Kamehameha IHawaii

Kamehameha IGreat (1758 (?)-1819) wasfirst king ofunited Hawaiian Islands. Although theresome debate as toprecise yearhis birth, Hawaiian legends claimed thatgreat king would one day uniteislands,thatsignhis birth would becomet. Halley's comet was visible from Hawai'i1758,ittherefore assumed that Kamehameha was born shortly after its appearance.

Raised inroyal courthis uncle Kalaniopuu, kingthe islandHawai'i, Kamehameha achieved prominence1782, upon Kalaniopuu's death. Whilekingship was inherited by Kalaniopuu's son Kiwalao, Kamehameha was givenprominent religious position, guardianship ofgodwar,recognitionhis prowess. Nevertheless, there was already bad blood betweentwo cousins,whengroupchiefs fromKona district offered Kamehamehakingship insteadKiwalao, he accepted eagerly. Kiwalao was soon defeatedbattle, butisland itself was divided into rival fractions, locked incivil war that eventually engulfedneighboring islandsO'ahuMaui as well. Other help came from BritishAmerican traders, who sold gunsammunitionKamehameha. By 1810, withsurrender ofkingKaua'i, Kamehameha emerged assole sovereign ofisland chain.

As king, he took several stepsensure thatislands remainedunited realm even after his death. He unifiedlegal systemhe usedproducts he collectedtaxespromote tradeEurope andUnited States. This ensuredislands' independence even while many ofother islands ofPacific succumbed tocolonial powers. In fact,KingdomHawaii that Kamehameha established retained its independence, except forfive-month British occupation1843 untilwas annexed byUnited States1898. It was this legacy that earned Kamehamehaepithet "Napoleon ofPacific."

The Kamehameha Wavean "attack" inAnimes Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z,Dragon Ball GT. It was not named afterHawaiian King, butin fact Japanese"Turtle Destruction Wave".