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September 22, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 032 – November 23, 1819

November 23, 1819 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 23rd. Tossed up and down on this mighty deep, not suffered to make but little progress, we do note some of the Christian graces peculiarly in exercises. Sabbath day, not permitted, by reason of the sea being so very boisterous, to have public worship, I felt myself sick, and too much I suffered the continued sickness of my dear husband, to weigh down my spirits and make my heart heavy. 0, may I not murmur i In my better moments, and I would fain hope uniformly so, I bless GOD that I am where I am, on my way to the heathen—that in his holy providence I am allowed to have so high a commission, and to be numbered among those who are called to make sacrifices in his blessed service. 0, may I be found faithful, and at last accepted through grace. (Sybil Bingham)

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September 21, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Germans

The first Oktoberfest, held from October 12–October 17, 1810 in Munich, was to celebrate the occasion of the wedding of Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

Because of its success, it was repeated annually, later also with an agricultural fair, dance, music and amusement rides. The Germans call it “die Wiesn.”

Largely due to coincidence, the festival now generally starts in September and ends on or near October 3. Since the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990, the day has been recognized as the Day of German Unity and is a German public holiday.

While I suspect Germans and others in Hawaiʻi celebrated the annual beer-based parties in the past, I have not yet found references to them (I am still looking.)

However, I’ll use this occasion (between my sips of lager) to relate some history of Germans in Hawaiʻi.

Three Germans were among the sailors and crew aboard Captain James Cook first visit to the islands in 1778. Johann Heinrich Zimmermann sailed on HMS Discovery and subsequently wrote an account of the voyage (his journals were published 3-years before Cook’s.)

A few years later, on a voyage to China in October 1796, Captain Henry Barber, from Bremen, Germany, sailing the English ship, Arthur, ran aground at Kalaeloa on Oʻahu. Captain Barber and his crew of 22 men took to the life boats. Six drowned.

Today, we refer to the location of where the survivors landed as “Barber’s Point,” however, the traditional name, Kalaeloa, is coming back into more common use.

In 1815, German scholar, Adelbert von Chamisso, was aboard the Russian brig Rurik, which Captain Otto von Kotzebue sailed to Hawaiʻi. He was one of the first western scholars interested in the Hawaiian language, and reportedly wrote one of the first Hawaiian grammar books.

In a summary of his visit to the Islands, Chamisso noted, “’Arocha’ (Aloha) is the friendly greeting with which each man salutes the other and which is answered by a like expression. Upon each occasion that one is greeted with ‘Arocha’ one answers ‘Arocha’ and goes ones way without turning around.”

Around this same time, a notorious German, Georg Anton Schäffer, representing the Russian-American Company of Alaska, arrived in Hawaiʻi to recover the cargo of a Russian trading ship wrecked at Waimea, Kauaʻi.

After first attempting to build a fort in Honolulu, he sailed to Kaua‘i and gained the confidence of King Kaumuali‘i. Kaumuali‘i also used the engineering skills of Schäffer to lay out a plan for a fort (commonly referred to as Fort Elizabeth) which Kaumualiʻi had constructed next to his own residence.

The Russian flag was raised over his fort. Hearing this, Kamehameha sent Captain Alexander Adams, a Scotsman who served in the navy of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i to gain control of the fort. Schäffer was forced to leave Hawaii and Adams raised the Kingdom of Hawai‘i flag over the fort in October 1817.

German-born Paul Isenberg came to Kauaʻi in the 1850s to work at Līhuʻe Plantation on Kauaʻi. He married Hannah Maria Rice, daughter of missionary-turned sugar-plantation owner William Harrison Rice.

Isenberg became manager of Līhuʻe Plantation in 1862. Along with his brothers, Isenberg played a prominent role in developing sugar plantations on Kauaʻi’s west side.

In 1881, Isenberg became a business partner with earlier German merchant Heinrich Hackfeld. Through his business H. Hackfeld & Company, Hackfeld is one of the most prominent, and prosperous, Germans to Hawaiʻi.

