After a few years, King Alapai found out that the child had been saved and he allowed the young Kamehameha to return to court. By the 1780s, Kamehameha was an important chief. He served as an aide to his uncle, King Kalaniopuu, who died in 1782. At the time, the island of Hawaii (the largest of the islands that make up the state of Hawaii today) was divided between Kamehameha and King Kalaniopuu's son, Kiwalao. War broke out between supporters of the two men, and Kiwalao was killed. Kamehameha was victorious.