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April 7, 2017 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Churchill

“(I) learnt early to swim well, and to manage boats; and when in a boat or canoe with other boys, I was commonly allowed to govern, especially in any case of difficulty”.

“When I was a boy I made two oval palettes, each about ten inches long and six broad, with a hole for the thumb, in order to retain it fast in the palm of my hand. They much resembled a painter’s palettes.”

“In swimming I pushed the edges of these forward, and I struck the water with their flat surfaces as I drew them back. I remember I swam faster by means of these palettes, but they fatigued my wrists. I also fitted to the soles of my feet a kind of sandals”. (Benjamin Franklin)

But this is not about Franklin, it is about another boater, but not-so-good swimmer – Owen Porter Churchill (March 8, 1896 – November 22, 1985.)

The son of a successful gold prospector who founded a real-estate and investment company in Los Angeles, he had decided to take up flying as a hobby after leaving the Army at the end of World War I. But on his return to Los Angeles, his mother presented him with a boat in exchange for his promise never to fly while she was alive. (People)

Churchill was among the 22 businessmen who commissioned the eight-meter yacht Angelita to compete in a race called the King of Spain Trophy in 1930. The Angelita lost, and Churchill bought her. Then 34, Churchill was an accomplished sailor and a veteran of the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. (People)

Churchill was the first person to win an Olympic yachting gold medal for the US. He and Duke Kahanamoku were US Olympic teammates on the 1932 Los Angeles squad.

Though Churchill lost his bid for a second gold medal at the 1936 Olympics, he skippered the Angelita to victory over three others in the 1937 Lipton Cup in Newport Beach, California. Churchill, while a great yachtsman, swam very poorly.

In 1939, Churchill went to Tahiti, where he observed the natives swimming with braided banana leaves attached to their feet. He was inspired by Tahitian boys who would weave mats and attach metal straps to them.

These then would be dipped in tar, cooled and hardened and the boys simply placed them on their feet and went in the water. Mr. Churchill decided to make his design out of vulcanized rubber which is a cured rubber which makes it harder and less sticky than the natural rubber.

This process also makes the rubber more durable. Vulcanized rubber products are still used today in the form of car tires, hoses and soles of shoes to name a few. He patented his design in 1940. (snorkeling)

“The feet and legs of a human being were not designed by nature for swimming and other water activities and the use of my invention converts the feet into swimming members of correct hydrodynamic structure and design.”

“By increasing the speed of the swimmer the devices employing my invention likewise act to elevate the feet of the swimmer and thereby tend to overcome a problem which always confronts persons who are learning to swim, as it is difficult for a beginner to keep the feet elevated.”

“In addition to increased speed, the use of my invention enables a person to tread water much more efficiently and safely and in that respect is a distinct advantage to persons employed as life guards, for it enables them to perform rescue work in a manner which is otherwise thought to be impractical if not impossible.”

“My invention so materially increases the speed of a swimmer that ordinarily a person using same can swim as fast without his hands as he could by employing his feet and legs without the devices.”

“The devices also enable life guards and others who desire to wear life belts and jackets to progress with material speed through the water, which is ordinarily very difficult, if not impossible, without the use of my invention.” (Churchill, US Patent 2321009)

Churchill Fins saw action in World War II with the British Frogmen and US Navy. After the war, Churchill’s team developed a process that made the fins buoyant and allowed for the addition of color. Green, floating Churchills then hit the market. (SwellLines)

Churchill approached fellow Olympian Kahanamoku, to help sell his new “Swim-Fins” in the fall of 1940 and Kahanamoku immediately tried them.

Kahanamoku reported to Churchill that “you have found something that the swimming public will take to it like ducks.” Commenting that his wife watched him and told him he “went like a streak.”

Kahanamoku elaborated: “with these swim fins it would work out swell . . . spear fishing, kids down at the harbor diving for coins, etc.” (Nendel)

The deal to have Kahanamoku promote the swim-fins didn’t work out. Churchill did use Kahanamoku’s name on brochures for his fins as one “of the many Coaches and Champions who use Swim-Fins,” including Fred Cady, Paul Wolf and Johnny Weissmuller. However, no monetary compensation accrued from that endorsement.

Churchill went on to a long and productive career marketing his invention. While selling only 946 pairs of the fins in 1940, his first year of production, Churchill sold tens of thousands to Allied forces during World War II.

