Ali’i / Chiefs / Governance | Page 104

August 20, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Statehood

The Hawaiʻi Admission Act was signed into law on March 18, 1959; Hawaiʻi became the 50th State on August 21, 1959.

While Hawaiʻi was the 50th State to be admitted into the union on August 21, 1959, Statehood is celebrated annually on the third Friday in August to commemorate the anniversary of the 1959 admission of Hawaiʻi into the Union.

There was a 93.6% voter turnout for the General election – as compared to generally less than 50% in recent times – total turnout for the 2016 primary election was only 34.8% (a new low.)

The statehood vote was near unanimous: ‘Shall Hawaii immediately be admitted into the Union as a State?’ Yes – 132,773 (94.3%;) No – 7,971 (5.7%)

President Eisenhower called it “truly an historic occasion” because for the second time within a year a new state had been admitted.

“All forty-nine states will join in welcoming the new one – Hawaii – to this Union,” he said. “We will wish for her prosperity, security, happiness and a growing closer relationship with all of the other states.”

“We know that she is ready to do her part to make this Union a stronger nation – a stronger people than it was before because of her presence as a full sister to the other forty-nine states. So all of us say to her, ‘good luck.’” (nytimes-com)

“(A)n unplanned service (was) held at Kawaiahaʻo Church. This church is the denomination of the missionaries who came to Hawaii in 1820. A crowd of more than 1,000 people, including the Honorable Neal Blaisdell, mayor of the city and county of Honolulu, gathered and paid respect to the Divine Providence within minutes of the news being received that the bill was passed by the House.”

“The next morning, thanksgiving services were held at this same church. The Reverend Dr. Abraham Akaka, pastor of Kawaiahaʻo Church, gave the sermon, which is included here.” (John A Burns, Delegate to US House of Representatives))

“‘One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all’ – these words have a fuller meaning for us this morning in Hawaii. And we have gathered here at Kawaiahaʻo Church to give thanks to God, and to pray for his guidance and protection in the years ahead.” (Reverend Abraham K Akaka; Given on: Friday, March 13, 1959)

Contrary to comments by some, the Crown and Government lands were not ‘stolen’ from the people with Territorial status, Statehood or any other change in governance. Those lands have been consistently recognized as part of the public domain or government property, as decided by the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.

Under the Admission Act, about 1.2-million acres are to “be held by (the) State as a public trust” to promote one or more of five purposes:

support of the public schools and other public educational institutions
betterment of the conditions of native Hawaiians (per the Hawaiian Homes Act, 1920)
development of farm and home ownership on as widespread a basis as possible
making of public improvements
provision of lands for public use

So, as Statehood is celebrated in the Islands, the lands that were in the public domain over the changing levels and entities of government and governance continue to be held in public trust, for all citizens (just as in the times of the constitutional monarchy.)

“Today, one of the deepest needs of mankind is the need to feel a sense of kinship one with another. Truly all mankind belongs together; from the beginning all mankind has been called into being, nourished, watched over by the love of God.”

“So that the real Golden Rule is Aloha. This is the way of life we shall affirm.”

“Let us affirm ever what we really are – for Aloha is the spirit of God at work in you and in me and in the world, uniting what is separated, overcoming darkness and death, bringing new light and life to all who sit in the darkness of fear, guiding the feet of mankind into the way of peace.”

“Thus may our becoming a State mean to our nation and the world, and may it reaffirm that which was planted in us one hundred and thirty-nine years ago: ‘Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.’” (Reverend Abraham K Akaka; Given on: Friday, March 13, 1959)

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August 19, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Glen Rock NJ and Hawaii as 49th State

Glen Rock, N.J., July 6, 1948 (By Wireless) – Hawaii as the coming 49th state was the theme Monday of Glen Rock’s lively and colorful Independence Day pageant and celebration.

This pleasant New Jersey town turned out thousands of residents to see the ceremony and enjoy a big family carnival.

Thousands more motored from nearby towns and villages. Two featured speakers talked about the mid-Pacific territory and statehood.

They were Robert L. Ripley, famed Believe It or Not cartoonist and a recent Honolulu visitor; and Riley H. Allen, editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

They were present as guests of Glen Rock’s active and energetic Independence Day association. This was the 10th annual pageant staged by the association, and its largest to date.

