Origin of Kamehameha Wave's Name (from Dragon Ball Series)

For those who are anime or manga fanatic especially the Dragon Ball series, probably you cannot deny the amazement and at the same time bewilderment with the characters' great energy power which they are using for their attacks. Of course no one can ever forget how Goku unleashed the popular "Kamehameha Wave", also known as the "Turtle Devastation Wave or Turtle Destruction Wave". It was the most widely used finishing attack in the Dragon Ball series. Some may even mimicking the characters when doing that attack (am I right? ^.^).

In the series, Kamehameha was actually invented by Master Roshi over a fifty year period spanning pre-Dragon Ball. The main character Goku learned it after witnessing Master Roshi. The Kame attack has several different colors: whitish-blue, red, yellow, golden yellow and pink (depending upon the character who will do it). It is being formed when cupped hands are drawn to the user's side and the ki is concentrated into a single point between the cupped hands (and the hands must be really close), however in the manga, there aren't any energy spheres in user's hand. The hands are then thrust forward to shoot out a streaming, powerful beam of energy. The blast can also be used with just one arm. In most variants, the user utters the word "Ka-me-ha-me-HA!!!" as he/she charges and releases the attack (source: Wikipedia).

But did you know that Akira Toriyama, the author of the manga Dragon Ball derived Kamehameha from the name of the first king of Hawaii- King Kamehameha. Out of curiosity, I read some articles about it and here's what I've found out.

They said, he named it after his visit to Hawaii and saw the statue of the King.
In some references, it is actually a suggestion from his wife.

It says like this:

"after much contemplation, actually Toriyama could not decide on a name for his "Kame" attack, so he asked his wife. His wife came up with the name and the stances used during the attack. She also told Akira that it would be easy to remember the name of the attack if he used the name of the famous Hawaiian King named Kamehameha. Akira agreed, and the Kamehameha was born."

1. He was also known as Kamehameha the Great, (1737 or 1758).

2. Kamehameha means "The Lonely One" in Hawaiian Language.

But behind its meaning lies a great name, a great warrior, a great leader and a great man with supernatural strength...

3. His birth was legendary.

Based from some accounts, he was born shortly after Halley's comet appeared in 1758 and it was the sign according to the prophecy.

4. Very strong.

At the age of 14, he was the only person who ever lifted the Naha Stone (5,000 lbs) and the legend says it is the warrior who would unite all the islands of Hawaii.

5. Napoleon of the Pacific.

King Kamehameha I was the first king to conquer and unite all the Hawaiian islands, hence has been called as the Napoleon of the Pacific.

6. Great warrior and ruthless in the war but generous and forgiving in the peace.

7. A lawgiver.

He created the Law of the Splintered Paddle (his popular law, it protects the human rights of the non combatants during the battle) and other laws against murder, theft and plundering.

8. He preserved Hawaii's independence during his reign.

9. President Obama proclaimed June 11, 2010 as King Kamehameha Day.

After learning these things (maybe only about 1% out of the numerous stories about "Kamehameha I"), I can say that Akira's wife have a good taste. A great energy power attack derived from a great man with supernatural strength. When fiction meets the non fiction, we can make a beam of explosion out of the encounter and I can't tell how far the influence can go.

Ka---me---ha---me----haaa....wavvvveeeeee!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamehameha_I

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-king-kamehameha-day

http://www.gohawaii.com/statewide/guidebook/king-kamehameha

Hope you had a great time. Thanks for dropping by! :-)