Images of Old Hawaiʻi

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by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kiholo Fishpond

Kiholo, besides being a place name, was also the name of Kamehameha’s fishpond. Kiholo, besides being the name of Kamehameha’s large fishpond, was also “[a] large hook, formerly made of wood, used to catch the shark and other large fish”. Kamehameha is said to have ordered the rebuilding of Kiholo pond while he was at Kawaihae, preparing his fleet to attack O‘ahu.

The fishpond that once served Kiholo was significant in size. “This village (Kiholo) exhibits another monument of the genius of Tamehameha.” But lava later took the Kiholo fishpond. The 1850s saw several outbreaks of lava from Mauna Loa: in August 1851; in February 1852, when it came within a few hundred yards of Hilo; in August 1855, when it flowed for 16 months; and in January 1859, when it started up again.

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Lili‘uokalani Seeks Overthrow

“It is announced this morning that ex-Queen Lili‘uokalani of Hawai‘i, who has been visiting this country for several months, has no desire for the restoration of the monarchy in the islands. She realizes that such a thing at this late date is impossible. Could she have persuaded this Government to have personally take up her fight there might have been a chance for the restoration of the old order of things. But after the lapse of several years the overthrow of the Republic is hopeless.” (Sacramento Daily Record, April 13, 1897)

“The mission of ex-Queen Liliuokalani is at last definitely known. It is not to secure her restoration to the throne, but to urge McKinley to exert his influence in support of a scheme to overthrow the Dole regime and order a new election for President. She professes confidence that at such election she would be chosen. Her proposition has been laid before McKinley. … The President’s only reply to the communication so far has been a brief note acknowledging its receipt.” (San Francisco Call, April 13, 1897)

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Common Stock

An often repeated (and unfounded/incorrect) statement is, “The missionaries came to do good, and they did very well.” (Suggesting the missionaries personally profited from their services in the Islands.) A simple review of the facts show that the missionaries were forbidden to “engage in any business or transaction whatever for the sake of private gain” and they did not, and could not, own property individually. “No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money.)”

To supply the mission members, a Common Stock system was initiated – it was a socialistic, rather than capitalistic, economic structure. This was a community-based economic system designed to enable the missionaries to accomplish their goals without having to worry about finding sustenance and shelter – funding came from the continent. Mission family members were allowed to keep personal gifts from family and friends as private property, but those gifts were subtracted from what they would otherwise be entitled to receive from the Depository. In 1863, the ABCFM withdrew financial support for the mission and the Missionary Period ended.

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Free Health Care for Hawaiians?

In King Kamehameha IV’s initial speech to the legislature in 1854, the King voiced his desire to create a hospital for the people of Hawai’i. Queen Emma enthusiastically supported the dream of a hospital, and the two campaigned tirelessly to make it a reality. Hawaiians called the hospital and dispensary Hale Ma‘i o ka Wahine Ali‘i (literally, sick house of the lady chief,) or Hale Ma‘i for short. Opening day was August 1, 1859.

While there was no specific provision in the hospital’s charter for free medical service to native Hawaiians, “all native Hawaiians have been cared for without charge, while for others a charge has been made of from $1 to $3 per day.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, July 31, 1901) In part, the Hospital was funded with government funds (taxes and appropriations.) (Each passenger arriving from a foreign port paid a tax of $2 to the Collector of Customs for the support of such hospitals.) However, under the provisions of the Organic Act the Legislature has no power to give a subsidy to any institution and funding support stopped.

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Kamā‘ule‘ule

Kamā‘ule‘ule was the son of Kekuamanoha, a chief of Maui, and was a younger brother of Kalanimōku (but it was rumored that he was the son of Kahekili.) His nickname, ‘Boki’ or ‘Poki,’ came from a variation on ‘Boss’ (it was also the name of a supernatural dog.) Boki was appointed governor of O‘ahu and confirmed in his post by Kamehameha II. He married Liliha.

Boki agreed to the breaking of the tabus in 1819 and accepted the Protestant missionaries arriving in 1820, although he had been baptized as a Catholic aboard the French vessel of Louis de Freycinet, along with his brother Kalanimōku, the previous year. Boki and Liliha were among the ali‘i who accompanied King Kamehameha II and Queen Kamāmalu to England in 1824. Due to the sudden death of Kamehameha II from the measles, Boki lead the Hawaiian delegation to meet with King George IV.

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New Guinea

In the mid-18th century Nantucket emerged as the world’s most vigorous whaling port in the colonies, with a substantial fleet dedicated exclusively to pelagic sperm and right whaling on distant grounds. The whaling industry had a major effect upon Hawaiian commerce and trade. As the Northwest fur trade decreased and sandalwood supplies and values dropped, the whaling industry began to fill the economic void. The first New England Whalers came in 1819.

Thousands of Hawaiians shipped out as seamen aboard the whaling ships, so many that the crews were often half Hawaiian. As ‘black men,’ Pacific Islanders ashore on Nantucket lived in ‘New Guinea,’ a segregated section of Nantucket where blacks lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. (The label “New Guinea” was used in numerous cities and towns to designate the section in which people of color resided.) At least six sailor boarding houses operated during the 1820 to 1860 period when Native Hawaiian seamen frequented Nantucket. Together William and Maria ran a boarding house for Pacific Islanders on-shore from Nantucket whaling vessels.

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Morning Star

Many proudly proclaimed, “I owned shares in a ‘Morning Star.’” Titus Coan proposed that the ABCFM ask children on the continent to take ten cent shares of joint ownership in such a missionary vessel, to be called ‘Day Star;’ his proposal of such to folks in Boston was approved, but with one change, the name to be ‘Morning Star.’ It was the first of five ‘Morning Stars.’ Those ‘Morning Stars’ were on missions to the South Pacific.

Dr Hiram Bingham II, who had sailed to Micronesia on the first ‘Morning Star’ in 1856, and whose father, Hiram Bingham, Sr, had then been present at the launching of the 5th Morning Star and prayed at the time of departure, was present and offered the prayer of dedication. However, it became cost prohibitive to maintain the ship and a decision was made in 1905 to sell her. Thus ended a half century of missionary ‘Morning Stars,’ 1856 to 1905.