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September 17, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 037 – November 28, 1819

November 28, 1819 – Today we have been favored not only with the privilege of a prayer-meeting in the cabin, but with public worship on deck. Sermon on Repentance from Acts 17:30. by Br. B. The audience attentive and so hope benefitted. The Lord follow with his blessing the exhibition of his truth. (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 28th. Public worship at 10 a.m., in the cabin, and at meridian on deck for all hands. (James Hunnewell)

Nov. 28th. Calm, peaceful, and, I think, soul-cheering has been this sabbath. Awoke, and tho languid in feeling, did still feel that the day was the Lord’s. Such it has been to me. Yet, 0, the listlessness, which follows me all my days, in serving GOD,–my covenant GOD my reconciled GOD and Father i This day now closing, like all others, must find-me in despair, were it not Jesus has died—that through this dear Interceptor, I shall find acceptance. In the morning, at ten, our Mission family met in the cabin for social conference—at twelve, assembled on deck, when all belonging to the vessel, were present, to attend divine service. A canopy put up to shield us from the sun—the waters tranquil and serene. Mr. B— was enabled to address us from the word of GOD. A double blessing did it seem to me, to be permitted, under such circumstances, to hear divine truth, and to hear it from that dear friend who had, these many days, languished under much bodily weakness. Had with him, this evening, conversation of a most interesting nature, relative to scenes which may be before us. The subject was tender. By frequently taking such a view of our future path, may we be at once led to the infinite fountain of divine support, for provision for the hour of trial. (Sybil Bingham)

28th Lat. 29 Lon. 32. We are frequently lead to inquire why we are not borne more rapidly towards the place of our destination but it becomes continually to remember that all is for the best. May this motto ever be mine, may it be ours. Nothing remarkable has transpired to-day. (Samuel & Nancy Ruggles)

28. Nothing remarkable has occurred for several days. This is the fifth Sabbath we have spent on board and had but 3 sermons. This appears more like the sabbaths I have spent at home than either of the preceding. Brother B preached from access Acts XXII 30 to an attentive audience. May the blessing of God follow & repentance be ever found here in the midst of the seas. It affords us much comfort to think that at this time our prayers are ascending from us from a thousand altars in America. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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September 16, 2019 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Historic Curbs and Sidewalks

As early as 1838, sidewalks along Honolulu streets were constructed, usually of wood. Paved streets were unknown until 1881; in that year, the first, Fort Street, was paved.

The first sidewalk made of brick was laid down in 1857 fronting a shop on Merchant Street; Hawaii’s first concrete sidewalk was poured in front of a store on Queen Street in 1886.

Here are a couple stories about some ‘historic’ curbs and sidewalks in Honolulu. (Remember, State law, §6E-2 says “Historic property” means any building, structure, object, district, area, or site, including heiau and underwater site, which is over fifty years old.)

As a UH graduate, I am very familiar with the area known as “the Quarry” on the UH campus. We still go down to that area of the campus to watch UH athletics.

From 1889 to 1949, Mōʻiliʻili Quarry provided the stone that was used to build Honolulu’s streets, sidewalks and curbstones, as well as some of its prominent buildings.

Holes were cut into the rock wall, using pneumatic drills. Dynamite was fitted into the holes, and its detonation would bring the entire face of the wall down, then they took the rock to the crushing plant within the Quarry site.

The University wanted the Quarry site for campus expansion and the Hawaiʻi legislature authorized the purchase in 1945

The first major and permanent construction of facilities in the Quarry began in 1956; and in 1957 Klum Gym, Team Lockers-Varsity Building, Locker Building, classrooms and an indoor enclosed boxing room were completed.

As you walk along Honolulu streets, look at the old lava rock curbs; it’s very likely these came from the Mōʻiliʻili Quarry. These curbs are historic and serve as examples of the distinctive method of street construction in Honolulu during the late-1800s and the early-1900s.

These curb stones are rough-hewn below grade, but squared at their exposed surfaces. The width and height of the exposed surfaces are typically about 6 inches, but the buried depth is several feet. They are of varying lengths, from 2′ to over 5′. Some curbs at intersections exhibit a slight curvature to follow the contour of the street corner.

In the mid- to late-19th century, sailing vessels from China or the continent bound for Honolulu to pick up sandalwood or sugar cane would fill their holds with granite as ballast (it added stability to the sailing vessels and weren’t needed when loaded with heavy cargo.)

As more and more ships dumped their granite ballast on the docks, someone came up with the idea to use them for sidewalks. These blocks are scattered throughout Chinatown, and many were used in the construction of a few buildings.

