Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Humehume’s Rebellion

Kauai’s King Kaumuali‘i died on May 26, 1824; his son was Humehume. Kaumuali‘i had previously sent Humehume to the continent for a Western education; he returned to Kauai with the Pioneer Company of missionaries in 1820. With the passing of the king, the islands of Kauai and Ni‘ihau – including all lands, ships, fortifications, munitions, and property – would be transferred to the commander-in-chief Kalanimōku for him to administer until Liholiho returned from England. Tension mounted throughout the islands following Kaumuali‘i’s death. Kalanimōku sailed to Kauai to proclaim the will of the dead chief and settle government affairs and land disputes.

A general uneasiness spread among Kauai chiefs who feared the loss of their lands and positions of leadership as a result of Kaumuali‘i’s death. The island’s ali‘i split into two factions: those who supported the authority of Liholiho against those who supported the interests of the Kauai chiefs. Seeking control, Humehume summoned his men to a council of war. Sometime after midnight (August 8, 1824) the Kauai men entered the fort undetected. Then … disaster. The intruders were discovered. Humehume and his surviving warriors made a hasty retreat. Humehume was eventually captured and imprisoned. The closing year and a half of Humehume’s life were spent in Honolulu under the custody of Kalanimōku. A victim of influenza, Humehume died on May 3, 1826, six years to the day of his return to Waimea, Kauai.

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Humehume

Humehume was born on Kauai in about 1797 to King Kaumuali‘i and, apparently, a commoner wife. Kaumuali‘i decided to send his son to America; he George was about six years old when he sailed into Providence, RI on June 30, 1805. He eventually enlisted in the US Navy and was wounded during the War of 1812. After the war, Humehume was taken under the wing of the ABCFM and was sent to be educated at the Foreign Mission School at Cornwall, CT.

He returned to the Islands with the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries. Shortly following the death of his father, Humehume joined a group of Kauai chiefs in an unsuccessful rebellion. He was captured and spent the last 1½ years in custody; a victim of influenza, Humehume died on May 3, 1826, six years to the day of his return to Waimea, Kauai.

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Timeline Tuesday … 1810s

Today’s ‘Timeline Tuesday’ takes us through the 1810s – Kamehameha and Kaumualiʻi negotiations, death of Kamehameha and the fall of the Kapu. 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.)

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“Call the little baby Kīna’u.”

When the Gerrit and Laura Judd’s daughter was born, July 5, 1831, Kīna‘u wanted to adopt her – the Judd’s said, “We don’t give away our children.” At the girl’s christening, Kīna’u said, ‘Call the little baby Kīna’u.’ They did, and the Judd family continues the tradition today. The Judd’s child was not the only missionary child named for Hawaiian Chiefs or Chiefesses.

Maria Kapule Whitney was named for Kauai Chiefess Kapule, wife of Kauai’s King Kaumualiʻi. The Ruggles’ daughter was named Sarah Trumbull Kaumuali’i Ruggles. (Some suggest her Hawaiian name was Ka‘amuali‘i.) Lucia Kamāmalu Holman was named after King Kamehameha II’s wife. Elisabeth “Lizzie” Kaʻahumanu Bingham was named for Ka‘ahumanu, Kamehameha I’s favorite wife. Mary Kekāuluohi Clark was named for Kekāuluohi, who later became Kuhina Nui (as Kaʻahumanu III;) Kekāuluohi was mother of King Lunalilo.) Harriet Keōpūolani Williston Richards was named for the mother of King Kamehameha II and III. Douglass Hoapili Baldwin was named for the Governor of Maui.

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1804

On the continent, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr were dueling (Hamilton died;) following the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark “Corps of Discovery Expedition” was underway.

In the Islands, Kamehameha, following success at the Battle of Nuʻuanu, was initiating a second invasion attempt on Kauai that included about 7,000-Hawaiians along with about 50-foreigners (mostly Europeans.) The maʻi ‘ōkuʻu (believed to be cholera) struck the islands. Later, in 1810, Kaumuali‘i decided to peacefully unite with Kamehameha and join the rest of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi under single rule.