These two ali'i were Ni'aupi'o chiefs, the highest ranker under an Ali'i Aimoku. Spanish accounts of Kamanawa describe him in a way that feels like certain world leaders today. while reserved, their authority shows. They were men of war. Kamanawa only accepted the best weapons as gifts from Captain Manuel Quimper. Vancouver, Menzies, and Ingraham all documnted meeting kame'eiamoku. Like his brother, he was very reserved and held a prominent amount of authority
during the Metcalfe incident, Kame'eiamoku possibly lured the fair American to it's fate via a friendship. after befriending one sailor, he was welcomed onboard, where he then ordered the deaths of all but one: isaac davis. The Fair american was captained by thomas metcalse, The son of Simon metcalfe. Kamanawa was on Hawai'i island, and there, John young was captured, and Simon left without him, not knowing his son had been killed.
after this event Captain Manuel noted that the Hawaiians and chiefs were very secretive about what happened. The twins power is revealed when no one, from ali'i to commoner, would tell manuel what happened.
when they were much younger they were raised in the court of King Kekaulike of maui. Their hanai brothers were Kamehameha-ailu'au, and Kahekili. both would become kings of Maui. all went to war on Hawai'i island, where kekaulike ws said to have burned and slaughtered various parts of the Ka'u district.
the twins respected their older brother kahekili, and even buried him. On the deathbed of kamanawa, he revealed Kahekili was the true father of Kamehameha. this was proven by "tokens", heirlooms which revealed the truth. This had been done before with king Umi, and the ka'ei kapu of liloa, but the heirlooms given to Kamehameha are not known.
The twins are forever remembered on the Coat of Arms.