Hawaiian Music

Charles E. King, noted Hawaii song writer, now a resident of New York, brought down a troupe of Hawaiians from the big city, decorated a truck and he and his troupe stole the show so far as attention in the parade was concerned.

Queen of the visiting troupe was comely Lokelani Putnam. Another Hawaiian was Johnny Kaonohi Pineapple, star of the Johnny Pineapple radio show and a World War II veteran who came back from Germany with medals and honors. He, too, lives in New York.

It was through the efforts of Charles King with the local committee that authentic Hawaiian pageantry was added to the moving tableaus that included Revolutionary War scenes and pantomimes.

All this Hawaiian atmosphere for Glen Rock’s annual patriotic pageant started when John Brogan, foreign manager for King Features Sydnicate, was in Hawaii a few months ago. He liked the islands, and became an enthusiastic supporter of statehood.

He boosted Hawaii

Returning to New York, he talked Hawaii and statehood emphatically. He lives near Glen Rock and talked about Hawaii to Charles F. (Chuck) Buhlman, president of the Independence Day association.

He wrote to Editor Allen about the celebration and the editor wrote to his longtime friend, Charlie King, in New York. And then Mr. King began his preparations to put Hawaii on the pageant map of New Jersey.

While the Honolulu editor was attending a party given for him in New York by Mr. Ripley, the invitation came from Glen Rock for both to take part in the Glen Rock celebration.

So Mr. Ripley drove Mr. Allen over from New York early Monday, both wearing leis, and they were in the speakers’ stand with Chairman Buhlman, Mayor Frederick A. Demarest and the other officials and guests.

The parade, in several well organized sections, passed on three sides of the spacious grounds of Glen Rock’s Central school, and the carnival was staged on the grounds.

8,000 attend

An estimated 8,000 persons attended. There was a “Hawaiian Hut” and many other attractions.

The annual pageant and carnival is self-supporting. It’s a big family affair. The women and girls of the borough contribute much of the materials and most of the labor is volunteer.
Borough Mayor Demarest is vice president of the Biddle Purchasing Co., 280 Broadway, New York. He told Mr. Allen that his firm does a lot of business with Lewers & Cooke and Davies & Co.

Several young men of Glen Rock who served in Hawaii during World War II introduced themselves. They said they’d like to go back to the islands.

Bob Ripley was a big attraction during their brief stay at Glen Rock. Hundreds recognized him. Youngsters swarmed around him or autographs, which he gave with unvarying patience and courtesy.

Incidentally ‘Rip’ likes Hawaii so much he hopes to go out for a longer stay than his one-day stops when, aboard the President Cleveland, he went to the Orient and returned, earlier this year. (All here from Honolulu Star-Bulletin July 6, 1948.)

Glen Rock was settled around a large glacial boulder in a small valley (glen), from which it gets its name. (A plaque was added in 1921 honoring Glen Rock’s WWI veterans and casualties.)

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August 14, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kahuna to Christian

“The tradition of the ships with white wings may have been the progenitor of the Hawaiians’ symbol for Lono during the Makahiki. … With so many ships with white sails coming to Hawaii at that time, how would he know which ship would bring the knowledge of the true God of Peace?”

“He could not have known that, although the missionaries set sail on October 23rd, one day before the Makahiki began, they would take six months to arrive. Therefore, it was quite prophetic that, when he saw the missionaries’ ship off in the distance, he announced ‘The new God is coming.’ One must wonder how Hewahewa knew that this was the ship.” (Kikawa)

“Hewahewa knew the prophesy given by Kalaikuahulu a generation before. This prophesy said that a communication would be made from heaven (the residence of Ke Akua Maoli, the God of the Hawaiians) by the real God. This communication would be entirely different from anything they had known. The prophecy also said that the kapus of the country would be overthrown.”

“Hewahewa also knew the prophesy of the prophet Kapihe, who announced near the end of Kamehameha’s conquests, ‘The islands will be united, the kapu of the gods will be brought low, and those of the earth (the common people) will be raised up.’”

“Kamehameha had already unified the islands, therefore, when the kapus were overthrown, Hewahewa knew a communication from God was imminent.” (Kikawa)

After the overthrow of the kapu system, Hewahewa retired to Kawaihae, to wait confidently for the coming of a “new and greater God.” (Kikawa)

“Kailua Harbor, April 5, 1820. In the dawn of the day, as we passed near shore, several chiefs were spending their idle hours in gambling, we were favored with an interview with Hewahewa, the late High Priest.”

