Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Herbert, William & Jack

On January 19, 1900, 29-year old Herbert and 25-year old William had their first view of Honolulu; shortly after, Jack, age 18, arrived on October 16, 1900;, Edgar, arrived in July 1901. The boys planned “to take passengers out to the reef surrounding the (Honolulu) harbor”.

They also added other adventure, shark hunting, and, an idea of Jack ”For the first time in the history of the field and gun were flying fish flushed with a steam launch and shot on the wing.” Regularly, the brothers were called upon to help in rescue and salvage operations; and, what they became known for, an interisland freight company. Young Brothers continues today. The youngest of the Young Brothers, Jack, is my grandfather.

by Peter T Young 2 Comments

John Kendrick

Sea Captain John Kendrick, born in 1740 on a small hilly farm in East Harwich, Cape Cod, fought in the French and Indian Wars in 1762, threw tea overboard in the Boston Tea Party in 1773, and was in charge of the Fanny, one of the United States’ first ships, during the Revolutionary War.

He survived all that, and on December 12, 1794 in a 13-canon saluting round in Fair Haven (Honolulu Harbor) (salute by cannon originated in the 14th century; discharging the single shot rendered them harmless) one of the saluting guns was loaded with round and grape shot, and killed Captain Kendrick and several of his crew.

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Irwin Park

The Honolulu Waterfront Development Project, introduced by Governor Lucius E Pinkham and the Board of Harbor Commissioners in 1916, was declared to be the “most important project ever handled in Honolulu Harbor.” The project began in 1916 with the construction of new docks; it continued in 1924 with the construction of Aloha Tower.

On September 3, 1930, the Territory of Hawai‘i agreed to accept the donation of land from Hélène Irwin Fagan to honor her father and that it be maintained as a “public park to beautify the entrance to Honolulu Harbor.” The Honolulu Waterfront Development Project was completed in 1934 with the creation of a 2-acre oasis shaded by the canopies of monkeypod trees.

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Honolulu Harbor Lights

Even in today’s high-tech environment with tools and toys with satellite support, the simple illumination from a known point continues to serve as a navigational aid, as well as warn mariners of hazardous areas.

The original Honolulu Harbor Light was built in 1826 (a “crude oil lamp wrapped with red cloth.”) In 1869, “Harbor Wink” was built at the edge of the reef on the north side of the Honolulu Harbor entrance; other lights were replaced these, including the 10-story Aloha Tower (lighthouse.) The Aloha Tower navigational aid served until 1975, when the present Honolulu Harbor Light was established on a metal pole at the end of Pier 2.

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Honolulu’s General Store

Three brothers, Heinrich (1822-1893,) Georg (1827-1907) and Gustav (1830-1902) formed branches of Melchers Company, first in Mazatlán, Mexico (1846,) then seven years later in Honolulu (1853.) (Melchers building is still there and today is the oldest commercial building in Honolulu.)

The Honolulu store was officially opened on February 20, 1854; it sold mostly European goods, items found in most dry goods stores of that time, including fabrics, cigars and china goods. It served as Honolulu’s general store.