Ali’i / Chiefs / Governance | Page 109

February 28, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Timeline Tuesday … 1880s

Today’s ‘Timeline Tuesday’ takes us through the 1880s – Kalākaua goes on his world tour, Matson acquires his first vessel, Pauahi dies, Bayonet Constitution and Pearl Harbor is leased by US Navy. 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-1880s

February 26, 2017 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

“It Was Not Done By The Missionaries”

John Papa ʻĪʻī began his service in the royal court when he served as an attendant to Liholiho (Kamehameha II.) Īʻī later became a trusted advisor and chief in the court of Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) and continued to serve the sovereigns of Hawaiʻi until his death in 1870.

On February 26, 1829, he wrote an account of events of that day dealing with drunken foreigners who wanted to tear down the missionary house because “they guessed that the missionaries had made the sanction” forbidding prostitution.

‘Ī‘ī notes in his letter, “but that was not so; the chiefs had laid the sanction for they knew that the word of God was right saying not to commit adultery, not to commit prostitution and that is why they forbade it. It was not done by the missionaries.”

The letter is part of the Ali‘i Collection at the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives. The collection is part of a translation project spearheaded by Puakea Nogelmeier and Awaiaulu. Here is the full translated text of ‘Ī‘I’s account:

“Here are the actions of the house wreckers that we saw carrying out destruction.”

“On Sunday, the 26th of February in late afternoon, about four o’clock, they arrived at the yard of Kalaimoku’s house. We saw them running this way, drunk on rum, and they entered the stone house of Kalaimoku and climbed atop that stone house with clubs in their hands.”

“I entered after them and we looked from below at them doing damage above the door of that building and the glass panes of three windows were smashed by them as well as that of the main door, a fourth, which they scattered down in pieces.”

“Many people came at that time for evening prayers, for they intended to hear the word of God, but before we prayed those troublemakers arrived so a great number of people sat quietly and calmly watched their mischief. My thought to Boki was that we should hold them without beating them, because these scoundrels had no right, and that is what I said to Boki.”

“Because of that statement that I made to him, he ordered all the people sitting there to not make trouble to them, that it was fine as it was. Kahalaia was there, another chief, and the people everywhere in Honolulu heard so they came thinking that it was just a battle, for it had been heard that they were coming to tear down the house of the missionaries and to beat them. “

“Women were the offense, for they guessed that the missionaries had made the sanction, but that was not so; the chiefs had laid the sanction for they knew that the word of God was right saying not to commit adultery, not to commit prostitution and that is why they forbade it. It was not done by the missionaries.”

“When their destruction ended, they all came down from that house and stood with the people, saying to us, ‘There is no goodness about the missionaries, they are deceitful people. It is not that way in Britain and America. The missionaries are liars.’ And that is how they spoke to us.”

“Their statements having ended, it had reached five o’clock and they all left that place, going off to destroy Bingham’s house. He followed after them on a different path, coming from among the people, but none of the people followed along behind him. The place was filled with people sitting quietly.”

“His wife, (Mrs) Bingham had seen the rogue foreigners with sticks in their hands headed there so she closed the door and locked it. They quickly reached the door of the house, it being the second house they attacked, and wreaked damage there. They shattered the glass panes of the windows which scattered down.”

“They saw Bingham going there from where we were. So they gathered together to beat him with the wood from the door of his house, but he was caught by a foreigner from the whaling fleet who had come with the scoundrel foreigners, and he was saved by that foreigner.”

“So he quickly came back with that foreigner who had saved him and we followed after to take care of him. He came and stood with us and with a chiefess, Lidia Piia, she being a student of his, and she stood in front of him. I was there as well.”

“The foreign scoundrels followed him all the way with no fear of our great numbers, and then stood with us, some with clubs, others with jack knives, with evil statements coming from their mouths, and Bingham was talking with one of the foreigners.”

“Then one of those foreign scoundrels suddenly struck at him with a stick, hitting his umbrella. The blow on that umbrella was fended off by Lidia and then I grabbed the stick from the hand of that foreigner.”

“I seized it, and because of that the foreigners were afraid and they fled. The people talked of seizing them all, for finally we should make trouble to them for their prior mischief to our chiefs for no reason, and that is the same way that they attacked the teachers, who had made no transgression. Because of that, they were all seized and held.”

“Ka‘ahumanu saw us and that the foreigners had all been seized by us, so she called down to us from up on the house, ‘Do not beat the foreigners; you should take care of them.’ The people heeded her words and sat quietly.”

