The Law of the

Splintered Paddle

Kanawai Mamalah

oe

The Law of the

Splintered Paddle

Kanawai Mamalah

oeKumu Pa NakeaHawaii 2015

What do you know What do you know about King about King

Kamehameha I? Kamehameha I? For example: his character, his physical description, the kind of ruler he was, his leadership, etc.

Hawaiʻiʻs first ruler,

lived and ruled before European influence became

strong in the islands.

Hawaiʻiʻs first ruler,

lived and ruled before European influence became

strong in the islands.

King Kamehameha I (1758-1819)

As a young ali’i, As a young ali’i, Kamehameha was Kamehameha was trained in the trained in the skills of warfare. skills of warfare. On the island of On the island of Hawai’i where he Hawai’i where he lived, ali’i often lived, ali’i often raided lands raided lands under the control under the control of other chiefs of other chiefs and frequently and frequently fought to increase fought to increase their power.their power.

It was under It was under these these circumstancescircumstances, that he grew , that he grew into a gifted into a gifted ali’i ‘aimoku ali’i ‘aimoku (warrior (warrior chief).chief).

One day on the Puna coast near Hilo, Kamehameha was smarting from a defeat in battle. He had tried to take the Hilo area away from another aliʻi and had failed.

One day on the Puna coast near Hilo, Kamehameha was smarting from a defeat in battle. He had tried to take the Hilo area away from another aliʻi and had failed.

His pride wounded, he set out in his canoe with his men to get even. His target was a peaceful village on the coast where deep cracks had formed in the hardened lava near the waterʻs edge.

His pride wounded, he set out in his canoe with his men to get even. His target was a peaceful village on the coast where deep cracks had formed in the hardened lava near the waterʻs edge.

Kamehameha spotted some fishermen and their families on the shore. While his men waited in the canoe, he plunged alone into the surf to attack them.

Kamehameha spotted some fishermen and their families on the shore. While his men waited in the canoe, he plunged alone into the surf to attack them.

Most of the people ran away in fright, but the menacing chief quickly closed in on two fishermen. Waving his spear, he was about to overtake them when his foot slipped into a crack in the lava.

Most of the people ran away in fright, but the menacing chief quickly closed in on two fishermen. Waving his spear, he was about to overtake them when his foot slipped into a crack in the lava.

Auwē! He was stuck! The only prisoner in sight was his own leg, he thought in disgust. How dare the lava catch and hold on to the mighty Kamehameha!

Auwē! He was stuck! The only prisoner in sight was his own leg, he thought in disgust. How dare the lava catch and hold on to the mighty Kamehameha!

Seeing a chance to protect themselves, the fishermen turned to face the struggling foe. One of them struck Kamehameha over the head with a heavy wooden canoe paddle.

Seeing a chance to protect themselves, the fishermen turned to face the struggling foe. One of them struck Kamehameha over the head with a heavy wooden canoe paddle.

The blow was so hard it had splintered the paddle and knocked the ali’i unconscious. Kamehameha awoke in a daze. The fishermen had fled before finishing the fight.

The blow was so hard it had splintered the paddle and knocked the ali’i unconscious. Kamehameha awoke in a daze. The fishermen had fled before finishing the fight.

They quit without hitting him again, not knowing that the man that they had spared was to be their future mo`i. Kamehameha was rescued by his own men, who wanted to hunt down the fishermen. But Kamehameha said no.

They quit without hitting him again, not knowing that the man that they had spared was to be their future mo`i. Kamehameha was rescued by his own men, who wanted to hunt down the fishermen. But Kamehameha said no.

Kamehameha survived the blow and the humiliation, but he also learned something from it. He was lucky to be alive. Two maka’ainana had spared him.

Kamehameha survived the blow and the humiliation, but he also learned something from it. He was lucky to be alive. Two maka’ainana had spared him.

They did not know that their attacker was the high chief Kamehameha. Yet they spared him. He would never have done the same for them, he admitted.

They did not know that their attacker was the high chief Kamehameha. Yet they spared him. He would never have done the same for them, he admitted.

He also learned he was wrong He also learned he was wrong to misuse his power by to misuse his power by

attacking innocent people, attacking innocent people, even maka’ainana. even maka’ainana.

A wise ruler learns from his experiences--even at the hands of a common fisherman. Kamehameha was destined to be a great ruler, and that one act of mercy by a man with a paddle helped him become such a leader for Hawaiʻi.

A wise ruler learns from his experiences--even at the hands of a common fisherman. Kamehameha was destined to be a great ruler, and that one act of mercy by a man with a paddle helped him become such a leader for Hawaiʻi.

He understood that as He understood that as mo`i, he had great mo`i, he had great

power. If he wanted power. If he wanted peace in his aupuni peace in his aupuni

(nation), he had to listen (nation), he had to listen to and protect the people to and protect the people

within it. within it.

After he achieved a unified island nation, Kamehameha the Great had the chance to tell the fishermen he was sorry. According to one story, he sent word throughout that coastal village to summon the two fishermen.

