Kalokuokamaile was the first born son of Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui, his mother was Kahikikala the Alii Aimoku of Maui. Kalokuokamaile was the eldest half brother of Kamehameha I. A strong, athletic chief, of good and mild nature, with no selfish or ambitious motives. His single aim was to secure the happiness and contentment of his people. Kalokuokamaile inherited his tabu “Ka po’o ho’olewa i ka la” from his mother, it signified the laying of the head towards the sun's position in the heavens from its rising unto its setting. He would always take time out to travel the distance and observe his tabu with his mother, Kahikikala.



After his mother died, he became the ruler of the kingdom in her stead. He had taken a wife by the name of Kaloiokalani from the neighboring district of Kahikinui and Honuaula, which was ruled by her chiefly family. He was happily received by her parents and arrangements of the royal nuptials were completed. When the hoao had taken place and feasting and dancing ended, Kalokuokamaile made preparations to return to Hana. As Kaloiokalani was a great favorite with her people, they volunteered to set up a great cavalcade to escort the distinguished couple as far as Kipahulu. It was said at the time that, so immense was the throng, the procession was mistaken for an invasion by some unknown enemy.



Kalokuokamaile was at last settled at the old family homestead and affairs ran smoothly and lovely. A bright little girl soon appeared on the scene. They named her Kaohelelani, fated to be their only child and as she was verging into maidenhood her father, Kalokuokamaile had died. A rival chief named Kahekili cut off the main water supply to his village. This was to draw the chiefs outside of the village to obtain water, leaving them vulnerable to be ambushed, this war was called Kaumupikao. In this war the High Chief Kalokuokamaile and the other chiefs fought against Kahekili in Kauwiki, where most of the chiefs were slaughtered and only a couple survived. This stirred up Kamehameha's blood and he would seek revenge on Kahekili. Upon Kalokuokamaile's death, his people showed their affectionate regard for him by making his grave on the highest peak of their country, Kauwiki.



When the news of Kalokuokamaile's death reached Kamehameha, he immediately assembled a retinue of followers and retainers to accompany his brother Kealiimaikai to bear his request to his niece's mother, Kaloiokalani and permit her daughter Kaohele to take up her residence at his court, and to have his brother, Kealiimaikai take charge of the vast patrimonial estate until Kao-hele should reach her majority. This request was granted, for how could a weak woman go contrary to the wish of a powerful chief, as Kamehameha had grown to be, having by this time subjugated all the islands.



As Kaohele approached maturity Kamehameha was looking around to obtain a matrimonial alliance for his fair niece. As the Waimea people, under the rule of their High Chief Hinai, had shown reluctance to submit to the sway of the great conqueror, Kamehameha took the mild course of uniting the ruling families through an offer of the hand of Kaohele to Nuhi, the eldest son of Hinai. The offer was accepted and soon Kaohelelani was transported to her new home with becoming grace.