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February 4, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kuini Liliha

Reportedly, Liliha was the daughter of Kalaniulumoku II (or Koakanu) and Loeau, who were themselves full blooded brother and sister (children of Kalaniulumoku I and his own mother the venerable kapu chiefess Kalanikuiokikilo.)

This makes Liliha a niaupio child, a chiefess of the highest possible princely rank in the system of Hawaiian chiefs. She was hanai (adopted) daughter of Ulumāheihei (Hoapili.) (Kekoolani)

Ulumāheihei’s father, High Chief Kameʻeiamoku, was one of the “royal twins” who helped Kamehameha I come to power – the twins are on the Islands’ coat of arms – Kameʻeiamoku is on the right (bearing a kahili,) his brother, Kamanawa is on the left, holding a spear.

Liliha was reared in the traditional cultural system of the day. As a young woman, Liliha witnessed Ka‘ahumanu’s successful assault on the ancient kapu system. She was the wife of Kahalaia, but was soon preempted by his uncle, Boki, the governor of O‘ahu.

Liliha was known as a woman who took her pleasures seriously. She apparently had several husbands in her life and was also quite fond of strong spirits. These characteristics made her a natural opponent of the Protestant missionaries and Ka‘ahumanu. (Kurkjian)

Boki was appointed governor of O‘ahu and confirmed in his post by Kamehameha II. Boki agreed to the breaking of the kapu in 1819 and accepted the Protestant missionaries arriving in 1820, although he had been baptized as a Catholic aboard the French vessel of Louis de Freycinet, along with Boki’s brother, Kalanimōku, the previous year.

Boki, Liliha, and Mataio Kekūanāo‘a were principal members of the entourage that accompanied Liholiho (King Kamehameha II) and Kamāmalu his Queen) on an 1824 diplomatic tour of the United Kingdom, visiting King George IV.

Liholiho and Kamāmalu contracted measles. George IV took great care of the king and sent his own physician to take charge of the case, but first Queen Kamāmalu died, July 8, 1824, and five days later Liholiho, died in London at the age of twenty-six. Their bodies were sent home on a British warship, Blonde. (Kamakau)

King George IV encouraged Boki and Liliha “to take good care of the missionaries for they were sent to teach the nation the word of God and to enlighten them”. (Damon) However, they had serious disagreements with the missionaries and Ka‘ahumanu, their strong supporter.

Kaʻahumanu pronounced certain laws banning things such as: murder, robbery, cheating, and stealing; adultery and prostitution and the manufacture of liquor.

Ka‘ahumanu and the council in May, 1827, charged Boki and Liliha with misconduct, intemperance, fornication and adultery, and had them fined. In return, Boki and Liliha objected to the laws and made no effort to enforce them. (Kelley)

At times the peace of the country was threatened by this division, as when Governor Boki of O‘ahu in 1829 seemed on the point of attempting to overthrow Ka‘ahumanu. (Kuykendall)

Boki incurred large debts and, in 1829, attempted to cover them by assembling a group of followers and set out for a newly discovered island with sandalwood in the New Hebrides.

Boki fitted out two ships, the Kamehameha and the Becket; before sailing Boki announced that Liliha was to be his successor as governor of O‘ahu. Unfortunately, Boki and two hundred and fifty of his men apparently died at sea.

Just prior to Boki’s sailing in search of sandalwood, the lands of Kapunahou and Kukuluaeʻo were transferred to Hiram Bingham for the purpose of establishing a school, later to be known as Oʻahu College (now, Punahou School.)

These lands had first been given to Kame‘eiamoku, a faithful chief serving under Kamehameha, following Kamehameha’s conquest of Oʻahu in 1795. At Kameʻeiamoku’s death in 1802, the land transferred to his son Hoapili, who resided there from 1804 to 1811. Hoapili passed the property to his daughter Liliha.

Sworn testimony before the Land Commission in 1849, and that body’s ultimate decision, noted that the “land was given by Governor Boki about the year 1829 to Hiram Bingham for the use of the Sandwich Islands Mission.”

