Ali'i
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Aliʻi is the hereditary chiefly or noble rank (class, caste) in traditional Hawaiian society. The aliʻi class consisted of the high and lesser chiefs of the various realms in the islands. They governed with divine power called mana. The aliʻi were the highest class, ranking above both kahuna (priests) and makaʻāinana (commoners).
Chief is the most conventional translation of the term, although lord and lady are also in use. Proposals to use prince and princess have not received broad support.
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[edit] Description
All the aliʻi Hawaiian dynasties of the several islands were interrelated, and apparently forbidden to intermarry with other classes.
Aliʻi were full of mana and could place and remove kapu (curse or taboo) on objects. Aliʻi continued to rule the Hawaiian islands until 1893 when Queen Liliʻuokalani passively resisted the fraudulent attempts to substitute the Constitutional Monarchy, Government, and supporting Aliʻi, in a coup arranged by filibusters.
Aliʻi Nui were ruling chiefs (in Hawaiian, nui means grand, great, or supreme) and must claim parentage at least of a mother of the highest rank.
[edit] Titles
Aliʻi ʻAimoku were high chiefs of an island. The four largest Hawaiian islands (Hawaiʻi proper, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Oʻahu) were usually ruled each by their own aliʻi ʻaimoku. Molokaʻi also had an line of island kings, but was later subjected to the superior power of nearby Maui and Oʻahu during the 17th and 18th centuries. Under an aliʻi ʻaimoku, subordinate district aliʻi controlled their petty fiefs. But these petty fiefs could sometimes encompass one-sixth of an island, since the islands were usually divided into six districts. These feudal lords were aliʻi nui of their district and were styled as "Aliʻi-o-Name of District".
Mōʻī was a special title for the highest chief of the island of Maui, otherwise also known as Aliʻi ʻAimoku of Maui. Later, the title was used for all kings of the Hawaiian Islands and the Hawaiian monarchs.
Kaukaualiʻi was a chief of inferior rank who was a noble only on his father's side, with an inferior-ranking mother. Kaukaualiʻi usually gain rank through marriage with higher ranking aliʻi. Some bore kahili, royal standards made of feathers, and were attendants of the higher ranking aliʻi. During the monarchy these chiefs served as the primary political figures in the Hawaiian legislature and the king's Privy Council.
Ranks of the Aliʻi First were the Aliʻ Pio who were product of full blood sibling unions. Famous Pio chiefs were the royal twins, Kameeiamoku and Kamanawa. Next were the Aliʻi Naha who were product of half blood sibling unions, famous Naha chiefs include Keopuolani. After that was the Aliʻi Wohi who were product of marriage of close relatives other than siblings. Last came the inferior chiefs.
[edit] Feudal social organization
Internecine warfare between heirs of rulers was common in ancient Hawaiʻi. Warfare between chiefs was also common.
Commoner or lesser Aliʻi served the Higher ranking Aliʻi, not for pay, but instead, due to their duty to allegiance to the nation.
The caste organization facilitated a feudal system that resembles other feudal societies, for example the feudal systems found in Europe circa 1000 CE, in feudal Japan, Ethiopia, and so on.
Higher aliʻi gave lesser aliʻi parcels of land who would in turn govern over them. The lesser aliʻi divided the land into plots to be farmed and cultivated by makaʻainana families. Harvests were returned to the lesser aliʻi, each taking a portion before being sent to the supreme aliʻi.
Both the reigning dynasties of the united Kingdom of Hawaiʻi (1810–1893) were of aliʻi class. As each relative of those dynasties was entitled to the title aliʻi, they have later, posthumously, been popularly labeled (mostly erroneously) princesses and princes, although only a limited number of royal relatives ever received the princely title from the monarch.
[edit] Use outside of Hawaiʻi
The term is also used in Samoa to refer to the highest leaders in traditional society, sometimes called "High Chiefs" or "Chiefs" in English. A Samoan aliʻi would traditionally have a tulafale or "Talking Chief" or "Orator" who would act as his spokesman.
It is most likely that the Hawaiʻian and Samoan terms are related. In the Cook Islands, an ariki is a high chief, and the House of Ariki is a parliamentary house (with very limited power), while in New Zealand a Māori ariki held a rank of nobility; the Maori monarch held the title Te Arikinui (Great Chief) similar to Ke Aliʻi in Hawaiian. In Tokelau, the term aliki denotes a chief; on Easter Island a noble was ariki.