“That is my message. I am reporting to all of you in that land of America so that you know the wrongdoings of some of your people here, those foreigners.”

The following shows a short discussion by Marie Alohalani Brown on John Papa ‘Ī‘ī’s letter and other information related to this 1826 event.

The following shows a short discussion by John Laimana on a related letter written by Kalanimoku that addresses this 1826 incident, as well as the role of decision-making by the ali’i related to situations like this (the ali’i made the decisions, not the missionaries).

The following shows a portrayal of John Papa ‘Ī‘ī (by William Hao;) it’s part of the Mission Houses Cemetery Pupu Theater; describing Hawai‘i of his time (not the events of February 26, 1829).

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John_Papa_Ii_(Bishop_Museum)-WC

John Papa Ii recount of actions of drunk foreigners-blaming the missionaries for the prostitution ban-1

John Papa Ii recount of actions of drunk foreigners-blaming the missionaries for the prostitution ban-2

John Papa Ii recount of actions of drunk foreigners-blaming the missionaries for the prostitution ban-3

John Papa Ii recount of actions of drunk foreigners-blaming the missionaries for the prostitution ban-4

John_Papa_Ii_WC

February 22, 2017 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

‘Spencer’s Invincibles’

“Those who know Thos Spencer, know that the ‘gallant captain’ does not do things by halves, and he deserves no small meed of praise for the manner in which the celebration was carried through.”

“The ‘Invincibles’ are a fixed fact, are regularly called out on drill, and will be kept ‘in position,’ till the storm now hanging over the Union has blown over, and bright skies again appear.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 25, 1861)

“A company of infantry has been tendered to the Government from the Hawaiian Islands, and accepted. It consists of American emigrants and native Hawaiians. It is expected to come as soon as the news of acceptance is received.”

“This is the celebrated company of ‘Spencer’s Invincibles’ at Hilo, which is under the leadership of its gallant Captain and experienced aid ‘the orderly,’ is said to have arrived at a degree of perfection in military tactics, that throws the ‘regulars’ into the shade.”

“All the company now wants is a chance of a shot at Jeff. Davis’ bloodhounds. A patriotic master of a whaleship intends, we learn, to place his vessel at the disposal of the corps.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, October 24, 1861)

“Thomas Spencer came from a distinguished New England family that had been established at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, since 1660, when its ancestor, John Spencer, had been among the founders of the town.”

“Joseph Spencer, Thomas’s father, was a ship’s captain, and his eight sons followed him to sea, five becoming captains of whaling ships at the same time. Aged thirty-one and captain of the whaleship Triton, one of the Howland fleet out of New Bedford, Thomas Spencer was in 1848 involved in one of the most notable sagas in the South Seas whale fishery.”

“Having made landfall off Sydenham Island in the Kingsmill Group, Captain Spencer and some of the crew were lured ashore by a renegade castaway who, with the assistance of the natives, detained them on shore, seized the ship, murdered a number of the remaining crew, convinced the survivors that their captain was dead, and obliged them to sail the ship away.”

“Held prisoner on shore, Captain Spencer was about to be executed by the natives when he was rescued by the dramatic invention of a woman chief, in the manner of Pocahontas.”

“After a number of attempts to escape, during which the hapless captain and crew stole canoes and paddled out to sea in pursuit of passing ships who set sail away as fast as they could, believing them to be hostile islanders, the castaways were rescued by the Alabama out of Nantucket.”

“Captain Spencer then made his way to Honolulu, which he had visited on previous voyages, to await reports of the still-missing Triton. Deciding at length to give up the sea, he started a ship’s chandlery on Queen Street, which under his guidance served as the headquarters of the Pacific whaling fleet.”

“In 1853 he was joined by his brother, Charles Nichols Spencer, and by 1855 William L Lee, the close friend of Charles R Bishop, reported that Captain Spencer was ‘making more money than anyone else in town.’”

“Thomas Spencer embodied many of the Yankee virtues, notably industry, enterprise, and patriotism, but his love for the Islands surpassed that of his birthplace.”

“He was committed to the survival of Hawai’i as an independent kingdom, and he was an arch opponent of annexation. Yankee reserve found no place in his robust character, fulsome manner, and great personal warmth, nor did Yankee frugality, for his generosity was legendary.”