Many of the fins went to Hawai‘i. The Churchill fins became very popular, especially among body surfers and boogie boarders, and remain so today. (Nendel)

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Churchill Prototype-Smithsonian

Owen Porter Churchill

Original Vintage Churchill Swim-Fins-bodyboardmuseum

Churchill Swinfin Drawing US Patent 2321009

Churchill Swim-fins

Navy-UDT-Churchill_Swim-fins

Navy-UDT-Churchill Swim-fins

churchill-makapuu-swimfins-blue-yellow

1932_8_Metre_USA_Angelita

Angelita-Olympics

April 6, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Mak-oo-wi-he-na

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission (ABCFM) “decided to establish a school in this country to train the natives of non-European races to become missionaries to their own peoples.”

“It was set up in (Cornwall) because of the salubrious climate, the remoteness from city allurements, the excellent character of the townspeople, the persuasion of the pastor .. and the donations of Cornwall citizens.”

“In the ten years of its existence about one hundred students attended, including forty-three American Indians, thirteen Americans (white), and twenty Hawaiians; the rest mainly other natives of the Pacific, including two Chinese.”

“Support for the school was widespread, coming not only from the inhabitants of Cornwall, but from sympathetic donors elsewhere in Connecticut—and from Massachusetts and New York as well. Those who could not give cash gave clothing and provisions; in addition, the students worked at nearby farms to help support themselves.” (Mitchell quoted by Schutz)

A notable student there was ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia, who noted, “Our school is going on very regularly, and the scholars are making some progress in their studies. One of the members is become new born in Christ since he has been here, and I trust there is no small degree of happiness. He is now rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God”. (‘Ōpūkaha‘ia Memoirs)

“While, on the one hand, there were instances of a conscientious application to study and to all the means of moral and religious improvement, it was cause of regret, on the other, that some of the beneficiaries were indolent and inattentive to the regulations of the institution.”

“As to the studies, which have been pursued, they have been extremely various, according to the previous advantages and proficiency of the learners.”

“Reading, writing, English grammar, geography, history, rhetoric, geometry, surveying, navigation, natural philosophy, and the Latin and Greek languages have been taught …”

“… and as but few were pursuing the same studies, at the same time, the labor of instruction has ever been much greater than, in other circumstances, it would have been. (Report of the ABCFM, 16th Annual Meeting, 1825)

One student, referenced as Mak-oo-wi-he-na from Owhyee (the Island of Hawai‘i), was referred to as David Brainerd (named for the famous early missionary to the Native American Indians, David Brainerd).

“In tracing events connected with (his) life … we are led gratefully to adore that Providence, which brought him from his native heathen country to this land of gospel light. When he engaged as a sailor to come to this land, his object was worldly gratification.”

“Totally ignorant of the unseen hand that directed his course, and of the immense mercy designed for him, in the eternal purpose of God, he landed in New-York in 1819.”

“From thence he went to Boston. There, meeting religious people who manifested special friendship for him, he by their assistance went to West-Brookfield, Mass. to be instructed.”

“Here it pleased the Saviour, as is believed, to manifest himself unto his soul. From Brookfield he came to the Foreign Mission School, in the summer of 1822, retaining still his religious feelings. In Aug. 1823, he was received into the church in Cornwall, and baptized by the name of David Brainerd.”

“He has been studious, and diligent in duty, his deportment amiable, and his life such as becomes the followers of Christ. He felt much for his countrymen, and expressed desires that he might communicate the gospel to them.”

“His teachers and the friends of missions, indulged a hope that his pious desires might, in due time be gratified. But infinite Wisdom has not thus ordained. In the course of last Winter, he was arrested by disease which proved to be the consumption (tuberculosis).”

“He submitted calmly, and interceded with God for his country. His mind was serene in expectation of death, and his christian hope remained steadfast to the end. While on the bed of languishment, he, like Obookiah, prayed and conversed upon religion with those around him.”

“On the day of his death he took affectionate leave of his companions, and resigned his spirit into the hands of his Saviour.” (The Guardian & Monitor, June 1825) Mak-oo-wi-he-na – David Brainard – died April 6, 1825.

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Cornwall’s Foreign Mission School

April 5, 2017 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Kaleleakeʻanae

Nuʻuanu Valley is romantic ground!
Here every knoll and dingle hath its talc.
Woven from legends stark of lonely swale
And Pali steep! Aye, long ago, to sound
Of savage warfare waged by Chiefs renowned.
Th’ historic Vale was scarred with bloody trail.
E’en now the bent ear hears the wild death-wail
Of warriors, in the winds which still rebound
The cliffs along: or, in the depths the eye
Doth catch the twinkling of spry Epas’ feet
Where, ‘neath the trailing clouds which not half hide
The tropic moon, they dance in circles nigh
To sound of falling waters—requiem meet,
Where mouldering heroes dim for aye abide!
(Johnstone; Thrum)

The battle was the last stand of Kalanikūpule and 9,000-warriors of O‘ahu against Kamehameha and his invading army of 12,000-warriors from Hawai‘i. (Dukas)