After he achieved a unified island nation, Kamehameha the Great had the chance to tell the fishermen he was sorry. According to one story, he sent word throughout that coastal village to summon the two fishermen.

When they crawled into his presence--for that is how makaʻainana approached their moʻi--he told them that he had been wrong to assault them. He pardoned them, gave them gifts of land and admitted his own mistake by proclaiming his now famous law.

When they crawled into his presence--for that is how makaʻainana approached their moʻi--he told them that he had been wrong to assault them. He pardoned them, gave them gifts of land and admitted his own mistake by proclaiming his now famous law.

It was about It was about 1797, that 1797, that Kamehameha the Kamehameha the Great declared Great declared that within his that within his aupuni, the aupuni, the innocent and innocent and defenseless shall defenseless shall be safe from be safe from unprovoked unprovoked attack, even from attack, even from his own chiefs. his own chiefs.

He pledged that He pledged that from this moment from this moment on, his people on, his people shall move freely shall move freely everywhere that everywhere that was under his was under his control. control.

Those who Those who attacked, robbed attacked, robbed or murdered his or murdered his subjects would be subjects would be put to death. put to death.

Kānāwai Māmalahoe (1797)

E nā kānaka,

E mālama ʻoukou I ke akua

A e mālama ho`i i kānaka nui

A me kānaka ike;

E hele ka `elemakule,

ka luahine, a me ke kama

A moe I ke ala

ʻaʻohe mea nāna e hoʻopilikia.

Hewa nō, make.

Kānāwai Māmalahoe (1797)

E nā kānaka,

E mālama ʻoukou I ke akua

A e mālama ho`i i kānaka nui

A me kānaka ike;

E hele ka `elemakule,

ka luahine, a me ke kama

A moe I ke ala

ʻaʻohe mea nāna e hoʻopilikia.

Hewa nō, make.

Kānāwai Māmalahoe (1797)

E nā kānaka,

E mālama ʻoukou I ke

akua

A e mālama ho`i i kānaka

nui

A me kānaka ike;

E hele ka `elemakule,

ka luahine, a me ke kama

A moe I ke ala

ʻaʻohe mea nāna e

hoʻopilikia.

Hewa nō, make.

Kānāwai Māmalahoe (1797)

E nā kānaka,

E mālama ʻoukou I ke

akua

A e mālama ho`i i kānaka

nui

A me kānaka ike;

E hele ka `elemakule,

ka luahine, a me ke kama

A moe I ke ala

ʻaʻohe mea nāna e

hoʻopilikia.

Hewa nō, make.

Kanawai Mamalahoe, the Law of the Splintered Paddle, provides that any old person, woman or child may "lie by the roadside in safety."

Kanawai Mamalahoe, the Law of the Splintered Paddle, provides that any old person, woman or child may "lie by the roadside in safety."

In other words, spare civilians, non-combatants shall not be targeted. They are entitled to protection, assistance, and respect, even from the King. Attack them and you shall be punished.

In other words, spare civilians, non-combatants shall not be targeted. They are entitled to protection, assistance, and respect, even from the King. Attack them and you shall be punished.

The first edict declared by Kamehameha as moʻi was the Law of the Splintered Paddle: Kānāwai Māmalahoe.

He did this to shield his people from harm as they moved throughout the land under his control.

The first edict declared by Kamehameha as moʻi was the Law of the Splintered Paddle: Kānāwai Māmalahoe.

He did this to shield his people from harm as they moved throughout the land under his control.

It was his way of saying “You have every right to defend

yourself against aliʻi like myself and others that might abuse their

power.”

It was his way of saying “You have every right to defend

yourself against aliʻi like myself and others that might abuse their

power.”

The Law is enshrined in the 1978 State Constitution, Article 9, Section 10, to show Hawaiʻiʻs concern for the safety and welfare of all its people--especially the youngest and oldest citizens, and has become a model for modern human rights law regarding the treatment of civilians and other non-combatants during battle.

The Law is enshrined in the 1978 State Constitution, Article 9, Section 10, to show Hawaiʻiʻs concern for the safety and welfare of all its people--especially the youngest and oldest citizens, and has become a model for modern human rights law regarding the treatment of civilians and other non-combatants during battle.

The law served as an example of a international humanitarian law for the twenty- first century.

1. When was the Kanawai Mamalahoe established?

2. What does Kanawai Mamalahoe mean?

3. Why is the law named Kanawai Mamalahoe?

4. Is it important to comply with this law today? Why or why not? Explain in a few sentences.

5. How would you apply Kanawai Mamalahoe in your in your life?

1. When was the Kanawai Mamalahoe established?

2. What does Kanawai Mamalahoe mean?

3. Why is the law named Kanawai Mamalahoe?

4. Is it important to comply with this law today? Why or why not? Explain in a few sentences.

5. How would you apply Kanawai Mamalahoe in your in your life?

What did Abraham Lincoln and Kamehameha I have in common?