King Kamehameha The Great: Warrior King of the Hawaiian Islands

by Leilani Makua

King Kamehameha I is widely popular throughout Hawaii and known throughout the rest of the world. He is most known for being the one to finally unite all of the islands of Hawaii into a single kingdom—the Kingdom of Hawaii back in the early 19th century. This biography provides an inside look into the public and private life of King Kamehameha I—the people who surrounded him, the decades he spent slowly piecing together and uniting the Kingdom of Hawaii, the years he spent solidifying and ruling that newly built kingdom, and the legacy he left behind. On reading this book you will not only have a richer understanding of the life and achievements of King Kamehameha I but of the history of Hawaii and how the nation (which later became a state of the United States) was born. In the six chapters of this biography, you will • A timeline of key events in King Kamehameha I’s life which can be used for quick reference • Brief biographical descriptions of the key people who were part of King Kamehameha’s I life to help those who struggle with the Hawaiian names orient themselves and keep track of the people involved in the story. • The full story of King Kamehameha I and everything that is known about his birth, life, achievements, and death. • A brief overview of King Kamehameha II through V who managed to preserve the kingdom King Kamehameha I tirelessly fought to build and carry on the legacy he left behind. Whether you are interested in learning more about the man himself or the important role he played in Hawaiian history, this is the book for you!

50 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2015

Reviews

[Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent on Character But Seems to Lack Historical Accuracy

I should start by saying that I am far from being an expert on Hawaii, let alone Kamehameha I. However, and I think this is mostly due to the brevity of the book (and honestly, shouldn't such an important historical figure get a much more in depth review of his life?), there seems to be a lack of historical accuracy here. The island of Hawaii was much more fragmented into smaller kingdoms than let on here at the first of his campaign. People of Kauai love to point out that they were the only people to repel Kamehameha while here we are lead to believe that Kamehameha never got to make an attempt on the island and yet also believe that the former king of the island would have revolted against succeeding monarchs. His birth was much more shrouded in legend then is given here as well, plus he never really met his parents but was told a lot about them by the aunt and uncle that raised him. There are several other points but these suffice for my purposes.

Where this book does shine is in character analysis. I don't think I've read a more accurate portrayal of his character traits than is given here.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise, well researched and well written history of the first warrior king to unite all of the peoples of the Hawaiian Islands, the circumstances and important events of his lifetime, and how his accomplishment of unification was preserved through successive rulers until the citizens eventually elected their leader. Recommended for anyone interested in Hawaiian history.

[Evie Hugg · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay

I liked The fact that the describe the lineage of the kings better than Any other book I have read. I was Cooking for something more detailed.

[Vicky Hunt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the book dry and uninteresting. I tossed it aside and gravitated to Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii, by James L. Haley instead.