Kamehameha’s fleet landed at Waikiki where it covered the beaches from Waiʻalae to Waikiki. Kalanikūpule and his chiefs were stationed at strategic points in Nuʻuanu at Kanoneakapueo, Kahapaʻakai, Luakaha, Kawananakoa, Kaukahoku, Kapaʻeli, Kaumuʻohena, and Puʻiwa (where the fighting began.) (Kamakau)

Outnumbered and outgunned, the O‘ahu defenders were already weakened by the Battle of ‘Aiea (Kukiʻiahu) and a failed attempt to seize two well-armed foreign merchant vessels. (Dukas)

The landings were unopposed, and Kamehameha’s forces had four days to gather food and scout out enemy positions. The army began to move west and first clashed with Kalanikūpule’s men near Punchbowl Crater.

Both armies used traditional Hawaiian weapons, augmented with Western firearms. Kamehameha, however, used European-style flanking tactics and sited cannons on the Papakōlea ridgeline, routing similar positions held by Kalanikūpule’s cannoneers. (James)

“Kalanikūpule’s men were also supplied with these foreign weapons, however, not as well because they had lost those foreign weapons on board Captain Brown’s ships which the foreigners had taken at that time Kalanikūpule had first thought of attacking Kamehameha.” …

“In the beginning of this battle, the female aliʻi on Kamehameha’s side used their muskets, firing their bullets amongst the warriors on Kalanikūpule’s side.”

“Those on Kamehameha’s side were better skilled with the muskets, and perhaps these warriors furnished with the foreign weapons were electrified (ho‘ouwila ‘ia paha) by seeing the fearlessness of these aliʻi wahine.” (Desha)

Just a little above the Queen Emma’s property was a decisive point of the battle. There a well-directed shot from John Young’s cannon brought death to the restless and ambitious Kaʻiana; Kaʻiana had landed with Kamehameha but defected to the side of Kalanikupule.

With his death, Kalanikūpule’s forces scattered – some to the hills and valleys beyond, and drove the rest to a swift destruction over the famous pali. (Thrum)

Kamehameha’s cannon’s rained fire down on Kalanikūpule’s forces, which disorganized under the assault from above. From that point on, it was a running fight, a desperate rear-guard action as Oʻahu’s defenders were herded up Nuʻuanu Valley.

A number of them did escape. Some went up Pacific Heights, but primarily they went up Alewa and over into Kalihi and escaped to Aiea and through there.

Others went up over the pali or went up to Kalihi and then went over into Kāne’ohe. A lot of them went down the old trails on the pali. (Pacific Worlds)

But the actions of some gave the battle another name …

The name of the Battle of Nuʻuanu is also referred to as Kaleleakeʻanae, which means “the leaping of the mullet fish.” With their backs to the sheer cliff of the Nuʻuanu Pali, many chose to fall to their deaths than submit to Kamehameha.

In 1897, while improving the Pali road, workers found an estimated 800-skulls along with other bones, at the foot of the precipice. They believed these to be the remains of Oʻahu warriors defeated by Kamehameha a hundred years earlier. (Island Call, October 1953; Mitchell)

Kalanikūpule survived the battle, but was later captured and sacrificed by Kamehameha at the Diamond Head heiau of Papaʻenaʻena. (Dukas)

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Pali-Battle_of_Nuuanu-(HerbKane)

Kamehameha_Waikiki_Landing-(HerbKane)

The Battle of Nuuanu-Kalelekaanae-(RobJames)-Map

April 4, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Timeline Tuesday … 1930s

Today’s ‘Timeline Tuesday’ takes us through the 1930s – sugar production peaks, Pan-Am Clipper service begins, Hickam Airfield is constructed, ‘Aloha Shirt’ is trademarked and Doris Duke builds Shangri La. 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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Timeline-1930s

April 2, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Hauoli Kamanao Church

La ʻelima o Pepeluali (pēpē lua lī)
Waimaka helele (heʻe nei) i ke alanui
Paiki puʻolo paʻa i ka lima
(Maika pu olo aʻa ika lima)
Waimaka helele ʻi i ke alanui!
(Ae maka hele heʻe nui ike alanui

Hui:
Penei pepe ʻalala nei
(He nei pepe alaʻa nei)
He huʻi maʻeʻele kou nui kino
(Eʻu ima e hele kou lui kino)

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
He mele he inoa no Miloliʻi
(E mele he noe no Milolʻ`i)

The fifth day of February
Tears fell along the roadway
(Tears scattered in the street)
Bags and bundles held tightly
Tears fell along the roadway

Chorus:
The babies cry
(You there Baby Crying here)
Numbing to the body
(Your whole body will ache with chills)

Tell the refrain
(The refrain is told)
A name song for Miloliʻi
(A song, a name song for Miloliʻi)

“John D. Paris came to Hawaii in 1841 as a missionary. He was not originally supposed to come to Hawai‘i. He was on his way to the Oregon territory.”

