He was believed to have lived from 1665 to 1725. He was son of Keakealaniwahine, the ruling Queen of Hawaii and Kanaloakapulehu. He is sometimes referred to as King Keawe II, since prior to him there was already Keawenuiaumi. Keawe was surnamed "īkekahialiiokamoku". Keaweīkekahialiiokamoku, a strong leader, ruled over much of the Big Island. He is said to have been an enterprising and stirring chief, who traveled all over the eight islands, and obtained a reputation for bravery and prudent management of his island. It appears that in some manner he composed the troubles that had disturbed the peace during his mother's time; mainly the conflict between the independent I family of Hilo. It was not by force or by conquest, for in that case, and so near to our times, some traces of it would certainly have been preserved in the legends. He probably accomplished the tranquility of the island through diplomacy, as he himself married Lonomaikanaka, the daughter of Ahu-a-ʻI, and he afterwards married his son Kalaninuiomamao to Ahia, the granddaughter of Kuaana-a-ʻI and cousin to Kuahuia's son, Mokulani, and thus by this double marriage securing the peace and allegiance of the Hilo chiefs. The other districts do not seem to have shared in the resistance made by the Hilo chiefs to the authority of the King, at least the name of no district chief of note or influence has been recorded as having been so engaged. He ruled along with his half-sister wife Kalanikauleleiaiwi who inherited their mother kapu rank. After his death, a civil war broke out over succession between his sons, Keeaumoku and Kalaninuiamamao, and a rival chief known as Alapainui, who was the son of his sister Kalanikauleleiaiwi and Kauakahilau-a-Mahi, son of Chief Mahiolole of the Kohala district,. Alapainui emerged victorious over the two brothers and their orphan sons, who were absorbed into his clan. Hale o Keawe was an ancient Hawaiian heiau originally built as the burial site for Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku. Today the reconstructed temple is part of the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. The House of Kalākaua and the House of Kawānanakoa descend from his eldest son Kalaninuiamamao. He could be called the father ofHawaii.