“He received us kindly and on his introduction to Brother Bingham he expressed much satisfaction in meeting with a brother priest from America, still pleasantly claiming that distinction for himself.”

“He assures us that he will be our friend.”

“Who could have expected that such would have been our first interview with the man whose influence we had been accustomed to dread more than any other in the islands; whom we had regarded and could now hardly help regarding as a deceiver of his fellow men. But he seemed much pleased in speaking of the destruction of the heiau and idols.”

“About five months ago the young king consulted him with respect to the expediency of breaking taboo and asked him to tell him frankly and plainly whether it would be good or bad, assuring him at the same time that he would be guided by his view.”

“Hewahewa speedily replied, maikai it would be good, adding that he knew there is but one “Akoohah” (Akua) who is in heaven, and that their wooden gods could not save them nor do them any good.”

“He publicly renounced idolatry and with his own hand set fire to the heiau. The king no more observed their superstitious taboos.”

“Thus the heads of the civil and religious departments of the nation agreed in demolishing that forbidding and tottering taboo system which had been founded in ignorance, cemented with blood, and supported for ages by the basest of human passion.”

“They had, indeed, heard of the Christian’s God, but gave little evidence that they understood His laws, or loved His character, or feared His Holy Name. Whether they conceived him as worthy of their homage or not, they were convinced of the vanity of idols and the folly of idol worship.” (Extracts from a journal supposed to have been written By Mr Loomis; Gulick)

“Hewahewa … expressed most unexpectedly his gratification on meeting us … On our being introduced to (Liholiho,) he, with a smile, gave us the customary ‘Aloha.’”

“As ambassadors of the King of Heaven … we made to him the offer of the Gospel of eternal life, and proposed to teach him and his people the written, life-giving Word of the God of Heaven. … and asked permission to settle in his country, for the purpose of teaching the nation Christianity, literature and the arts.” (Bingham)

Hewahewa later retired to Oʻahu and became one of the first members of the church established there. This church is located in Haleiwa and is called the Liliʻuokalani Protestant Church. (Kikawa) “He lived in the valley of Waimea, a faithful, consistent follower of the new light.” (The Friend, March 1, 1914)

“In the days of Kamehameha I, Hewahewa was the highest priest in the land. A direct descendant of Pā‘ao, the priest who came from Tahiti and established the kapu system in Hawaiʻi, he performed his religious duties at the famous Puʻukoholā heiau at Kawaihae, a heiau built by Kamehameha I for the worship of the war god, Kukaʻilimoku.”

“But in the days between Kamehameha’s wars of conquest and the time of the Conqueror’s death in May, 1919, Hewahewa developed doubts about Hawaiʻi’s pagan system and the gods – Kane, Ku, Lono, and Kanaloa – who ruled over it.”

“He observed foreign traders who ignored or even scoffed at the sacred kapus yet suffered no ill. As the death of Kamehameha approached, he heard the great king forbid the human sacrifices that many loyal followers thought would save his life, saying that the men should be spared to serve the next generation.”

“Thus it was not strange that when Liholiho (Kamehameha II) asked Hewahewa’s advice about breaking the eating-kapu, the priest in a few words indicated that he would not oppose such a move.”

“Well aware of the young king’s intentions in November 1819, when a feast was prepared at Kailua, Kona, Hewahewa had his torch ready; and as soon as Liholiho sat down with the aliʻi women and began to eat, the priest went to a nearby heiau and set fire to its contents, destroying everything but the stone platform.”

“These flames spread – if not literally, at least figuratively – the change had been defeated in battle at Kuamoʻo, Hewahewa retired to Kawaihae to await confidently the coming of a new and greater god.”

“In about five months occurred the event he expected. At the end of March, 1820, a foreign ship brought visitors who could tell Hawaiʻi about the One Great God, who ruled the universe.”

“Apparently Hewahewa did not meet the newcomers until they reached Kailua, Kona, but he doubtless heard that they had called at the presence of the prime minister at Kawaihae, and that Kalanimoku had taken his whole household on board the foreign brig to sail to Kailua, where the king was.”

“Hewahewa hastened southward overland and told those at the king’s court, ‘The new god is coming. He is going to land right here.’”

