The Koolau Range mountains, on the eastern coast of Oahu in Hawaii, was formed by numerous volcanic eruptions. The most prominent feature of the range is a serrated precipice, the “pali” or cliff, that rises on the eastern side and reaches heights ranging from 500 to 2,500 feet above sea level. Two cliff passes cut through the range, one of which is known as the Nuuanu Pali.
In 1782, the island of Hawaii was separated into three fragments, striking a power struggle that would last for ten years. On the large island, the death of the Hawaiian monarch Kalanipou’u left rival warrior princes to fight for power. One, Kamehameha, managed to take the Hawaiian throne.