The decision was made over the objection from Liliha; however, Hoapili confirmed the gift. It was considered to be a gift from Kaʻahumanu, Kuhina Nui or Queen Regent at that time.

Due to Liliha’s excesses, Kaʻahumanu had taken the king away from Liliha because she was afraid of her influence over him because of her indulging in drinking and other worldly pleasures.

Rumors of war were spread; they plotted to disembowel Kaʻahumanu and cut off her head. Liliha was implicated in the threats. In October, 1830, there was a meeting of the council of chiefs.

The main things decided by the council included: removal of Liliha from the governorship of O‘ahu; all land and other property belonging to the king left by Boki in Liliha’s care to be taken away from her and the removal of the king from Liliha’s care.

“At a public meeting on the first of April, 1831, the young king declared the control of Oahu to be in the hands of Kaahumanu. She appointed her brother, J. Adams (Kuakini,) to the governorship. He declared his purpose to restrain crimes and immoralities …”

“… such as had been specified in the edict of 1829, but had not been well enforced, including Sabbath-breaking, gambling, and the traffic in ardent spirits.” (Bingham)

Following the death of Ka‘ahumanu, Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) was considering the appointment of Liliha to replace Ka‘ahumanu as Kuhina Nui (instead of Kīna‘u.)

“A faction representing the worst element in the islands endeavored to persuade him to depose Kinau and proclaim Liliha Premier in her stead. The King, however, although apparently alienated and in sympathy with the reactionary spirit that threatened to carry everything before it, was not insensible to the steadfast virtues of Kinau.” (Krout)

At a gathering of chiefs and others, the king asked Hoapili, “Why did you come here?” Hoapili replied, “We came because we had heard rumors that you were going to appoint Liliha premier of the kingdom.”

“You must first kill me before making my daughter premier lest I be blamed as her parent. Here (Kīna‘u) is the daughter of the house of Kamehameha. Let her serve you. My daughter is but a tenant here. … Do me this favor to place the duties of the kingdom upon her who is here ready to serve you.” (Kamakau)

“The chiefs were present; the revocation was upon his (the King’s) lips, when he unexpectedly turned to Kīna‘u and solemnly confirmed her in office. The effect was electric; all perceived the days of misrule were numbered. When expostulated with for not carrying out his intention, he gave the significant reply: ‘Very strong is the Kingdom of God.’”

“Kīna‘u succeeded Ka‘ahumanu as Premier, with the title of Kaahumanu II. Her character also had been transformed by her conversion to Christianity, being mild and just where she had been tyrannical and passionate.”

“She did her utmost to restrain the King in his tendency to extravagance, and endeavored to shield him from the temptations which beset him through bad associates.” (Krout)

Liliha died on August 24, 1839 in Honolulu and was buried on the sacred island called Moku‘ula on Maui. Later she was reburied in the Waiola Church cemetery. Although treated as a rebel by Kaʻahumanu, she was generally loved by the people. A street is named for her in Honolulu.

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February 3, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Charles Coffin Harris

Charles Coffin Harris was born on June 9, 1822 in the township of Newington, a small suburb of the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, eldest son of William Coffin and Mary (Johnson) Harris.

Coffin was educated in his father’s school until he was fifteen, when he then entered Harvard College in 1837 – he graduated from Harvard in 1841. Upon leaving college he returned to Portsmouth, and engaged for a time in the occupation of teaching, at the same time commencing the study of law. He married his cousin, Harriet M Harris.

“On the discovery of gold in California, and the breaking out in the East of what was termed the ‘gold fever,’ he deemed it a good opportunity, like many another of our New England men, to ‘’break away’ from his New England life and seek his fortune and his fame on the Pacific shores, and accordingly embarked for California, and arrived, in the youth and vigor of his manhood, at San Francisco, early in May, 1850.”

