Liholiho, at the urging of powerful female chiefs such as Kaʻahumanu, abolished the kapu system that had governed life in Hawaiʻi for centuries.

Historian Gavan Daws suggests that as [1] this was a decision taken by the chiefs, and it primarily affected the state religion, commoners could still worship their family protective deities (aumakua); hula teachers could make offerings to Laka and Hawaii islanders could make offerings to the goddess Pele.

Some chiefs felt that if they were to abandon the kapus and the services at the heiaus, they would lose the religious justification and support for their rule.

Liholiho and his chiefs took counsel and decided to send emissaries to Keaoua, asking him to abandon his defiance, return to Kailua, and rejoin the free eating.

Keaoua received the emissaries with apparent deference and said he was ready to return to Kailua the next day, but would not join in the free eating.

According to Kamakau, Keaoua's supporters spent the night arguing with their leader, urging him to kill the emissaries and mount a decisive rebellion.

Keaoua Kekua-o-kalani was the last partially recognized high priest, and the last defender of the native Hawaiian religion, until modern times when various revivals have occurred.