The original stones were several inches thick and were placed side by side with no gap between them – many of these are still around. However, today, there are reproductions of these sidewalks on Maunakea Street

In the early 1900s, the city of Honolulu was engaged in modernizing its streets and replacing dusty footpaths with broad sidewalks. The following appeared in the Hawaiian Annual of 1900:

“Official notice had been published requiring property owners to construct concrete sidewalks throughout the city, as far out as Thomas Square, according to specifications. This public improvement is in progress, to be followed by the re-macadamizing (paving) of many streets.”

John Walker (later, the firm Walker-Moody) pursued this business and soon his sidewalks proliferated throughout the city. Unlike modern sidewalks, his were a very dark gray due to the addition of charcoal, and were given a smooth, almost polished finish, many of them labeled with the name John Walker etched in the curbstones (few remain.)

Back then, the name John Walker was virtually synonymous with sidewalks. So well known was the name the unemployed men, when asked, “Who are you working for”, often answered, “John Walker”. In other words, they were pounding the sidewalks looking for work.

Again, historic property is generally defined as something that is over 50-years old. In addition to criminal penalties, State law may impose Civil Penalties on any person who violates the law with fines up to $10,000 for each separate violation (each day of each violation constitutes a separate violation.)

Rather than remove the stones, when contractors are making repairs to City streets, they are required to reinstall the curbing after the completion of the work. If reinstallation isn’t possible, contractors are required to salvage the stones and hand them over to the city for storage and later reuse on other city road projects.

When I was at DLNR, we were involved with a case where historic curb stones were being used as part of a decorative walkway in a private garden. (They were ultimately returned.)

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Sidewalk Stamp Downtown Honolulu-John_Walker-(walker-moody-com)

Sidewalk Stamp Downtown Honolulu-John_Walker-(walker-moody-com)-1971

Moiliili Quarry (C&C-Honolulu-hawaii-edu)-1923

Moiliili Quarry site-Tantalus is in the background-(star-bulletin)

September 16, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 038 – November 29, 1819

November 29, 1819 – no entry (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 29th. Weather, to-day, peaceful, tho our progress not yet rapid. The quietude of the pleasant evening interrupted by domestic troubles. The steward unfaithful to his trust—convicted of having squandered, and abused, to his own hurt, things committed to his charge, leading others also into evil. 0, my soul how wilt thou stand when thy Lord reckonest with thee? This poor servant took the reward due to his crime—on him were inflicted stripes—none to stand in his stead. 0, my dear Redeemer, why is not my heart, by this little incident, led more feelingly to thee, who didst stand in the sinner’s place, receiving the stripes which divine Justice required, even such as drank up thy spirit, and overwhelmed thy holy soul, causing thee to cry out. “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me!” O, the amazing, the astonishing ingratitude of this stubborn heart, which yet does even hope the demands of Justice were satisfied against it by these stripes I Blessed Sacrifice, let thy blood be applied not only to acquit from condemnation, but to melt this icy heart. (Sybil Bingham)

29. For several days past our passage has been much retarded by contrary winds, but it is a sweet reflection that God will carry us to the heathen in his own time. This evening commenced singing meetings to be held regularly every Tuesday evening. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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September 15, 2019 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Hanalei Bay Pier

Hanalei … Taro … Pier –> you’d expect these are all associated and the reason for the picturesque pier in Hanalei Bay. … Kinda.

The Hanalei Bay Pier was originally built to serve the region’s thriving rice industry (recall that as taro production declined in the mid- to late-1800s, many of the loʻi were converted to rice cultivation.)

The Chinese were growing rice at Hanalei at least by 1882, and by 1892, Hanalei and Waioli, with 750 acres of land devoted to rice farming, were the largest rice producing areas in Hawaii.

At this time, rice was the number two agricultural product of the Hawaiian kingdom (behind sugar,) having developed as a major crop in the 1860s when numerous Chinese farmers left the sugar cane plantations following the expiration of their five-year contracts.

Occupying taro patches vacated by a declining Hawaiian population, these rice farmers found a ready market for their product in Honolulu and California, as more and more Chinese immigrated to these areas.

At the time of annexation (1898,) Hawaii was third in rice production in the United States, behind Louisiana and South Carolina.

Annexation, with the removal of all tariffs boomed the sugar industry, however spelled the downfall of Hawaiian rice production. This caused agricultural land costs to rise from $10-20/acre to $30-35/acre, forcing rice land to be converted to cane use.

Annexation also brought with it Chinese exclusion policies which led to a decreased market for rice. In a matter of five years Hawaii’s Chinese population dropped by 6,000, which was a significant factor in the Honolulu market (the Japanese did not purchase the local rice, preferring to use rice imported from their homeland.)