“But the boat they were on brought some of the missionaries who were to join the mission here in Hawai‘i. They were going to drop them off, then proceed on to Oregon.”

“But they’d had an uprising in the Oregon territory, and the mission there was massacred and all the people were killed. So, with the unrest in the territory at that time, they prevailed upon him to stay in Hawaii, which he did.”

“And he was assigned to Ka‘u. He established the church – the Congregational church – there in Ka’u, and he stayed there until 1849.”

“At this time, his first wife had died, and he had two daughters. So, he felt, for the well-being of the daughters, he should go back to the United States. And he did.”

“However, while he was back there, he met a person that he had known, another woman, a Mary Carpenter. He was married to her. And then, they started back to Hawaii in 1851.”

“When he arrived here in the mission, they said the field in South Kona had deteriorated and they had nobody really there. So, they prevailed upon him to take the assignment in South Kona, which he did.”

“He was very active here. He built nine churches throughout Kona, mostly in South Kona, the first of which is the old church Kahikolu above Napo‘opo‘o”. (Billy Paris)

Another Paris church was at Miloli‘i.

“At Miloli‘i. We have some good people & some of whom we stand in doubt. A few living epistles known & read of all men — some whose light shines more dimly & through many clouds & others whose light is darkness…” (Paris, 1855; Maly) Paris built the Hau‘oli Kamana‘o Church.

The Miloli‘i community lies in the shadow of its most dominant geologic feature, the vast southwest slope of the 13,000-foot Mauna Loa volcano. Eruptive lava flows from Mauna Loa have continually influenced the area.

Since 1832, the volcano has erupted forty times. Eight flows have traversed the slopes into North and South Kona, and four reached the ocean (1859, 1919, 1926, and 1950). (PaaPonoMilolii)

Hawai‘i also has a long history of damaging tsunami. The earliest record of a tsunami is April 12, 1819, when a wave from Chile reached a height of 2-meters somewhere along the west coast of the Island of Hawai‘i. Since then, 112 tsunamis have been observed in Hawaii; 16 of these have resulted in significant damage. (World Data Center A; NAS)

On March 27, 1868, whaling ships at Kawaihae on the west coast of Hawaiʻi observed dense clouds of smoke rising from Mauna Loa’s crater, Mokuʻāweoweo, to a height of several miles and reflecting the bright light from the lava pit.

Slight shocks were felt at Kona on the west coast and Kaʻū on the flanks of the volcano. n the 28th, lava broke out on the southwest flank and created a 15-mile flow to the sea. Over 300 strong shocks were felt at Kaʻū and 50 to 60 were felt at Kona.

“Thursday, April 2d (1868,) at a few minutes past four, pm, the big earthquake occurred, which caused the ground around Kilauea to rock like a ship at sea.”

“At that moment, there commenced fearful detonations in the crater, large quantities of lava were thrown up to a great height; portions of the wall tumbled in. This extraordinary commotion, accompanied with unearthly noise and ceaseless swaying of the ground continued from that day till Sunday night, April 5th”. (Hawaiian Gazette, May 6, 1868)

A magnitude of 7 ¾ was estimated for this earthquake (by Augustine Furumoto in his February 1966 article on the Seismicity of Hawaii in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America) based on the extent of intensity reports. (Instrumental recordings, the usual basis for computing magnitudes, were not available at this early date.)

A tsunami struck the coast from Hilo to South Cape, being most destructive at Keauhou, Puna and Honuʻapo; a 10-foot-high wave carried wreckage inland 800-feet. Not a house survived at Honuʻapo. A stone church and other buildings were destroyed at Punaluʻu. Maximum wave heights were 65 feet, the highest observed on Hawaiʻi to date.

The Hauʻoli Kamana’o Church was pushed about 300 yards inland by the rushing sea, with little or no damage. The original location of the church is now underwater.

Written and oral history about and from Miloliʻi confirm there was no loss of life, missing children were led to safety in caves and rescued 5 days later. (Huapala)

Villagers later moved the church to its present-day site using palm trunks to roll it into place. Although other areas were destroyed, somehow Milolii was spared the misery experienced elsewhere.

The kupuna from other South Kona communities joined the village in thanksgiving, which lasted several days. The story of that day has become immortalized in the mele Lā ʻElima, sung by Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole and others but composed by Miloliiʻs Elizabeth Kuahuia (suggesting the day was February 5.) (PaaPonoMilolii)

La ʻElima sung by Diane Aki, music by Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3kIsPWllbM

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