“And, sure enough, on the morning of April 4, two of the missionaries came ashore, seeking permission from Liholiho to settle in Hawaiʻi and teach about their God. At the first opportunity Hewahewa went out to the Thaddeus to welcome the missionaries. (Loomis; Kawaiaha‘o)

Hewahewa is noted as saying, “I knew the wooden images of deities, carved by our own hands, could not supply our wants, but worshiped them because it was a custom of our fathers. My thoughts have always been, there is only one great God, dwelling in the heavens.” (Ohana Church)

On July 27 1830, Hewahewa wrote a letter to Levi Chamberlain, the superintendent of secular affairs for the mission and a missionary teacher. At the time of this letter, Hewahewa had converted to Christianity and was living in Lahaina, Maui.

“Greetings to you, Mr. Chamberlain, and Mrs. Chamberlain, This is my short message to you. I again testify to you about the grace God bestows upon me as I go on.”

“I walk in fear and awe of God for the wrongs of my heart, for he is the one who knows me. The love of the son of God is true indeed. It is of my own volition that I tell this to you. Regards to all the church members there.” (Hewahewa to Chamberlain, July 27, 1830; Ali‘i Letters Collection, Mission Houses)

Click HERE for a link to the original letter, its transcription, translation and annotation.

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August 8, 2017 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Humehume’s Rebellion

Humehume was born on Kauai in about 1797. His father, King Kaumuali’i, suggested he be called George (after King George of England.) (Warne) Kaumuali‘i decided to send his son to America, at least, in part, to receive a formal education.

George was about six years old when he boarded the Hazard that ultimately sailed into Providence, Rhode Island on June 30, 1805 after a year-and-a-half at sea. Over the next few years he made his way to Worcester, Massachusetts and other parts of New England.

On October 23, 1819, the Thaddeus carried the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries to Hawai‘i. There were seven American couples sent by the ABCFM in this first company. With them were four Hawaiian, including Humehume. They arrived in Kailua-Kona on April 4, 1820. On May 3, 1820, Humehume returned to Kauai.

King Kaumuali‘i died on May 26, 1824; Humehume was sick, too. “When I was at Oahu, I never expected to see Kauai again. The old woman gave me a dose; and I had the same sickness that my father had. … The old gentleman was poisoned, just the same as I was. I must have got it at Lahaina, where I ate once or twice with Ka‘ahumanu.”

“I have been up almost every night since I returned from the windward. Four nights ago, I and another chief sent out to meet a party from Waimea, who were coming to take us. I met them, and drove them back.” (Humehume; Bingham)

Humehume reached O’ahu only to learn that his father’s body was already on its way to Lāhainā for burial. He had missed the funeral in Honolulu and now would arrive too late for the final service on Maui even if he left immediately.

In Lāhainā, Humehume ate with the kuhina nui, Ka‘ahumanu, and other dignitaries, who most likely told him that Kaumuali‘i had spoken about his will shortly before his death.

According to them, the islands of Kauai and Ni‘ihau – including all lands, ships, fortifications, munitions, and property – would be transferred to the commander-in-chief Kalanimōku for him to administer until Liholiho returned from England. (Warne)

Tension mounted throughout the islands following Kaumuali‘i’s death. Kauai was especially tumultuous: people indulged in various forms of excess and lawlessness, which were considered displays of intense grief. These acts often signified the beginning of periods of great upheaval and were common following the death of a chief, especially for one as beloved as Kaumuali‘i. (Warne)

Kalanimōku sailed to Kauai to proclaim the will of the dead chief and settle government affairs and land disputes. At Waimea Kalanimōku examined the fort. He then called a council of all the chiefs and announced to them that it was determined to give the governorship of Kauai and Ni‘ihau to Kalanimōku nephew, Kahalaiʻa Luanuʻu.

“(T)hose of the chiefs who hold land, they are well off; the commoner who holds property is fortunate; the chief or commoner who has no portion is unfortunate. The lands shall continue as they now stand. Our son, Kahalaiʻa, shall be ruler over you.” (Kalanimōku; Kamakau)

A blind chief of Waipouli in Puna, named Kiʻaimakani, said, ‘That is not right; the land should be put together and re-divided because we have a new ruler,’ but Kalanimōku would not consent to this. On Friday most of the chiefs gathered at Nihoa, one of Kaʻahumanu’s houses at Papaʻenaʻena, and urged the redistribution of the land, but Kalanimōku again refused. (Kamakau)

Kahalaiʻa accordingly sailed to Kauai as governor together with several chiefs. “The day after his arrival, he examined the state of the fort, which mounted about fifty guns, larger and smaller, and furnished a guard with muskets, bayonets, and swords, and put them in motion on different parts of the walls.” (Bingham)

A general uneasiness spread among Kauai chiefs who feared the loss of their lands and positions of leadership as a result of Kaumuali‘i’s death. The island’s ali‘i split into two factions: those who supported the authority of Liholiho against those who supported the interests of the Kauai chiefs.