“Of course, there had been no planting as yet in California, and the price of vegetables brought from the Hawaiian Islands was so enormous, that Mr. Harris was induced to embark in an enterprise to procure them from the islands, and having procured a vessel which had brought many of his townsmen to San Francisco, he embarked with his two brothers, Thomas and Abel, who were both sea-faring men, in this enterprise, and arrived at Honolulu in August, 1850. (Granite Monthly, April 1882)

“He arrived at the Islands still a young man – during the formation period of our history, and entering our then infant country as a practitioner, and occasionally our Legislature as a representative – he contributed to the growth of the superstructure of jurisprudence which exists to-day in this Kingdom.” (Judd)

In September of that year (1850) the two young princes, – Alexander Liholilho, who was afterwards King Kamehameha IV, and Lot Kamehameha, who was afterwards King Kamehameha V, – arrived home from their American and European tour.”

“He immediately became intimate with them, and this intimacy, perhaps, determined his fate. This intimacy was somewhat interrupted in the case of Prince Liholiho, during the first year of his reign, though resumed during the last years.”

“But in the case of Kamehameha V it continued uninterrupted to his death. His first public employment was that of police magistrate of Honolulu in the year 1851. He was elected representative for one of the districts of the Island of Hawaii in 1852.”

“His wife with their infant son arrived from Boston, January 1, 1852, and from that time his residence there may be regarded as permanent.” (Granite Monthly, April 1882)

“He continued to practice law with marked success. In 1862, a law was passed, creating the office of attorney-general of the kingdom, and to which office he was appointed on the 26th of August, 1862 by Kamehameha IV.”

“This king died 30th of November, 1863, and was succeeded by his brother, Kamehameha V, and Mr. Harris was immediately appointed minister of the interior, ad interim.”

“He was a member of the Privy Council of state, and continued to hold the office of attorney-general until the 22d of December, 1865.”

“In March, 1867, he received the appointment of minister at Washington, and having returned here in 1868, he resumed the duties of Minister of Finance, in which office he continued until December 20, 1869, when he was appointed minister for foreign affairs, which office he resigned on the 10th of September, 1872.”

“At the death of Lunalilo without heirs, Prince Kalākaua was elected king by the legislature on the 12th of February, 1874, and Mr. Harris was appointed at once first associate justice of the supreme court, and on the resignation of Chief Justice Allen on the 1st of February, 1877, Mr. Harris was appointed chief justice of the supreme court and chancellor of the kingdom.” (Granite Monthly, April 1882)

“Harris is six feet high, bony and rather slender, middle-aged; has long, ungainly arms; stands so straight that he leans back a little; has small side whiskers; from my distance his eyes seemed blue, and his teeth looked too regular and too white for an honest man …”

“… he has a long head the wrong way – that is, up and down; and a bogus Roman nose and a great, long, cadaverous undertaker’s countenance”. (Twain)

“(B)y the death of Chief Justice Harris, the interests of the Hawaiian Kingdom have sustained a great loss”. (Hawaii Bar) “It may be truly said that no important measure of this Government, for years, has been taken without consultation with him. The Government leaned upon him as upon a sure stay and support. There is indeed nobody to fill his place.”

“With a love for this country where he had spent the greater part of his life, equal to that which he bore to America, the land of his birth, he had for its prosperity a brooding anxiety, which rendered every public act, and its results a matter of intense personal interest to him.” (Castle)

“He was a strong man – strong in having a tenacity and force of will which never lost sight of its objects, and was untiring in their accomplishment; strong in a mind stored with the facts and details in this country for over thirty years, with a retentive rnemory which never failed him; strong in power to discern the weakness or tricks of others. No one ever deceived him.” (Hartwell)

“Throughout Harris’s lifetime in the islands, the possibility of the kingdom being annexed by a foreign power was a constant concern. France, Great Britain, Russia, and Japan were all at one time or another viewed as threats to the continued sovereignty of the monarchs.”

“It was the United States of America, however, that loomed largest among the world powers in the affairs of the little country. Sometimes the pressure for annexation by the United States came from within the islands themselves, where some plantation owners viewed annexation as a way of opening up American markets to their sugar crop.”

