HONOLULU (KHON2) – In the ahupuaʻa of Waikīkī, which lies in the moku of Kona here on Oʻahu, stands a roadway named after a position of power in old Hawaiʻi. 

We are speaking of Kālaimoku St.

The word kālaimoku can be broken up into kālai meaning “to carve” and moku referring to “island or district.”

Literally translating as “manage island,” the role ofo was understood as a high councilor to the ruling chief, later translated as “Prime Minister.”

The street was named Kālaimoku in honor the war leader named Kalanimoku who served the position under King Kamehameha I, II, and III.

He became commonly known as William Pitt, a name he took for himself after the Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger.

Kalanimoku was noted to have been baptized Roman Catholic and then a few years later, followed Queen Kaʻahumanu into the Christian Kawaiahaʻo Church.

According to historian David Malo, the term kālaimoku refers to advice concerning the management of the government.

To ancient Hawaiians, the government was looked upon as a body, such as a person.

Noting that the commoners, or the makaʻāinana, made up the true body, each part of society played a fundamental role.

The true head of the government was the aliʻi nui, or the high chief. 

When King Kamehameha I passed away, so did this structure of government.

The lesser ranked chiefs made up the shoulders and the chest, being delegated their responsibilities by the aliʻi nui.

The kahuna nui, or the high priest, was the right arm. 

He advised the ruler on the spiritual and religious realms which held extreme power.

The left arm was the kālaimoku, or the chief counselor. 

His realm revolved around the commoners, the chiefs, and the function of government.

One leg of the body was the warriors of the ruling chief, and the other leg was made up by the fisherman and the farmers.

Did you know?  Now you do!