Other difficulties confronting the rice farmer included an increased need to fertilize (the well-used lands began to show signs of exhaustion;) in addition, a labor shortage caused by many Chinese leaving their farms in hopes of earning more elsewhere.

The decline in the Chinese population, the requirements for fertilizer, competition from California rice growers and the introduction of a rice-borer insect all served as contributing factors to the decline of rice farming.

Since the islands of Hawaiʻi are separated from one another and the rest of the world by the Pacific Ocean, ships and boats have been the major means of transporting goods between the islands and frequently to different areas of the same island.

On Kauaʻi, in the early twentieth century, Port Alien was the major port with Nawiliwili and Hanalei serving as local shipping centers.

Large-scale development of Nawiliwili harbor commenced in 1926 and, with its completion in 1930, Nawiliwili became Kauaʻi’s primary harbor.

As a result of its expansion, the tonnage handled by Nawiliwili jumped from 3,766 tons in 1929 to 56,439 tons in 1931. Much of this increased tonnage reflected an improved highway system which led to a decreased use of smaller ports on the island.

As a result of little use, Hanalei pier was abandoned in 1933, marking the end of an era of inter-island transportation.

Originally, a pier there was constructed out of timber, prior to 1882. The pier was reconstructed with reinforced concrete piles and beams and a wooden deck in 1912.

The structure was used seasonally, primarily to transport rice from Hanalei to Honolulu.

The Hanalei River is adjacent to Hanalei Pier, much of the valley’s rice “arrived at the pier area on the black barges of the rice plantations up the river.” At the foot of Hanalei Pier was a freight storage warehouse connected to the pier by railroad tracks.

From the mauka landing, the rice was shuttled to the end of the pier on a set of iron railroad tracks and then loaded onto boats. Small whale boats known as “lighters” carried rice to steamers anchored out in Hanalei Bay.

Interisland steamers docked in the deeper waters of Hanalei Bay while cargo was rowed to and from the pier.

Due to the difficulty in maintaining the wooden deck, the Territorial Legislature in 1921 appropriated funds for the construction of a concrete deck. The wooden decking was subsequently replaced with reinforced concrete in 1922.

The Hanalei Pier is a steel reinforced concrete finger pier which extends from the beach out into Hanalei Bay. It is 340-feet long and has a 32 x 72 terminus with a shed on it. (The shed at the end of the pier was originally built in 1940.)

From the 1940s until the present, the pier has been primarily a recreational resource for fishing, picnicking, etc. Located adjacent to a beach park, it is a highly scenic attraction to visitor and resident alike.

The pier was featured in the 1957 classic film “South Pacific”. Kauaʻi may not be in the South Pacific, but the 1958 movie musical “South Pacific” put it on the map as a premiere film location.

On the east side of Hanalei Pier is Black Pot Beach Park, named after a big iron pot that was used to cook fish caught during a hukilau, a traditional fishing practice in which everyone cooperates to spot, net, and gather fish.

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AERIAL VIEW OF PIER Photographer-unknown. Date-June 20, 1978-(LOC)-058525pv

AERIAL VIEW OF PIER, LOOKING SOUTHWEST Photographer-unknown. Date-unknown-(LOC)-058522pv

DISTANT VIEW OF PIER, LOOKING SOUTHWEST Photographer-Augie Salbosa. Date-February 22, 1991-(LOC)-058526pv

Hanalei_Pier,_Hanalei_Bay_off_Weke_Road,_Hanalei_(Kauai_County,_Hawaii)-(WC)-1978

VIEW OF PIER, LOOKING NORTHWEST Photographer-Augie Salbosa. Date-February 22, 1991-(LOC)-058528pv

September 15, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 039 – November 30, 1819

November 30, 1819 – This evening opened a singing school for the improvement of ourselves and the officers in sacred music, and concluded to sing together one hour in a week besides at our ordinary seasons of social worship.
Lat. 28.13. (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 30th. This day commenced the study of the Owhyhee language. Shall I be permitted to speak in it, to those idolatrous natives, the wonderful works which Jehovah, the true GOD, has done—that of his creating, governing, and preserving a world, and what must most of all excite their astonishment, of his becoming incarnate and dying to redeem it I This evening held our first singing school. It is greatly to be wished that we could all join with our hearts and voices too, in singing praises to Zion’s King, at our morning and evening devotions, and public worship. I never felt more as if the time was at hand when I should be able to take part in it. (Sybil Bingham)

30th. Have just returned from a singing school in the cabin, Brother T. is our instructor. We enjoy much satisfaction, while tossing upon the ocean in singing the praises of him who rides upon the stormy wind and manages the seas. A whale seen today sharks and other large fish are frequently seen, but we have not been able to take any except a few flying fish which came on board in the night. (Samuel & Nancy Ruggles)

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