“Sometimes the pressure came from within the United States, from those who viewed the islands as strategic to economic and military expansion into the Pacific.” (Harris)

During the reign of Kamehameha V, “Believing that a convention was the most legal way to make the necessary revisions to the constitution, Harris advised the king to issue a proclamation calling a convention together. This caused considerable upheaval within the islands, and when an election was held to select delegates to the convention, the majority of voters demonstrated some unhappiness with the course the king had chosen.”

“Of the elected delegates to the convention, the majority belonged or were sympathetic to the rival missionary party. The other delegates to the convention, however, were made up of the upper house of the legislature, which more generally favored the king and his program of constitutional reform.”

“Voting rights quickly became the primary topic of discussion at the convention, for it was on this issue that the true power to control the future of the kingdom would turn. Some were convinced that if the convention failed to adopt a new constitution, the monarchy would collapse.”

“Others, particularly the annexationists, were hoping for just such a result so that a revolution could be initiated, deposing the king and inviting the United States to take over the islands. Neither side was willing to compromise, and the convention deadlocked.”

“With such ominous consequences a possibility, the king, in an effort to preserve the monarchy and the independence of the islands, proclaimed that the constitution of 1852 was abrogated and announced that he would grant the kingdom a new constitution. The convention dissolved and for a short time the Hawaiian kingdom was an absolute autocracy.”

“Within a few days, the cabinet, using Harris’s draft constitution as a basis, completed a new constitution, which Kamehameha V swore to uphold. Some within the government thought the new constitution would be met with violence.”

“However, it was not only accepted, it survived in effect for 23 years, longer than any other constitution under the Hawaiian monarchs, and received favorable reaction outside the islands.” (Harris)

His first wife died in March 1870; on May 1, 1879 he married Ella Fessenden Tiffany, daughter of his predecessor Elisha Hunt Allen.

“A great shock was experienced by the community last Saturday (July 2, 1881) when the news gradually crept round the city that the Chief Justice had died suddenly at his residence at Waikiki.” (Hawaiian Gazette, July 6, 1881)

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February 2, 2017 by Peter T Young 6 Comments

Mānoa War Homes

“Housing was a critical problem at the beginning of the war.”

“On December 7, 1941, the only project operated by the Hawaii Housing Authority was Kamehameha homes consisting of 221 units for families in the low-income bracket.”

“Prior to the declaration of war, plans had been prepared for the construction of a low income family project of 368 units to be known as the Mayor Wright homes. The war prevented this development from going ahead since the buildings in the slum area on the site could not be demolished. Tenants living there were permitted to remain.” (DOI Annual Report, 1946)

Then, “Since the close of the war, one of the most important activities of the land department has consisted of arranging for the return of numerous tracts of territorial lands which had been transferred to the Army and Navy for military purposes.”

“Whenever it has been to the advantage of Federal agencies to give up the buildings and other improvements on territorial lands, and when the Territory or a county government needed the improvements, the office of the commissioner of public lands assisted in negotiating for the acquisition of title to the buildings in lieu of restoration performance of the premises involved.”

“As a result of this procedure of acquisition, the Territory and counties realized considerable savings in money, material, and labor, and gained title to a great deal of construction equipment, including buildings of various sizes …”

“… warehouses, quonset huts, water and sewer pipes, refrigeration plants, stoves of all descriptions, furniture, cable and electric wiring, reservoirs, gas storage facilities, septic tanks, water heaters, and generators.”

“The termination of hostilities with Japan caused an unprecedented demand for house lots. For a number of years prior to the beginning of the war, home building was curtailed, and such materials as might normally be needed to meet the housing requirements of a growing population were diverted to national defense.”

“With the beginning of war, these materials were actually frozen. In addition to this, a large number of existing home sites were taken over for military purposes.”

