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'Alii' is the hereditary chiefly or noble rank (class, caste) in traditional Hawaiian society. The alii were the highest class, ranking above both kahuna (priests) and makaainana (commoners). ''Chief'' is the most conventional translation of the term, although "lord" and "lady" are also in use. Propositions to use "Prince" and "Princess" have not received broad support.
The alii class consisted of the high and lesser chiefs of the various realms in the islands. They governed with divine power called ''mana''.
All the alii Hawaiian dynasties of the several islands were interrelated, and apparently forbidden to intermarry with other classes.
Alii are full of mana and can place and remove kapu (curse or taboo) on objects. Alii continued to rule the Hawaiian islands until 1893 when Queen Liliuokalani was deposed in a coup arranged by filibusters.
The term is also used in Samoa to refer to the highest leaders in traditional society, sometimes called "High Chiefs" or "Chiefs" in English. A Samoan alii would traditionally have a tulafale or "Talking Chief" or "Orator" who would act as his spokesman. It is most likely that the Hawaiian and Samoan terms are related. In the Cook Islands, an ariki is a high chief, and the House of Ariki is a parliamentary house with very limited power, while in New Zealand a Māori ariki held a rank of nobility. In Tokelau, the term aliki denotes a chief.
'Alii Nui' is a ruling chief (Hawaiian ''Nui'': grand; great; supreme).
'Alii Aimoku' is a high chief, or king. The four biggest Hawaiian islands: Hawaii proper, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu, were usually ruled each by their own alii aimoku. Under them, subordinate district alii controlled their petty fiefs.
'Moi' was a special Hawaiian title of the highest chief of the island of Maui, otherwise also known as Alii Aimoku of Maui.
Internecine warfare between heirs of rulers was common in ancient Hawaii. Warfare between chiefs was also common.
The caste organization facilitated a feudal system (that resembles other feudal societies, e.g feudal systems found in Europe c 1000 CE, in feudal Japan, Ethiopia, etc). Higher alii gave lesser alii parcels of land who would in turn govern over them. The lesser alii divided the land into plots to be farmed and cultivated by makaainana families. Harvests were returned to the lesser alii, each taking a portion before being sent to the supreme alii.
Both the reigning dynasties of the united Kingdom of Hawaii (1810–1893) were of alii class. As each relative of those dynasties was entitled to the title alii, they have later, posthumously, been popularly labeled (mostly erroneously) princesses and princes, although only a limited number of royal relatives ever received the princely title from the monarch.

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See also

See also

★ Ancient Hawaii

★ Kingdom of Hawaii