1 MAY--This Day in US Military History

2015-05-03T11:22:32-04:00

1785 – Kamehameha I defeats Kalanikūpule and establishes the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

The Battle of Nuʻuanu, fought on the southern part of the island of Oʻahu, was a key battle in the final days of King Kamehameha I’s wars to unify the Hawaiian Islands. It is known in the Hawaiian language as Kalelekaʻanae, which means “the leaping mullet”, and refers to a number of Oahu warriors driven off the cliff in the final phase of the battle.
The Battle of Nuʻuanu began when Kamehameha’s forces landed on the southeastern portion of Oʻahu near Waiʻalae and Waikiki. After spending several days gathering supplies and scouting Kalanikupule’s positions, Kamehameha’s army advanced westward, encountering Kalanikupule’s first line of defense near the Punchbowl Crater.
Splitting his army into two, Kamehameha sent one half in a flanking maneuver around the crater and the other straight at Kalanikupule. Pressed from both sides, the Oʻahu forces retreated to Kalanikupule’s next line of defense near Laʻimi. While Kamehameha pursued, he secretly detached a portion of his army to clear the surrounding heights of the Nuʻuanu Valley of Kalanikupule’s cannons. Kamehameha also brought up his own cannons to shell Laʻimi.
During this part of the battle, both Kalanikupule and Kaiana were wounded, Kaiana fatally. With its leadership in chaos, the Oʻahu army slowly fell back north through the Nuʻuanu Valley to the cliffs at Nuʻuanu Pali. Caught between the Hawaiian Army and a 1000-foot drop, over 400 Oʻahu warriors either jumped or were pushed over the edge of the Pali (cliff).
In 1898 construction workers working on the Pali road discovered 800 skulls which were believed to be the remains of the warriors that fell to their deaths from the cliff above.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/may-1/

May 1

1 May 1486 - Christopher Columbus convinced Queen Isabella to fund expedition to the West Indies. 1528 - The Spanish Narvaez expedition began an inland march to Florida with some 300 men and 40 hor...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-05-03T11:23:49-04:00

Great little bit of history!

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made May 3 at 2015 11:33 AM

2015-05-03T11:33:25-04:00

Great read. Given the time period, I shouldn't be surprised (but I was) that they had the use of cannon, and firearms. Always learning! Thank you for sharing, as always!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 3 at 2015 11:42 AM

2015-05-03T11:42:30-04:00

Pali Lookout if I remember. I was stationed there 77-79. King Kamehameha. Definitely a My Way or the Highway Guy. King, God, Dictator, Do what I want or Die but some of his Ancestors were much more Personable.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 3 at 2015 6:14 PM

2015-05-03T18:14:41-04:00

1SG Private RallyPoint Member, interestingly enough, the Hawai'ian sovereignty movement is alive and well today, as many Hawai'ians think the U.S. annexation and occupation was illegal.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 3 at 2015 7:41 PM

2015-05-03T19:41:28-04:00

Long spears > short clubs.