Pilikaûaiea (or Pili-auau; the short form: Pili) was Aliûi Nui of Hawaiûi. He was a sovereign chief, who deposed the indigenous chief, KapawÃÂ.
The Hawaiian word pili is the native Hawaiian name of Heteropogon contortus.
According to some legends, Pilikaûaiea was a grandchild of Lanakawai of the Ulu line, but other sources claim he was born and brought up in "Kahiki" (Tahiti) or Wawau (Borabora) or 'Upolu (Samoa). The parents of Pilikaûaiea were Laûau and Kukamolimaulialoha, whilst the wife of Pilikaûaiea was his sister, Hina-au-kekele.
Because the chiefs of the island of Hawaiûi had carelessly intermarried with junior chiefly lines and low ranking women, kahuna Paûao went to Kahiki to find a relative of pure blood who could compete in rank with the chiefly lines of the other islands. He recites a chant to invite Lonokaeho to return with him. Lonokaeho declines the invitation, but sends Pilikaûaiea in his place. Pilikaûaiea becomes high chief and wins the support of the people and he becomes the ancestor of the chiefs of Hawaiûi on the Ulu line down to the late 19th century.
His successor was his descendant, Chief Kukohou.