As the firstborn son of Kaumuali’i and a recognized high-ranking ali‘i, Humehume may have represented the preservation of an independent Kauai. (Warne)

In the late afternoon of August 7, 1824, the chiefs under command of Kalanimōku relaxed. Kahalai‘a was in charge of Pa‘ula‘ula o Hipo (what many now refer to as the Russian Fort or Fort Elizabeth.) He left a few young warriors to sleep inside the fort but took most of his men across the river. There they planned to spend the night on the sand with his uncle Kalanimōku and his entourage.

Humehume summoned his men to a council of war.

Humehume and the chiefs worked out a plan. They realized that they were unarmed and stood little chance against the larger forces of Liholiho’s army. The ranks of opposing warriors included many with recent battle experience. (Warne)

Humehume knew that Kaumuali‘i had secretly accumulated hundreds of muskets at Pa‘ula‘ula o Hipo, as well as kegs of powder, field cannons and other armament. These were stored in the basement of the armory, in the middle of the fort.

If the Kauai men could enter the fort by stealth, break into the armory, and equip themselves before being discovered, they just might be able to capture the fort-the strongest military position on the island-from the inside. Then they could aim the fort’s cannons on Kalanimōku’s men, camped on the beach below, and force them to retreat or die. (Warne)

On Saturday night the Kauai Chiefs seized their digging sticks and attacked the fort, which they found manned by the men of Hawai‘i with guns.

Sometime after midnight (August 8, 1824) the Kauai men entered the fort undetected. Humehume broke the lock on the armory and went below to hand out muskets and powder to his men.

Then … disaster. The intruders were discovered before the distribution of arms was completed. Instead of responding silently with a bayonet, a cutlass, or a traditional club or spear, one rebel fired his newly acquired rifle. (Warne)

Kahalaiʻa and his men were awakened by the ringing of the bell and the shouts of a woman warrior who cried, ‘Here come the Kauai warriors after the arms! here come the rebels! the men of Hawai‘i still hold the fort! it is not taken for Kauai!’ (Kamakau)

Humehume “entered the magazine, supplied his men with powder and broke open two houses where the arms were deposited and armed part of his men, but …”

“… instead of securing the remainder of the fort, which they might have done with the greatest ease with their bayonets and cutlasses, they commenced firing their muskets …”

“… the contest was doubtful for about half an hour when George’s party retreated for about eight miles, leaving ten men and two women dead in the fort. They carried off a few casks of powder and about 100 muskets.” (Hunnewell; Warne)

Kalanimōku sent the ship, Paʻalua, to Honolulu after reinforcements and Mr. Bingham and Mr. Whitney and their families took passage for fear of the war. (Kamakau)

Humehume and his surviving warriors made a hasty retreat to regroup at Wahiawa. In addition to the muskets, they managed to procure a brass field cannon, probably drawn on its wheels by the retreating men.

In the aftermath of the skirmish, ten of Humehume’s followers lay dead. Three from the opposing army had also been killed, including the chief Ni‘au and the Englishmen Towbridge and Smith, who had shared the misfortune of sleeping at the fort. Kalanimōku had not taken part in the fighting.

The rebels’ aborted attack had left about one-fifth of them dead, but there was no time to waste – a second battle was inevitable. If Humehume had taken control of the fort, he would have been in a much better position to stage a defense.

Now, however, with Kapule and other local chiefs allied against him, additional warriors from O‘ahu and Maui could land unmolested. His only hope was to find sufficient support from the remaining chiefs on Kauai.

Before Kalanimōku’s reinforcements arrived, Humehume decided to try his hand at diplomacy. With a pencil he started a letter to Kalanimōku in Hawaiian. Frustrated at being unable to write clearly in his own language, he turned the paper over and wrote in English.

