“From the advantages the country possesses (Pacific Northwest) it bids fair to have an extensive commerce, on advantageous terms, with many parts of the Pacific.”
“It is well calculated to produce the following staple commodities – furs, salted beef and pork, fish, grain, flour, wool, hides, tallow, timber and coals; and in return for these – sugars, coffee, and other tropical productions, may be obtained at the Sandwich Islands.” (Dunn, 1844; Mackie)
“Besides carrying on the fur trade, the Hudson’s Bay Company raised horses, horned cattle, sheep and other farm stock. They had large farms in different parts of the country, had grist mills, saw mills, tanneries, fisheries, etc. …”
“… and exported flour, grain, beef, pork and butter to the Russian settlements in Alaska, lumber and fish to the Sandwich Islands, and hides and wool to England, from what is now the Province of British Columbia.” (Gosnell)
“In connection with this business and farming establishment, the Company have a flour-mill worked by ox-power, which is kept in constant operation and produces flour of excellent quality.”
“Six miles up the Columbia, at the confluence of a stream coming from the north-east, they have a saw-mill with several saws, which is kept in operation most of the year.” (Parker)
“On 21 January 1829 the Hudson’s Bay Company schooner Cadboro, Aemilius Simpson master, arrived at Honolulu from Fort
Vancouver with a small shipment of spars and sawn lumber.”
“Aemilius Simpson had been instructed by Governor George Simpson to ascertain the Hawaiian market for lumber and salmon; test the market through the sale of the Cadboro’s cargo; recruit a few seasoned seamen for Company service on the Northwest Coast …”
“… including ‘two good stout active Sandwich Islanders who have been to sea for 1, 2, or 3 years;’ and use his discretion to appoint a Company agent for the sale in Honolulu of future shipments from Fort Vancouver.”
“Aemilius Simpson’s arrival marked the entry of the Hudson’s Bay Company into the Hawaiian trade.”
“Richard Charlton, British consul in Honolulu since 1825 and later a bite noire of Hawaiian history, was friendly and helpful to Simpson, whereas the American merchants were apparently mistrustful.”
“Simpson appointed Charlton the Company agent and returned to Fort Vancouver. Thereafter, Charlton handled consignments of lumber and salmon until the Company established its own agency on the recommendation of Governor Simpson.” (Spoehr)
The earliest location of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s store appears to have been on the Ewa, or north side of Nu‘uanu street, adjoining the ‘Blonde’ lot (Boki’s bar) cornering on King, premises that became well known as ‘Aienui’ – great debt.
“Whether this term applied through a liberal credit policy of the agency during its occupancy, or was inherited from the earlier days of sandal-wood trade is not clear, but the name held for many years. The store is remembered as a two-story shingle-sided
building that stood end on to the street. (Thrum)
“(S)ometimes two ship loads (of lumber) are sent annually to O‘ahu, Sandwich Islands, and it is there called pine of the north-west coast, and sells for about fifty dollars the thousand feet.”
“Spars and timber for shipping are also sent to that market. Boards of fir are not so durable when exposed to the weather, as those of pine, nor so easily worked.” (Parker)
“On 23 October 1833 the Governor and Committee in London appointed George Pelly the Company agent in Honolulu. Pelly had previously served as a captain in the East India Civil Service and was a first cousin of John Henry Pelly, Company Governor in London, to whom he no doubt owed his appointment.”
“George Pelly arrived in Honolulu from England in August 1834. His instructions from London outlined his duties, paramount of which were the sale of Company produce from the Northwest Coast, provisioning of Company vessels passing through Honolulu, and providing freight for Company vessels homeward bound to England.” (Spoehr)
Between 1829 and 1859, the Hudson’s Bay Company was a leading merchant house in Hawai‘i.
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