“The sale of public lands for home sites is the most beneficial purpose to which these lands can be dedicated. Every effort was made to subdivide and place on the market as house lots all public lands that were not under lease. Unfortunately, the area of unencumbered public land on Oahu, where the need is greatest, is decidedly limited.” (DOI Annual Report, 1946)

“During the past year (1946) the problem has become even more serious. The Governor’s housing committee and a committee of the chamber of commerce of Honolulu, after a careful study, reported that 11,000 additional houses were needed in the Honolulu-Pearl Harbor area.”

“A number of factors have militated against an adequate home-building program. The most important of these arc: (a) Scarcity of land even at an extremely high price, (b) unavailability of building materials, and (c) shortage and high cost of labor.”

“During the year over 3,900 families applied to the housing authority for homes. This number does not reflect the extent of the need since the public was aware of long waiting lists.”

“Of those who applied the authority could provide houses for only 1,265, 1,000 of whom were placed in Manoa war homes. This situation indicates the need for drastic action immediately to relieve the existing shortage of housing for all income groups.” (DOI Annual Report, 1946)

“The idea was to offer veterans a decent, affordable place to live while they found jobs, re-entered civilian life and saved up for a down payment on a permanent home. One-bedroom units went for $35 a month, 2-bedroom units were $42.50.” (Cataluna)

It worked for a while; then, “The Commissioners of the Authority froze vacancies as of January 1, 1956, at Manoa War Homes, a 982-unit temporary war housing project, as the site must be vacated, buildings demolished, and the land restored to its owners by June 30, 1958.”

“The project was relinquished by the Public Housing Administration to the Authority on June 30, 1953 at which time the Authority was able to obtain leases with the property owners for 3 years, with options to renew for two successive terms of 1 year each only.” (Annual Report of Governor to Secretary of Interior, 1956)

“During the year (1958) the Authority has continued the deprogramming of a relinquished 1,000-unit war housing project, Manoa War Homes.”

“On June 30, 1957, there were 519 families still living in the project. By June 30, 1958, the number had been reduced to 284. On June 30, 1958, the Authority returned approximately 44 acres of the 94-acre site to its owners. The area returned comprised 14 parcels of land and a portion of another parcel.” (Annual Report of Governor to Secretary of Interior, 1956)

Familiar Mānoa landmarks that were once the site of the Mānoa War Homes are the Mānoa Marketplace, Noelani School and Mānoa Innovation Center.

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February 1, 2017 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Ford Hawaiians

“Detroit, Michigan … For the first time in the history of this city the general public was given an opportunity last night to dance to the weird, fascinating and charming music of far-off Hawaii, rendered by Hawaiian Quintet at Arcadia auditorium.”

“Music lovers of this city from time to time have heard Hawaiian music on the vaudeville stage. On rare occasions the Ford management has allowed this quintet to sing and play for dancing at exclusive society functions.”

“To the Arcadia management belongs the credit of giving the first public dance with this novel band attractive form of music and that it filled a popular demand was evidenced by the fact that Arcadia was crammed to capacity …”

“… in fact, at 9:15 o’clock the police and fire authorities stopped the further sale of tickets. Box office figures show that the attendance totaled 5,316 persons and many hundreds were turned away. At various times during the evening it was estimated that there were 1300 couples on the floor at one time.”

“In addition to the popular music, which was rendered during the evening, Detroit was given an opportunity to hear real Hawaiian folk songs rendered in a manner far different from that attempted on the vaudeville stage.”

“That popular ballad, ‘Aloha Oe,’ was rendered in the native tongue and sung with all its native charm and melody. This number and ‘On the Beach at Waikiki’ were easily the big hits of the evening’s entertainment.”

“’Ford’s Hawaiians,’ as they are styled, were brought to Detroit last year by Henry Ford after he had heard them in the Hawaiian building at the Panama-Pacific exposition.” (Star Bulletin, October 24, 1916)

Hawaiian Quintette – Aloha Oe
http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/3201

On the Beach at Waikiki:

For nine months in 1915, the San Francisco Presidio’s bayfront and much of today’s Marina District was the site of a grand celebration of human spirit and ingenuity – hosted to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, as well as help San Francisco by bringing folks to the area as San Francisco was recovering from the 1906 earthquake.