The message shows him thinking rationally in a desperate situation. His request to let Kauai chiefs settle things among themselves was honorable, not based on a desire for revenge against Ka’ahumanu or for war at any cost.

“Dear Sir: We wish not to hurt any of the people from the windward islands, but those chiefs belonging to Atooi. Therefore I hope you will separate your men from them, and let the Atooi chiefs fight the battle, for we wish not to hurt any oo you from the windward.”

“Our lives have been threatened by Tapule (Kapule,) by Haupu, by Kumakeha and Wahine. These are the chiefs we want to go against. But your people we wish not to trouble. Send me your answer as soon as you can. Yours, &c GPT.” (Humehume; Warne)

He waited in vain for a reply; Kalanimōku was not about to negotiate. Humehume’s situation grew increasingly serious when few if any Kauai chiefs from outlying districts offered to join him. Determined to fight even in the face of impossible odds, his men built a rock barricade as a line of defense for their prized cannon.

According to Kamakau, more than ten ships were dispatched from Oahu and Maui, crammed with warriors and weapons. ‘When the warships anchored at Waimea, Kauai, the Waimea residents said, We thought Hawaii had men to summon, but there are so many they sway en masse.’

The attack began. Hundreds of warriors marched uphill toward the rebels in a curved line, their muskets loaded. Humehume’s cannon fired several times, but the single small-bore field piece could not stop the massive advance.

A fierce gun battle ensued as the warriors reached the top of the ridge. Outnumbered ten to one, the Kauai forces were quickly routed by the overwhelming number of troops they faced. (Warne)

When further resistance was futile, Humehume shouted for his people to flee for their lives. Under a hail of musket balls, he mounted a horse, snatched up his wife and two-year-old daughter, and galloped toward the mountains. Others from Humehume’s group scattered into the forest, and were killed or captured.

Fearing that his wife and child would be killed if they were captured with him, Humehume told Betty that they must not continue on together. After a hasty farewell, he struck out alone on foot into the rugged mountains.

Humehume was eventually captured and imprisoned. The closing year and a half of Humehume’s life were spent in Honolulu under the custody of Kalanimōku, prime minster of the kingdom. A victim of influenza, George died on May 3, 1826, six years to the day of his return to Waimea, Kauai.

His final resting place is not known. (Spoehr) Lots of information here is from Spoehr, Warne, Bingham, Stauder and Damon.) (Imagery shows an artist’s reconstruction of Pa‘ula‘ula o Hipo from work by Alexander Molodin and Peter Mills.)

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August 1, 2017 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Queen’s Hospital Subscribers

Hawaiians called the hospital and dispensary Hale Ma‘i o ka Wahine Ali‘i (literally, sick house of the lady chief,) or Hale Ma‘i for short. Opening day was August 1, 1859. (Greer)

“The Queen’s Hospital was founded in 1859 by their Majesties Kamehameha IV and his consort Emma Kaleleonalani. The hospital is organized as a corporation …”

“… and by the terms of its charter the board of trustees is composed of ten members elected by the society and ten members nominated by the Government ….” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, July 31, 1901)

“(A) number of persons, resident in Honolulu and other parts of the Kingdom have entered into a voluntary contribution, by subscription, for the purpose of creating a fund, for the erection and establishment of a Hospital at Honolulu, for the relief of indigent sick, and disabled people of the Hawaiian Kingdom, as well as of such foreigners, and others, as may desire to avail themselves of the same …”

The “subscribers … resolved that they should associate themselves together as a Body Politic and Corporate, for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects and intentions of the said subscribers …”

“…the following on behalf of the said subscribers were elected by ballot to act as Trustees, on behalf of the said subscribers, viz, BF Snow, SC Damon, SN Castle, CR Bishop, JW Austin, EO Hall, TJ Waterhouse, WA Aldrich, WL Green and H Hackfeld …”

“His Majesty then designated the following ten persons, Trustees, on behalf of the Government, viz, His Royal Highness Prince L (Lot) Kamehameha, David L Gregg, Wm Webster, GM Robertson, TC Heuck, John Ladd, James Bissen, HIH Holdsworth, AB Baker, L John Montgomery.” (Charter of the Queen’s Hospital)

Some 250 businesses, groups, and individuals had subscribed $13,530; the king and queen headed the list of subscribers with pledges of $500 each. (Greer) The following are the initial 10-Trustees who were elected:

Benjamin Franklin Snow had “a spacious two-story coral building that stood on Merchant street, near the corner of Fort … The building was erected early in the forties,’’ and for some time was occupied by Makee & Jones, afterwards Makee & Anthon.

