Kamehameha at Hilo Bay

Kamehameha the Great, born in the 1750s, lived through a period of major change in Hawaiian society and saw the arrival of the first Westerners in his early 20s. A fierce warrior and able leader, he consolidated control over all the islands by 1810. He was a frequent visitor and resident of Hilo, and while in his mid 40s he oversaw the construction of his great Peleleu Fleet from the shores of Hilo Bay. The fleet included over 1,000 canoes, among them massive war canoes capable of carrying over 100 warriors each. Many of these canoes were carved from koa trees taken from the forests of Mauna Kea, and the fleet was supplied from the rich natural resources of the Hilo area.

Hilo, Hawaii · United States