Kamehameha the first was a Hawaiian monarch who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is best known for unifying the Hawaiian Islands and establishing the Kingdom of Hawaii, which lasted from 1795 until his death in 1819. Hawaiian seers had prophesized that "a great light in the sky with feathers like a bird would prepare Hawaii for a great chief", and in 1758, with the passing of Halley's comet, that prophecy might have come true.

Some accounts say that "The Very Lonely One" (the translation of Kamehameha) was born in 1758, on the Big Island of Hawaii, in Kohala, Hawaii - likely in the month of November. His birth name was Pai'ea (meaning hard-shelled crab). According to some historians, the date range of his birth is likely somewhere between 1748 and 1761, and a published account of Kamehameha's life in 1867, supposedly puts his birth year in 1736 - we don't know for sure though.

According to Hawaiian tradition, Kamehameha was born with a prophecy that he would become a great warrior and conqueror. Due to the strange incidents surrounding his birth, Kamehameha was hidden away from the public eye by his family as a young child in order to protect him from anyone who feared a loss of power due to prophecy. Over time, he grew into an educated, fearless, strong, and imposing warrior, even turning over the famous "Naha Stone", which is a 5,000+ pound volcanic rock believed to hold mana (spiritual power) located in Hilo, Hawaii. 

Join Jen and Cam in episode 26 of History Out of The Box as we discuss the fascinating life, rise to power, and impact of King Kamehameha I; The Unifier of the Hawaiian Islands. It's a fascinating episode and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

History Out of The Box strives to connect our listeners with the echoes of our collective past, discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly associated with famous historical figures.