It was moved into by Captain Snow, following his fire in the Brewer premises on Fort street in 1852. Snow was associated with the early entities that eventually formed C Brewer. Snow died December 20, 1866 on the fortieth anniversary of his arrival in Honolulu from Boston in the brig Active. (Thrum)

Samuel Chenery Damon, son of Colonel Samuel Damon, was born in Holden, Massachusetts, February 15, 1815. He was graduated from Amherst College in 1836, studied at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1838-39, and was graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1841. He was an American missionary.

He was preparing to go to India as a missionary and was studying the Tamil language for that purpose, when an urgent call came for a seaman’s chaplain at the port of Honolulu in the Hawaiian Islands. He was ordained September 15, 1841, and he decided to accept the position at Honolulu.

Damon was pastor of the Seamen’s Bethel Church, chaplain of the Honolulu American Seamen’s Friend Society and editor of the monthly newspaper The Friend. He died February 7, 1885, at Honolulu, and his funeral next day was attended by a very large congregation, including King Kalākaua his ministers. (Crane, Historic Homes, 1907)

Samuel Northrup Castle landed in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaiʻi) in 1837 as part of the 8th Company of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He was assigned to the ‘depository’ (a combination store, warehouse and bank) to help the missionaries pool and purchase their supplies, to negotiate shipments around the Horn and to distribute and collect for the goods when received.

Twelve years after Castle had landed in the Islands, the American board decided that its purposes had been accomplished. It advised its representatives that their work was done and the board’s financial support would end. He needed to make a living since monetary support from Missions headquarters had been discontinued.

Castle and his good friend Amos Starr Cooke decided they would become business partners. Many of the missionaries were planning to remain; their needs must be met, so those of other residents and the crews of the whaling ships which wintered in Honolulu harbor. On June 2, 1851, they formed Castle & Cooke.

Charles Reed Bishop was born January 25, 1822 in Glens Falls, New York, and was an orphan at an early age and went to live with his grandparents on their 120-acre farm learning to care for sheep, cattle and horses and repairing wagons, buggies and stage coaches.

By January 1846, Bishop was ready to broaden his horizons. He and a friend, William Little Lee, planned to travel to the Oregon territory, Lee to practice law and Bishop to survey land. They sailed around Cape Horn on the way to Oregon. The vessel made a stop in Honolulu on October 12, 1846; both decided to stay. (Lee later became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.)

Bishop met and married Bernice Pauahi Paki. Bishop was primarily a banker (he has been referred to as “Hawaiʻi’s First Banker.”) An astute financial businessman, he became one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom from banking, agriculture, real estate and other investments.

James Walker Austin was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, January 8, 1829. He graduated from Harvard College in 1849, and from the Law School two years later. He went in 1851 to California, and then to the Sandwich Islands and was determined to settle there. He was admitted to the Bar in that country, and in 1852 was appointed district attorney.

He was elected to the Hawaiian Parliament, and reelected for three sessions. He was speaker of the House one session. In 1868 he was appointed justice of the Supreme Court by a special act of the Legislature, and he was chosen to revise the criminal code of the islands, in connection with two other judges of the Supreme Court. He was the guardian a number of years, of Lunalilo, heir to the throne.

He returned to the US in 1872 for the education of his children, after a residence at the Sandwich Islands of twenty-one years. He went to Europe the last year of his life, with his wife and daughter; he died in Southampton, England, October 15, 1895. (New England Historic Genealogical Society)

Edwin Oscar Hall arrived with the 7th Company of American missionaries in 1835. He was a Printer and Assistant Secular Agent. He was released in 1850 and became the editor of “The Polynesian” and manager of the Government printing office, 1850-52. The business of EO Hall & Son, Limited started in 1852 at the corner of Fort and King streets.