“He was fluent in Hawaiian and was known everywhere by his Hawaiian name, Poonahoahoa. It was later to be said of him, and of his brother Charles, that ‘they were on terms of social and political intimacy with the last six Hawaiian sovereigns.’”

“In 1861, in the full tide of success, Thomas Spencer sold the Queen Street chandlery and moved to Hilo, purchasing the house and sugar plantation at Amauulu (Puueo) of Benjamin Pitman, whose wife, Kinoole-o-Liliha, was the hereditary high chiefess of Hilo.”

“In Hilo, he removed stones from the luakini heiau on the shore opposite Coconut Island (Mokuola) to make a boat landing near the mouth of the Wailoa River, an uncharacteristic act that some believe cast a shadow over his subsequent endeavors on the island. He also became United States commercial agent and consul at Hilo.”

“For the next twenty-three years, Thomas Spencer struggled to achieve success in sugar planting, but the venture was to prove disastrous, and while the plantation continued to operate, by the time of his death it had consumed nearly all of his fortune.”

“Thomas Spencer had been made a Knight Companion of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I for his actions in sending, at his own expense, boats filled with food to relieve Big Island inhabitants faced with starvation when they had been cut off by a lava flow.” (O’Connor)

And, ‘Spencer’s Invincibles?’ – The Hawaiian government disbanded the group, but the monarchy could not stop others from joining the fray. (Smith; NY Times)

When reminded that Hawai‘i took a neutral position on the Civil War, Spencer was purported to have burst into tears of despair for not having the opportunity to serve. (NPS)

With the eruption of the Civil War in 1861, King Kamehameha IV declared a neutral stance but held largely Unionist sympathies – as did the majority of people living in Hawai‘i. The country had deep ties to the expanding United States and war with the South enabled Hawaii to fill part of the void left by the absence of then blockaded southern exports.

Sugar and other products once exported by the newly-formed Confederacy was confined thanks to the establishment of the Union naval blockade on southern ports. Hawaiian-grown sugar soon replaced much of this southern sugar through the duration of the conflict.

Because of this boom in business, the majority of Americans living and working on the islands were devoutly pro-Unionist. In fact, many living in Hawaii had an ardent desire to serve in the armed forces.

Nevertheless, the nation’s neutrality did not prevent many of its citizens from enlisting in either Union or Confederate forces. (NPS)

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Captain Thomas Spencer

Thomas Spencer Headstone

February 21, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Timeline Tuesday … 1870s

Today’s ‘Timeline Tuesday’ takes us through the 1870s –first Kamehameha Day, Reciprocity Agreement, Lili‘uokalani writes Aloha ‘Oe and Iolani Palace is started. We look at what was happening in Hawai‘i during this time period and what else was happening around the rest of the world.

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February 19, 2017 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Aliʻiolani House

By 1866, the need for a new courthouse government building in the Hawaiian Kingdom was apparent. The old courthouse, completed in 1852, accommodated not only the judicial needs of the young nation, but also served as the reception hall for diplomatic ceremonies and official social functions.

The legislature appropriated $40,000.00 respectively towards a new palace and a new government building. Delays ensued, and those figures were increased to $60,000.00 each by 1870. (Friends of the Judiciary History Center of Hawai‘i)

Kamehameha V envisioned a civic center around the palace, and plans were made to purchase the Mililani premises on King Street, “a long and fatiguing journey over the dustiest street in the city.” (HABS)

“In 1871, (Robert Lishman) was summoned from Australia where he had been living for many years, by King Kamehameha V to come to Hawaii to superintend the construction of Aliʻiolani Hale, and now known as the Judiciary building.” (Independent, May 13, 1902)

On behalf of King Kamehameha V, Stirling wrote Alex Webster, Hawai‘i’s Counsul in Sydney, “As His Majesty’s Govt has within the next 18 months or two years to erect buildings of considerable magnitude, & the supply of skilled & steady builders her is very limited, and not equal to our requirements …”

“… His Excellency wishes you, if possible, to engage two young, steady & intelligent builders to come here, offering them the engagement for 12 months, paying their passage hither, and paying them $4 p day to begin with, and a promise of $5 p. day if they give satisfaction.”

