Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Gilbert Conwall Wiltse

Gilbert Conwall Wiltse was born in New York on November 29, 1838. He was appointed to the Naval Academy from New York, and graduated on September 20, 1855. He became a midshipman on June 9, 1859, and was ordered to the frigate, Congress, the flagship of Admiral JS Sands, cruising on the Brazilian Station from 1859 to 1861. He was made Lieutenant on Aug. 31, 1861 and participated in naval war operations during the Civil War.

He was promoted to Captain on Jan. 20, 1887; he was assigned to the command of the USS Boston in 1891, and was in command of the Boston when the Hawaiian revolution occurred. At the request of United States Minister Stevens, he landed a detachment of marines. Following that, Captain Wiltse returned to New York City and died at his home, on April 26, 1893.

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

He wanted to be Lindbergh of the Pacific

Ernest L Smith dreamt of becoming the ‘Lindbergh of the Pacific.’ But after the Army’s Maitland and Hegenberger reached Hawai‘i before him, he settled on becoming the first civilian to do so; Emory Bronte was his navigator. “The crowd of 10,000 that had assembled (and) watched intently ….” They took off from Oakland, California, in a single-engine Travelair on July 14, 1927. Aside from radio earphone problems, their 25-hour trip went well ….”

Then, came the sounds of their only engine sputtering and coughing; they were running out of fuel and calculated that only 1-hour’s fuel remained, but 4-hours of flying time to O‘ahu. They redirected to Molokai’s southern coast, headed for the softest looking clump of trees he could find and crashed in some kiawe. Pilot and navigator were shaken but unhurt except for scratches from the tree thorns. It was 8:47 am, HST, July 15, 1927. There was no prize money to be collected, the plane was unusable.

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Polar Bears

Semi-professional football thrived on the islands for years, as early as the early-1920s and continued into the 1930s and 40s. Hawai‘i’s semi-pro football team was called the ‘Honolulu Polar Bears.’ (They were also and later known as the Hawaiian Vacation Team and, ultimately, the Honolulu Bears.) Doyle Nave, “star passer (and Rose Bowl star) on the Southern California grid squad the last two years (went to Honolulu) to coach and play on the Honolulu Polar Bears, a professional grid squad.” (LA Times, September 25, 1940)

Another notable Bear was future baseball star Jackie Robinson, who had played two years at UCLA where he became the only athlete in school history to letter in four sports (football, baseball, basketball, and track.) Finding that mainland pro teams had no place for African-American players, Robinson responded positively to Brickner’s offer of $100 per game. Robinson left for Hawaiʻi on September 11, 1941, he was guaranteed “full round-trip transportation, all expenses for two months and a job in a defense industry in return for six scheduled games with other Honolulu teams.” However, an injured ankle hampered his performance, and the Bears won only two games. On December 5, 1941, Jackie sailed for California.

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

First Descriptions of the Islands and the People

“On the 19th (of January, 1778,) at sunrise, the island first seen, bore east several leagues distant. … At this time, we were in some doubt whether or not the land before us was inhabited; but this doubt was soon cleared up, by seeing some canoes coming off from the shore, toward the ships”.

“The inhabitants are of a middling stature, firmly made, with some exceptions, neither remarkable for a beautiful shape, nor for striking features, which rather express an openness and good-nature, than a keen, intelligent disposition.” “The habitations of the natives were thinly scattered about … Judging from what we saw growing, and from what was brought to market, there can be no doubt that the greatest part of their vegetable food consists of sweet potatoes, taro, and plantains; and that bread-fruit and yams are rather to be esteemed rarities.”

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

John Thomas Waterhouse

John Thomas Waterhouse “was born in Berkshire, England, in 1816, and went to school at Wood House Grove boarding school in 1825. The school was a Methodist preacher’s son’s school. I attended that until I was 13 years of age.” He became a businessman. Waterhouse “was in business in Hobert Town, Tasmania, for ten years, owning a large number of vessels, and I was a very active man in business there (but) had very poor health and was recommended to go to Honolulu” (1851).

He started a general merchandise store (JT Waterhouse and Company) and brought the lokelani (rose) pattern china. He also bought real estate. “In Hawai‘i he found opportunities and made the most of them. … He is one of the heaviest tax-payers in Honolulu; has investments in California and New York and owns much property at Cedar Rapids, la. He practically created that town.”) He died at his home in Nuʻuanu on January 8, 1895.