Naihe

Naihe
Royal Orator and Councilor
Naihe and Kalanimoku attending Queen Kamāmalu in a procession during a celebration commemorating the death of Kamehameha II and the ascension of Kamehameha II, 1823.
Born	18th century Kona District, Hawaii
Died	December 29, 1831(1831-12-29) Hanamua, Kaʻawaloa, Kealakekua Bay
Burial	Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
Spouse	High Chiefess Kapiʻolani
Father	Keaweaheulu
Mother	Ululani
Religion	Christianity

Naihe (died 1831) was the chief orator and councilor during the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A champion athlete in his youth, he negotiated for peace at several critical times, and helped preserve the remains of several ancient leaders.

His father was Keawe-a-Heulu, chief legal counselor of Kamehameha I. His mother was High Chiefess Ululani of Hilo. His sister Keohohiwa would be great grandmother of two future monarchs. Literally nā ihe can mean "many spears" in the Hawaiian language, or "to have authority with a calm and quieted spear". His authority came because he could settle conflicts with appeals to justice that were sharper than physical weapons. Some early writers spell his name "Nahi", or call him "Naihe-Haiha" or "Naihenui".

Naihe was known as a champion athlete and surfer in his early life. Historical chants and stories describe his surfing skill at Kahaluʻu Bay and Holualoa Bay, and of a contest in Hilo when the other chiefs were envious of his abilities. He took Kamehameha I to his mother's district of Hilo to move the Pohaku Naha, an enormous sacred stone that demonstrated Kamheameha's strength and power. He probably traveled along with Kamehameha during his conquest of the other islands, learning from his father how to give inspiring speeches to the troops.

After the successful campaign to establish the Kingdom by the beginning of the 19th century, he settled down to what he hoped would be a quiet life with his wife Chiefess Kapiʻolani at Kaʻawaloa, at the north end of Kealakekua Bay starting about 1809. He served as magistrate of the south Kona district.

The quiet was going to be interrupted with a year of great change in 1819 when King Kamehameha I died. Queen Kaʻahumanu declared the old traditions known as kapu were no longer in effect. In November 1819 Keaoua Kekuaokalani gathered followers of the old ways to Kaʻawaloa and threatened a rebellion. Hoapili and Naihe were sent to negotiate. Although Naihe respected the old traditions, he urged peace. At first Keaoua sounded convinced, but the next morning the troops met in the battle of Kuamoʻo, and the rebellion was violently put down.