Thus we see Keoua Kalani Kupuapai-Kalaninui as the progenitor not only of the Keoua line but likewise of the Kamehamehas. Gideon Kailipalaki Laa-nui by his wife Kamaikaopa left an only child, a daughter, Teresa Owana Kaohelelani, who, by her late husband’s, A. J. Cartwright, Junior, and the Hon. Robert W. Wilcox, has a family of children and grandchildren, forming the junior branch of the Keoua family, now living. They, with the writer of these memoirs as the only sole representative of the senior line, comprise the only descendants of the grand and famous chieftain, whose history we are about to close.
Before concluding and to give the readers some idea of what the ancient “Meles” are, a sample out of many is given here which was sung to Keoua Kalanikupuapaiakalani Nui while living, and handed down from generation to generation until inherited by the present owner, the writer of this book. These meles not only recite the genealogical line of the family, but also describe great events of the time to which they relate:
He Koi Honua
O ke Kupa ai ka lani, o Keawe ke Lii,
Ka Okala, Onu, paka ai ka lani,
O ka Lani hoi ke Lii ku-ka-ea,
Ku-ka-ea, ka hili honua o na Lii,
Ahu kupanaha o na Lii ilaila,
Holoi ka Lena, ka paa o Kukailani,
Nani Umi a Umi Kukailani,
Na puko ula a Makakaualii,
Ka Akia, Auhuku, Awahia, Mulea.
E pualena ai ke kai,
Lena koko kapu o Iwikauikaua,
Holo ka ahai a Keakealani,
Auamo, ahai, Keawe iaia,
Huna aku la i ka wekiu o ka Lani,
Kau aku i luna i ka Haka kau Alii,
Noho i ka nuu, i ka Haka Nuu-Lani,
He Lani Nuu-nuu, he opeope kapu,
He opeope, he kaa ai kino nu Keawe,
O hookino a moa, o Keaweikekahialiiokarnoku,
Man-mau mal Keawe me he pa ai la,
O ka lihi oi Keawe, o Kauhi ke aka,
Pono no i Kuamoo o Haloa,
Ku i ka Naho i ka Nahawele na Lii,
He kena-kena, awahia ka lani o Umi,
Ka-hau-ana no ka Lani ka-hau,
He kulike ana no ka Lani ku like,
He liu-liu he kaawale na Lii nui,
Ka Poho-ula ai o Makua ke Kupuna,
Ke kaheka kai e miko ai ka waha,
Mikomiko ka lehelehe o I ke kupuna,
Puhalau oo i Ahu a I,
Ka Puniu kaukahi o I kanaka
Lea wale ia Hula, o Imaikalani,
I ka hauna hema no a Imaikalani,
Kukai ka Ila o Puapuakea,
Kanaloa aku, a haahaa Halo,
Uu ae, ho ae iluna