The firm continued to deal in hardware, agricultural implements, dry goods, leather, paints and oils, silver-plated ware, wooden ware, tools of all kinds, kerosene oil, etc, until about the year 1878, when dry goods were dropped, except a few staple articles. (Alexander)

On May 7, 1891 several EO Hall corporate officers, under the direction of Jonathan Austin, filed with the Hawaiian government to form a partnership to produce and supply electricity as the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO.) (HAER) Five months later – on October 13, 1891 – the co-partnership was dissolved and Hawaiian Electric was incorporated, with total assets of $17,000 and William W Hall as its first President. (HECO)

John Thomas Waterhouse “was born in Berkshire, England, in 1816, and went to school at Wood House Grove boarding school in 1825. The school was a Methodist preacher’s son’s school. I attended that until I was 13 years of age.” He became a businessman.

“I will tell you how the spirit of trade first came upon me. A man was allowed to come on the play ground once a week, Saturdays, to sell notions, etc. I used to invest my little money in sundries which I bought from this man, and sell them again to my playmates during the week at an advance, on credit.”

“Well, I had made a little money, and had heard of the United States, and concluded to cross the Atlantic to (the US.) I had become infatuated with reading the life of John Jacob Astor, and I started out from England, April, 1833, with a determination to become a John Jacob Astor”.

Later, “My father was appointed to a position at Australia and Polynesia and he went there with our entire family, ten brothers and sisters and my wife. I was in business in Hobert Town, Tasmania, for ten years, owning a large number of vessels, and I was a very active man in business there.”

“I had very poor health and was recommended to go to Honolulu, in the Sandwich Islands. Well, I went there in one of my own vessels and purchased the property where I now live. That was in 1851, and from San Francisco I travelled backward and forward a great deal and improved very much in health …”

“… and I wish to say right here that the Sandwich Islands are really as fine islands as you can find anywhere in any part of the Pacific, and are known as the ‘Paradise of the Pacific.’” (Hawaiian Gazette, September 24, 1889)

William Arnold Aldrich was born March 27, 1824 at Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. In 1853, Aldrich and Charles Reed Bishop were business partners in Aldrich & Bishop, Importers and Dealers in General Merchandise.

Their building was located on the ewa-mauka corner of Queen and Kaʻahumanu Streets. They primarily sold merchandise to be shipped to supply the California Gold Rush, as well as provisioning whaling vessels.

The general store partnership of Aldrich and Bishop terminated as the whaling industry declined and they later formed a banking institution, the kingdom’s largest financial institution (1858;) this later became First Hawaiian Bank.

William Lowthian Green “was born in Doughty street, London, September 13, 1819. He received his early education in Liverpool, which was completed at King William’s College in the Isle of Man. … He was by profession a merchant. His family for two generations had been engaged in commercial pursuits in the north of England.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, February 21, 1900)

He joined the rush to California to try his luck finding gold (some of his friends were fortunate, there – he wasn’t.) Green’s health failed after some time in the goldfields and in 1850 he determined to go to China. The ship called at Honolulu, and Green, unable to withstand the hardships of a sailor’s life, and having letters to prominent residents of Honolulu, presented his credentials. (Nellist)

“During the intervals of leisure in his several occupations as merchant, founder of the now prosperous iron works, sugar planter, Deputy British Commissioner, Senator and at times Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, his mind, we may be certain, was fixed upon the working out of the geological theory of the conformation of the earth’s crust.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, February 21, 1900)

Heinrich (Henry) Hackfeld arrived in Honolulu with his wife, Marie, her 16-year-old brother Johann Carl Pflueger and a nephew BF Ehlers on September 26, 1849. Having purchased an assorted cargo at Hamburg, Germany, Hackfeld opened a general merchandise business (dry goods, crockery, hardware and stationery,) wholesale, as well as retail store on Queen Street.

As business grew its shipping interest, manufacturing and jobbing lines developed a web of commercial relationships with Europe, England and the eastern seaboard. Hackfeld outfitted several whalers and engaged in the trans-shipment trade.

Hackfeld developed a business of importing machinery and supplies for the spreading sugar plantations and exported raw sugar. H Hackfeld & Co became a prominent factor – business agent and shipper – for the plantations. They also opened BF Ehlers dry goods store.

With the advent of the US involvement in World War I, things changed significantly for the worst for the folks at H Hackfeld & Co. In 1918, using the terms of the Trading with the Enemy Act and its amendments, the US government the companies and ordered the sale of German-owned shares. (Jung)

Shares in the companies were sold to American interests and the former H Hackfeld & Co took a patriotic sounding name, ‘American Factors, Ltd;’ BF Ehlers dry goods store also took a patriotic name, ‘Liberty House.’

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