His company would become American Factors, shortened to Amfac, one of Hawaiʻi’s “Big 5” companies (with interests in sugar plantations, shipping and other entities.) This included the Liberty House department store, originally called “B. F. Ehlers”, after Hackfeld’s nephew.

World War I proved catastrophic for the Germans in Hawai’i who with the entry of the United States into the war had become enemy aliens overnight; the Isenbergs and Hackfields lost control of their company during World War I.

Dr. William Hillebrand, a German researcher, played an important role in public health. He was the founding physician of Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu during the 1860s. Hillebrand was an avid collector of plants; his property eventually became Foster Botanical Garden.

Claus Spreckels (1828–1908) was perhaps the most successful German-American immigrant entrepreneur of the late-nineteenth century; he was one of the ten richest Americans of his time.

The first industry in which Spreckels succeeded was quite typical for German immigrants: beer brewing. Though profitable, he sold his beer operation in 1863 and switched to a new field that would make him rich: sugar.

Spreckels founded the Hawaiian Commercial Company, which quickly became the largest and best-equipped sugar plantation in the islands. The career of the “sugar king” of California, Hawaiʻi and the American West consisted of building and breaking monopolies in sugar, transport, gas, electricity, real estate, newspapers, banks and breweries.

In more cultural contributions, Captain Henri Berger of Berlin is well remembered in for his decades of conducting the Royal Hawaiian Band.

He was called “The Father of Hawaiian Music” by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Among others, he wrote music to lyrics by King Kalākaua for the state anthem “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi.”

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Gates, installed in Walker Park, for Fort Street grey stone H Hackfield Co from 1902 until 1970 (later known as American Factors, Ltd.

Chamisso_Adelbert_von_1781-1838

Zimmerman_Journals_on_Captain_Cook_Voyage-1781

American Factors Building-Corner of Fort and Queen

Georg_Anton_Schäffer

Russian_Fort_Elizabeth-Fort_Survey-Map-Reg-1360 (1885)

Barbers-Point-Lighthouse

Honolulu-Barbers_Point_to_Diamond_Head-Malden-Reg437-431 (1825)

Claus_Spreckels

Royal Hawaiian Band on the steps of Iolani Palace with Henry Berger, 1916

Paul_Isenberg_(1837-1903)

Paul Isenberg Monument-Lihue

The original Queen’s Hospital, shortly after being built, was sparsely surrounded in 1860

William Hillebrand (1821–1886) was a German physician.

September 21, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 033 – November 24, 1819

November 24, 1819 – The subject of studies for the voyage was discussed this evening. We feel the importance of attending not only to the studies of our different professions, but of making the auhy-hean Language a prima object tho’ our means of acquiring it is limited.
Lat. 33. 1. Lon. 30. 52. (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 24th. This day have found my comforts many. Awoke with calmness and peace on my mind—at the usual hour attended upon the class, then had a lesson in singing with Mr. B—, after which I read to him for two hours in the Memoirs of Dr. Buchanan, which opened a field for remarks and conversation, interesting in their nature, but particularly so from our present situation, destined as he was, to a distant land with the hope of doing something in ‘”our Master’s vineyard. Tender were the feelings excited in our breasts at the relation of the severe trials that good man was called to endure in the separation from his beloved wife while she returned, for her health, to her native land, leaving behind her their dear little Augusta, six months old; and the still greater trial, which must have rent his heart, in the intelligence which announced her death;—her watery grave while on her second voyage. No less animating than tender in the account he gives in some letters to his friends of her peaceful and happy death. I trust the perusal will not be without its effects. While it leads me to say, “Lord, teach me how to die,—And in that hour, 0 let my fainting head,—Divine Redeemer, rest upon thy hand— And find support,” it also leads me to say, teach me to resign to thee, the dearest earthly joy that thou hast given me—to hear, with calm resignation, the summons for him to come to thee. (Sybil Bingham)

