Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Entourage

On November 27, 1823, L’Aigle, an English whaling ship, took Kamehameha II (Liholiho), Kamāmalu and their entourage to England to gain firsthand experience in European ways. The king and his chiefs agreed that Liholiho needed a competent interpreter to travel with him and Frenchman John Rives went as interpreter.

Liholiho’s chosen party were Governor Boki and his wife, Liliha, Kapihe, Chief Kekuanaoa, steward Manuia, Naukana (Noukana), Kauluhaimalama, servant Na‘aiweuweu, and James Kanehoa Young. In London, Liholiho and Kamāmalu became ill; Kamāmalu (aged 22) died on July 8, 1824, Kamehameha II (age 27) died six days later, on July 14, 1824. The British Government dispatched HMS Blonde to return them back to Honolulu; they arrived on May 6, 1825.

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Timeline Tuesday … 1790s

Today’s ‘Timeline Tuesday’ takes us through the 1790s – including John Young and Isaac Davis joining Kamehameha, Vancouver visits, Battles of Kepaniwai and Nu‘uanu, etc. We look at what was happening in Hawai‘i during this time period and what else was happening around the rest of the world.

A Comparative Timeline illustrates the events with images and short phrases. This helps us to get a better context on what was happening in Hawai‘i versus the rest of the world. I prepared these a few years ago for a planning project. (Ultimately, they never got used for the project, but I thought they might be on interest to others.)

by Peter T Young 3 Comments

John Joseph Halstead

John Joseph Halstead was born on October 30, 1808 in a notable New York City family of the early Colonial days. He went to sea in a whaler. In 1840 Halstead sailed to Hawai‘i bringing with him carpentry and cabinet-makings skills. He set up a shop in Lāhainā making furniture, working exclusively with koa. He is reportedly the first to put up a frame house in Lāhainā.

He married ‘Uwaikikilani, a granddaughter of Isaac Davis (who helped Kamehameha in his conquest.) He and his family moved over to Kalepolepo, along the Kihei shoreline, and shortly thereafter built a new house made entirely of koa. His house/store was nicknamed the ‘Koa House.’ In 1876, Halstead closed his store and moved to ʻUlupalakua, where he died on May 3, 1887.

by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Lopaka

In 1790, two Western ships, Simon Metcalf (captaining the Eleanora) and his son Thomas Metcalf (captaining the Fair American) were trading in Hawaiian waters. John Young (aboard the Eleanora) and Isaac Davis (aboard the Fair American) eventually stayed in the Islands, befriended Kamehameha and helped him with fighting with Western war armaments.

A number of muskets, swords, axes, powder and clothing, as well as a brass cannon were recovered from the Fair American, which Kamehameha kept as part of his fleet and arsenal. Kamehameha bestowed the named Lopaka upon the powerful pū kuniahi (cannon.) Reportedly, Lopaka was lashed to a sled and pulled by ropes; in more difficult terrain, it was removed from its carriage and slung from long poles.

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Taking Hawaiʻi and Oʻahu

Kamehameha was especially fortunate in securing the services of John Young and Isaac Davis, who took an active part in the campaigns of the final conquest. Captain George Vancouver observed that both Young and Davis “are in his (Kamehameha’s) most perfect confidence”.

Because of their knowledge of European warfare, Young and Davis are said to have trained Kamehameha and his men in the use of muskets and cannons. In addition, both Young and Davis fought alongside Kamehameha in his many battles. “Thus did Tamahamaah, with the help of Young and Davis, and with hardly any firearms, easily conquer this important island (Oʻahu.)”