At the turn of the 20th Century, San Francisco was the largest and wealthiest city on the west coast of the United States. In 1906, a disastrous earthquake struck San Francisco. The ensuing fire was more devastating than the Chicago fire of 1871.

Less than 10 years after most of San Francisco was destroyed, the proud city was rebuilt and its people were ready to hold a party, one designed to dazzle the world and showcase the new city.

Over 18-million people visited the fair; strolling down wide boulevards, attending scientific and educational presentations, “travelling” to international pavilions and enjoying thrilling displays of sports, racing, music and art. The fair promoted technological and motor advancements.

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition looked to the future for innovation. Things we take for granted today – cars, airplanes, telephones, and movies – were in their infancy and were shown off at the fair, and some well-known technological luminaries were involved in the fair.

Henry Ford, who brought mass production to American manufacturing and made the automobile affordable to middle class society, built an actual Model T assembly line at the fair. Fords were produced three hours a day, six days a week. (NPS)

One of the most popular attractions at the Exposition was a daily show at the Hawaiian Pavilion featuring Hawaiian musicians and hula dancers. It’s where millions of people heard the ‘ukulele for the first time.

These Hawaiian shows had the highest attendance at the entire fair and launched a Hawaiian cultural craze that influenced everything from American music, to movies, to fashion. (Mushet)

“The hugely popular Hawaii pavilion … showcased Hawaiian music and hula dancing, and was the unofficial launching pad for ukulele-mania.” Hapa-haole songs were featured in the Hawaii exhibits.

“Henry Kailimai, the leader of the quaint band of singers, is a song writer of note, having written and composed several song hits during the past year which are ranked high among the “best sellers.” The balance of the quintet are: William Lincoln, Robert Waialeale. Gordon Piania and Frank Kema.”

Henry Ford visited the Exposition, and was so impressed with the band’s music that he hired the quintet to come to Detroit and play at Ford company events. They were renamed the Ford Hawaiian Quintet and recorded a number of records for the company of Henry Ford’s good friend, Thomas Edison. (Ukulele Hall of Fame)

“The Ford Hawaiians, whose unique music seems essentially the complement of warm weather, opened and concluded the program, in addition to playing a number of selections during the course of the entertainment.”

“There was the usual variety and charm that is peculiar to Hawaiian music – now a full orchestra of the Hawaiian instruments, now a solo by one of those instruments, then a song, first as solo, then gradually swelling with the full force of the chorus.” (Ford News, May 23, 1923)

“Perhaps no music is more appreciated on these warm summer evenings than that of the Hawaiians. On the evening of August 1, the Ford Hawaiians gave much enjoyment to the WWI (Ford’s AM radio station) listeners-in by their delightful music, both vocal and instrumental.”

“As usual, this music was of widely varied character, and the spirit with which it was rendered accentuated its charm.” (Ford News, August 22, 1923)

“Henry Ford takes a personal interest in his singers from the Paradise of the Pacific and has furnished an elaborate studio for them downtown where the ‘boys’ are allowed the privilege of giving ukulele lessons to large numbers of Detroiters who have become fascinated with this new music.”

“Although this quintet devotes most of its time to Mr Ford’s personal entertainment at his palatial home in Dearborn, Mich., they are taken from time to time to various large cities in the Middle West to give public concerts under the Ford sales management.” (Star Bulletin, October 24, 1916)

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HawaiianQuintette

Ukulele players at the Hawaiian Pavilion, PPIE, 1915 (Collection of Donna Ewald Huggins)

Ford Hawaiians played over station WWI during 1923-1925-Bryan

View of the South Gardens and the Tower of Jewels at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1915

View of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1915

Pan-Pacific, 1915; San Francisco-PP-19-8-018-00001

Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1915-map

Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1915-map overlay

January 31, 2017 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Timeline Tuesday … 1850s

Today’s ‘Timeline Tuesday’ takes us through the 1850s Kuleana Act, Smallpox Epidemic, death of Kamehameha III and growth in rice cultivation. 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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