“Our work will be chiefly done in concrete, so that simple stone cutters will not serve our purpose. What we want them for chiefly is to look after & teach the natives, and to set the blocks of concrete on the buildings.” (Stirling, February 25, 1871)

In a subsequent letter, Stirling wrote, “It is the intention of this Govt to build a new Royal Palace here, and to commence operations as soon as they can produce suitable plans …”

“… but, as we have not Architect here, capable of designing such a building, and as Architects in Northern Countries would not be likely to have a proper appreciation of the nature of the climate in the Islands, and its requirements …”

“… it has appeared to His Excellency probable, that in Sydney, where the summer climate is very similar to ours, as Architect might be found more likely to be able to design an appropriate building.”

“The style of building considered most suitable is the Italian, of one Storey in height; this however may to a certain extent be departed fro ti give variety of outline.”

“All the principal rooms must be on the ground-floor, but the Billiard-room, some of the bed-rooms, and perhaps the Ladies & Gentlemen retiring rooms might be in the second storey.”

“The main entrance should have a spacious Portico, semicircular or semieliptical in form, in front, flanked by wide Verandahs with columns of the Ionic Order; in fact it is desirable that the entire front and at least two sides of the buildings should be protected by a verandah of say, 15 ft wide.”

“About Twenty Rooms in all will be required, consisting, in addition to the spacious entrance Hall, of a Council Chamber of about 50 x 30 ft. An Audience Chamber about 40 x 40 ft with another room of similar dimensions adjoining it …”

“His Excellency requests that you will endeavor to get one or two sketches f such a building from one or more of your architects, shewing the Plans and elevations only, without entering into details until the design is approved”. (Stirling, June 24, 1871)

Sketches were sent back and Stirling followed up stating, “I am now directed by His Excellency to inform you that he has carefully studied all the Designs sent, and is much pleased with all of them …”

“… but owing to a difficulty about the site to be selected for the Palace – involving I believe a doubt as to the proprietorship of a portion of the land proposed to be occupied – he cannot yet, and may not for some time to come be able to say which of the designs will be chosen.”

“In one respect however, the arrival of the Designs was most opportune, as we were just commencing to build our New Govt Offices, upon a very indifferent Plan, and no sooner has His Excellency seen Mr Rowe’s Design B than he conceived that …”

“… with modification which I shall presently state – it would answer well as a plan for these offices, and further consideration confirmed him in this view, so that he has now determined to adopt it, & is consequently prepared to pay Mr Rowe the 100 additional for this design as p your agreement with him.”

The alteration of the Plan proposed, applies only to the wings, the body of the building remaining the same as before. The verandah all around will be dispense with, and will be retained only on the front and rear of the Main building. The Wings will be of the same length as in the Design, but will be 5 ft wider, and the semicircular ends will be cut off.”

“It is probable that the upper portion of the central tower may ultimately be used for a public clock, but in any case it will be necessary to have access to it, and His Excellency requests you to ask Mr Rowe how he proposes that this should be had, as it is not shewn in the design, and he cannot see how it is to be done without disfiguring the tower.” (Stirling, December 15, 1871)

Not receiving plans in time, Stirling then wrote, “With regard to the build of the New Govt Offices, I am directed by His Excellency the Minister of the Interior to say, that as it was impossible to wait for working drawings from Sydney before commencing, …”

“… we had to prepare them here, and consequently full two months ago we begun to mould blocks of concrete for the walls of the first story, and have now fully a third of what we require for it prepared.” (Stirling, March 17, 1872)

The cornerstone the Government Building was laid on February 19, 1872 with full Masonic ceremony. The new building was of concrete block, a technique first used in 1870 when the government built the Post Office building.

Although Stirling wished to support the first floor with iron girders, in view of the uncertainly as to the length of time it might take to procure them, wooden beams were used instead.

(In 1913, a system of steel columns, girders and beams supporting concrete slab floors and roofs replaced the earlier system. During the renovations, nothing of the interior seems to have been retained. In addition to the rearrangement of office spaces, the character of public spaces and circulation was completely altered.) (HABS)

Kamehameha V never saw the completion of the Government Building; nor did they build his new Palace. The Government Building officially opened by the Legislature on April 30, 1874. “‘Ali‘iolani House’ is the name by which the new Government house is to be hereafter known, by command of His Majesty (Kalākaua.)”

“‘Ali‘iolani’ was one of the titles given to Kamehameha V at his birth, and is now appropriately applied to the building which was projected under his reign.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, May 2, 1874)

The building is known as Ali‘iolani Hale; it is the former seat of government of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and the Republic of Hawaiʻi and now houses the Hawai‘i Supreme Court and Judiciary History Center of Hawai‘i.

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