Images of Old Hawaiʻi

“I Love The Flower That Constantly Attracts”

Peter T Young February 25, 2020

It’s the national flower of the Philippines (they call it ‘sampaguita’) – it’s also one of the three national flowers in Indonesia, (the other two are the moon orchid and the giant padma.). It’s known as Jasminum sambac, a species of jasmine from the olive family (native to South and Southeast Asia.) It is known as the Arabian jasmine in English.

In Hawaiʻi, the flowers are woven into lei (it takes about 125 buds to make a single strand.). It was the favorite flower of Princess Kaʻiulani. Kaʻiulani liked birds, too … especially peacocks. The name of her birds (peacock – pīkake) carried over to become the name we use in Hawaiʻi for these flowers – the Pīkake.

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Ali‘i Letters

Peter T Young February 24, 2020

Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (Mission Houses) collaborated with Awaiaulu Foundation to digitize, transcribe, translate and annotate over 200-letters written by 33-Chiefs. The Ali‘i Letters is an exciting new project of Mission Houses and is part of the initial activities related to the Hawaiian Mission Bicentennial.

The letters were written between 1823 and 1887 and illustrate the very good working relationship between the chiefs and the missionaries. Follow the link to see the actual letters and get more info on the Ali‘i Letters and symposium.

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Mākaha Surfing

Peter T Young February 23, 2020

Until the 1930s, modern surfing in Hawaiʻi was focused at Waikīkī; there the waves were smaller. Then, in 1937, Wally Froiseth and John Kelly, reportedly on a school trip witnessed the large break at Mākaha and later surfed its waves. They were later joined by George Downing and others.

Mākaha became the birthplace of big wave surfing. Even before Oʻahu’s North Shore, Mākaha was ‘the’ place for surfing – especially big-wave surfing. In January 1955, the first Mākaha International Surfing Championships was held and for the next decade was considered the unofficial world championships of surfing.

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These posts are part of a personal learning experience; I have been searching to learn more about the place I and my family were born, raised, and live (and love) – then, share what I have learned.

Because of my Planning work across the Islands, as well as previously serving as Director of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Officer and Deputy Managing Director for Hawaiʻi County, I have had the opportunity to see some places and deal with some issues that many others have not had, nor will have, the same opportunity.

So, I am sharing some insights, events and places with others. These informal historic summaries are presented for personal, non-commercial and/or educational purposes. I hope you enjoy them. Thanks, Peter.

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