help Kamehameha defeat and kill in 1791. NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàwould take up residence in the district of KaÃ»à «. In January 1793, British explorer George Vancouver visited Hawaiûi and described how the two brothers were not favored by him and his crew because of "their turbulent, treacherous, and ungrateful dispositions." The British explorer wrote, "Nomatahah (NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhÃÂ) and Tamaahmootoo (Kameûeiamoku) are artful, designing, and restless characters, and have dispositions to act on all occasions of hazard, or unlawful attempt, in conjunction with Tianna (Kaûiana)." Vancouver also alluded that the two brothers were involved in the capture of the American ship Fair American.
In 1795, NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàand his brother were ordered by Kamehameha I to join him on his campaign against Kalanikà «pule, the aliûi nui of Maui and Oûahu and the son and successor of Kahekili II. His brothers Kaûiana and NÃÂhiÃȈ Âleûa would answer the call, but NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàignored the summons. According to historian Samuel Kamakau, he refused the summons because he was too ashamed to fight against Kalanikà «pule. The decision was also swayed by the counsel of Kalanihuia, a kahuna (priest) of Kiwalaûo and Keà Âua Kà «Ã»ahuûula, two cousins and rivals whom Kamehameha I had killed in his conquest of Hawaiûi Island. An alternative account, written by Captain Charles Bishop in 1796, stated that NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàwas appointed co-regent of Hawaiûi with the British foreign advisor Isaac Davis, a survivor of the Fair American, while Kamehameha was off on his campaign. On Oûahu, Kaûiana and NÃÂhiÃȈ Âleûa, dissatisfied with being excluded from Kamehameha's war council, defected to Kalanikà «pule and were both killed at the Battle of Nuûuanu in 1795.
Kamehameha I would stay on Oûahu to prepare for an invasion of Kauaûi and Niûihau. In February 1796, NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàtook advantage of Kamehameha IâÂÂs absence and started an uprising in the district of Hilo. Isaac Davis was unsuccessful in stopping the rebellion. Those who opposed the rule of Kamehameha I and the former supporters of the deposed Keà Âua Kà «Ã»ahuûula flocked to the forces of NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhÃÂ. The insurgents overran the neighboring districts of KaÃ»à « and Puna. One unnamed European was killed in the conflicts. In either August or September, Kamehameha I rushed back to Hawaii in order to pacify the rebellion. The forces of the two armies met at Kaipalaoa, South Hilo, where Kamehameha quickly destroyed the rebels. After his defeat, NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhàfled the battlefield and was pursued by Kamehameha's warriors. He was later captured and sacrificed to the war god Kà «kaûilimoku, in January 1797, at the Pinao Heiau in Piûihonua, Hilo.
Kamehameha I would remain on Hawaiûi from 1796 to 1802 in order to consolidate his rule and prevent any further political instability in his home island. NÃÂmÃÂkÃÂhÃÂ's rebellion was the last battle which Kamehameha I fought in as he would unite the remaining independent islands of Kauaûi and Niûihau by diplomacy in 1810.