Iao, The Boy Warrior of Kahekili
Follow my story as I take you on a journey to know the main character, Iao, the boy warrior of Kahekili, as he grows up in the areas of Wailuku and Waikapu. Iao lives a life of joy with his family but in 1786, he is recruited to be a warrior, who fights and dies at the Battle of Kepaniwai, Maui, Hawaiʻi, in 1790. This was his fate. He dies among thousands of other warriors, who must never be forgotten. Follow the life of Iao, read about how his life was closely aligned to the life of Kamehameha the Great, and the prophecy and his legacy as the conqueror and unifier of the Hawaiian Islands, and learn how the boy lives on in spirit, in the very same place where the ʻĪao River still courses its way down to the sea at Paukukalo. The Puʻali Koa of Maui died for the cause of freedom and they live on in the spiritual mist (kaʻohu) that lingers in Iao Valley until this very day. Clear descriptions based on extensive research, capture the essence of the unique lifestyle and heritage of the Hawaiians who lived at this time, and recounts one of the bloodiest battles that took place in the history of Hawaiʻi.
About the author
Clare Ventura was born and raised in the Wailuku area of Maui, near where the Battle of Kepaniwai took place in 1790. Her story of this battle incorporates Hawaiian history and is a story of such large dimensions and clear descriptions, that you will remember this epic event long after you finish reading the book. Ms. Ventura graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She taught English Literature at St. Anthony High School and at the Maui Job Corps.
- Author: Clare Ventura
- Publisher: Clare Ventura
- Format: Softcover, 214 pages
- Size: 9 × 6 in
- Published: 2026
- ISBN: 9798348476878
