Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Reviving Outrigger Canoe Racing

The improvement to a road project in West Hawai‘i was catalyst to revival of outrigger canoe racing in Hawai‘i. The Territorial government sought to improve the 39-mile Waimea to Kona roadway in the 1930s. EE Black, a contractor, built the road from Kailua-Kona to Waimea. He used the first bulldozer in the history of the Islands to do so. It opened July 22, 1933. Having just finished the road, Black approached Outrigger Canoe Club President Lorrin Thurston and asked what he could do to show his appreciation to his employees and the people of Kona for their patience during the road work.

“(Thurston) suggested perhaps we should have the rebirth of the canoe races and (Black) put up $3,000”. “They organized canoe crews from Kailua, Honaunau and Miloli‘i to compete against crews from O‘ahu: Hui Nalu, Outrigger and Queen’s Surf.” “The Inter Island Steamship Company ran a special excursion of the Waialeale for spectators to view the races.” “There were five races and Outrigger won three. The crews raced in Napo‘opo‘o. This was the first race that featured canoe racing only.” It was also the start of modern canoe racing for Outrigger women.

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Hale Pili o Nā Mikanele

Most Hawaiian family hale compounds had several special-purpose hale. This collection was called a kauhale. The household complex was the center of the Native Hawaiian family and household production of the necessities of life. Men and women’s activities took place in different areas. (Leineweber)

Hawaiian Mission Houses has plans (and recent HCDA approval) to build William Richard’s hale pili that Boki ordered built for the new missionaries arriving as the Second Company in 1823. The hale represents a bridge between cultures and represents support given to the missionaries by the host culture, and the cooperative relationship that existed between the chiefs and the missionaries.

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When Was Hawai‘i Settled?

Evidence for human settlement of an island or archipelago can come from two different sources: (1) direct artifactual evidence from human settlements such as sand dune occupations or rockshelters; and (2) indirect evidence in the form of proxy signals of anthropogenic disturbance, such as increases in charcoal fluxes in lake or swamp sediments, rapid changes in pollen frequencies in these sediments, or the appearance plants and animals that live near or benefit from association with humans (such as weeds, insects or rats.)

The invention of radiocarbon dating helped to spark a boom in Polynesian and Pacific archaeology. Once an organism dies the carbon is no longer replaced. Because the radiocarbon is radioactive, it will slowly decay away. Radiocarbon dating technology and techniques improved. So, what does the updated technology and techniques show as the time of Hawaiian settlement in the Islands? Based on what we know now, it is suggested here that initial Polynesian discovery and settlement of the Hawaiian Islands occurred between approximately AD 1000 and 1200. (Kirch.)

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 1 Comment

Canoeing Nāpali in 1845

“The full moon was flooding with its light the grand mountains, the valley and the bay. Not a sound broke the stillness save the gentle splashing of the waves as they broke on the beach. … The sun was just rising when we reached the point where the great Palis or precipices begin. These precipices are one of the grandest wonders of the Islands, but the danger of examining them on the passage deters many persons from visiting them.”

“There are those who will travel by land sixty miles around rather than sail these fifteen by canoe, and I was warned not to try. But with me curiosity was stronger than caution. I must confess that when we passed the last landing, and were fairly entering on the dangerous part, I felt a little timid, for if any accident should happen, there was no help for us. The rocks rose perpendicularly from the water without any landing place, and if upset, the only hope would be the chance of being picked up by some passing canoe.” Click the link to read more of the account of canoeing the Nā Pali coast, August 19, 1845.)