Fornander and Kamakau call her Kahakuhaakoi.

FULL NAME:
Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea.

THE IDENTITY OF THE BIOLOGICAL PARENTS OF KAMEHAMEHA THE GREAT is a disputed matter.

Contrary to popular history, there is a strong case to be made that Kamehameha was originally a member of the Maui royal family and that he was transferred to the Big Island and adopted by the ruling chief and his wife. They became his parents of record.

This has not been settled (c. 2010) and probably can't be settled. It doesn't need to be settled. However, there is no question about whom Kamehameha the Great treated as his father, and that was the great chief Keoua Kalani-kupu'uapai-kalani-nui Ahilapalapa. By tradition, the Hawaiian people follow this line of genealogy because Kamehameha himself did. It is probably a good practise. When fully understood, the ancient custom of hanai and the seriousness of it in Hawaiian culture makes clear to those who understand that Keoua was very much indeed Kamehameha's "real" father. All Hawaiians will understand that to be the truth. It is this family of Keoua that formed the royal court around Kamehameha the Great.

However, in our genealogy practise we follow the blood-line tradition from Maui (taught by our kupuna the genealogist SLK Peleioholani), which tells us that Kamehameha was not the natural biological son of Keoua Kalani-kupu'uapai-kalani-nui Ahilapalapa and Kekupoiwa Nui but rather given as a gift to them by his true biological parents from Maui. These biological parents were Kahekili (Ruling Chief of Maui) and his sister Ku, the son and daughter of Kekaulike (Ruling Chief of Maui). This Maui genealogy would make Kamehameha a full NINAU PI'O chief (the mother and father are full blooded brother and sister and children of ruling chief). This was a rare This would have made him the highest ranking male chief, by blood, in all the Hawaiian Islands. It may have been possible, with this exalted chiefl;y rank anbd all its honors and kapus, to assume complete control over all the islands without going to war, based on his bloodline alone. Such male chiefs are rare, the closest living male in Kamehameha's time being Keawemauhili (who possessed certain "intertwined kapus" from birth which were rare but not as exalted as the NINAU PI'O of Kamehameha).

When Kamehameha was gifted in "hanai" by Maui to the Big Island and it's rulers Keoua Kalani-kupu'uapai-kalani-nui Ahilapalapa and Kekupoiwa Nui, the social and political ramifications of Kamehameha's exceptionally high birth rank upon the fortunes and power of Maui's current elites were neutralized, at least for for the time being. This disappearance of the male infant Kamehameha was very convenient for all the othe other male chiefs of Maui, especially Kamehameha's father Kahekili and uncle Kamahemahanui Ailuau (who he was named after).

END OF THE KAMEHAMEHA DYNASTY

There was a controversy at the time of Kalakaua's election as to the quality of his bloodline and whether he was fit to sit on the throne of Hawaii. Also, there was a controversy about the special election itself, which brought him to power. It is now forgotten that there was a great tumult surrounding the elections results. Not everyone supported Kalakaua. People did riot when they heard Kalakaua had won. There were accusations that Kalakaua had cheated his opponent the beloved Queen Emma (widow of King Kamehameha IV) out of a victory with his political machinations. Many chiefs, especially the very old guard, refused their support and would not attend the Kalakaua court. This is now forgotten. But in its time this was a great controversy, a dark cloud that hung over the Kalakaua Dynasty's possession of the throne and some say it is why they could not hold on to it.

Nonetheless,in due time they did establish themselves firmly in the hearts of the people and their claim was secured. The Kamehameha line (and the Keoua line) lost their seniority in regal succession when the Kalakaua Dynasty came to power and legitamized their government by gaining acceptance by the people of Hawaii Nei. The expression of the warm and sincere acceptance by the Hawaiian people can be seen in their love for Queen Liliuokalani and also for the Princess Victoria Kaiulani.

The current heirs of the Kalakaua Dynasty would be the Kawananakoa family.