Nov 24. It would have greatly increased our happiness this evening, could you have been present to participate in our enjoyment. It is extremely pleasant being very calm and serene and rendered much more so by the bright effulgence of the moon. We have been walking on deck and singing. I think I never spent an evening more agreeable on land. It is a source of much consolation, to see our little family enjoying comfortable health. Brother R is much better than when I last wrote. You can hardly conceive of the peculiar sensations excited by bad weather and excessive rocking of the vessel. I however has not so much afflict upon me, as upon many of the family. (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)

Nov.24. The brethren met according to agreement, and chose brother Bingham Chairman. The subject of Studies, to be pursued by the Missionaries during the voyage, was discussed. Conversation was also had respecting the administration of the Sacrament, but no vote was taken. (Minutes of the Prudential Meetings of the Mission Family)

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September 20, 2019 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Odd Fellows

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a fraternity of citizens who had its origin in the 18th century. The first Odd Fellow groups were formed in England and thought to have grown out of guilds, forerunner of today’s unions.

It is believed that the first Odd Fellows were motivated by a concern for the members of their own groups, notably those in trouble and families who needed assistance, and the widow and the orphan.

It is believed that because these workers were helping other workers, rather than depending on patriarchal royal protection, and they were organized to do this charitable work, they were looked on as “Odd Fellows” and the name has remained with the Order.

Symbolically, the order uses three links of interlocking chain to represent a worldwide chain that binds men and women together in fraternal devotion to God and fellow men and women.

Each link has a letter, F, L & T, respectively, representing Friendship, Love and Truth, the corner stone upon which all Odd Fellows of the world built the Order – seek to improve and elevate the character of man.

Another IOOF symbol is the “Encampment” that symbolizes the virtues of extending aid and friendship to traveling strangers in need.

The first lodge in North America was the institution of Washington Lodge No. 1 of Baltimore, Maryland on April 26, 1819.

Odd Fellows began in the Hawaiian Islands on December 10, 1846.

Dr. Gilbert Watson, a physician, Past Grand of Massachusetts, in planning a trip to Oregon, learned there were five Odd Fellows in good standing in his party. He petitioned for a charter to be located in Oregon City.

On board the ship “Henry”, leaving Newburyport, Massachusetts for the Columbia River and Oregon City, were other Odd Fellows, Captain Kilburn and the second officer.

The “Henry” never reached Oregon. The ship drifted about, buffeted by head winds and delayed by storms and high rough seas on the Atlantic Coast, around the tempestuous Cape Horn and into the Pacific Ocean, all of which consumed months of time.

Then, the Henry drifted westward rather than northward, and in October 1846, the Henry arrived in Honolulu. They elected to remain in the Hawaiian Islands.

Shortly after his arrival, Watson found some more Odd Fellows that had made Honolulu their home – Watson called a meeting of Odd Fellows in Hawaiʻi on December 8, 1846.

Two days later, Excelsior Lodge Number 1, IOOF was instituted – King Kamehameha IV signed a charter in April 1859 making Excelsior Lodge No. 1 a fraternal corporation in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

The first Lodge Hall was in an adobe building with a grass roof in a yard on Hotel Street. During the lodge sessions, the Outside Guardian was required to keep walking around the building to prevent people from peeping into the lodge hall.

On January 16, 2001, Excelsior Lodge, for the first time in its history, three women were initiated into the lodge (in its long history, women were denied membership in an Odd Fellow Lodge until the laws on membership in the Code of General Laws were amended in 2000.)

After several subsequent Lodge Halls, the Hawaiʻi Trustees decided to purchase the VFW Building on 1135 Kapahulu Avenue; on May 24, 2001, Excelsior Lodge moved to its new home and the first meeting there was held on June 5, 2001.

The Hawaiʻi lodge has continued to meet on Tuesday nights since the first meeting. It is still going strong today; Excelsior Lodge #1, IOOF meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of every month at the Lodge Hall. (The seal designed in 1846 is the same seal being used today by Excelsior Lodge.)

Among other activities, the IOOF supports and participates in activities benefitting the Hawaiʻi Food Bank, Hawaiʻi Public Radio, Bus Stop Painting, Adopt A Highway, Special Olympics, Make a Wish Foundation and the Arthritis Foundation.

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