Ali’i / Chiefs / Governance | Page 98

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.)

Fort_Elizabeth-visualization-Molodin

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.’

Old_photograph_of_the_Queen’s_Hospital

July 30, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Landing American Troops

We recall the landing of American troops in the Islands …

“Queen Lili‘uokalani attempted on Saturday, Jan. 14 (1893,) to promulgate a new Constitution, depriving foreigners of the right of franchise and abrogating the existing House of Nobles, at the same time giving her the power of appointing a new House.”

“This was resisted by the foreign element of the community, which at once appointed a committee of safety of thirteen members, which called a mass meeting of their classes, at which 1,200 or 1,500 were present.”

“That meeting unanimously adopted resolutions condemning the action of the Queen and authorizing the committee to take into consideration whatever was necessary for the public safety.” (New York Times, January 28, 1893)

The Committee of Safety, formally the Citizen’s Committee of Public Safety, was a 13-member group also known as the Annexation Club; they started in 1887 as the Hawaiian League. The Committee of Safety was made up of 6-Hawaiian citizens (naturalized or by birth (American parentage;)) 5-Americans, 1-Englishman and 1-German (none were missionaries and only 3 had missionary family ties.)

On January 16, 1893, the Committee of Safety wrote a letter to John L Stevens, American Minister, that stated: “We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Honolulu, respectfully represent that, in view of recent public events in this Kingdom, culminating in the revolutionary acts of Queen Liliʻuokalani on Saturday last, the public safety is menaced and lives and property are in peril, and we appeal to you and the United States forces at your command for assistance.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, January 17, 1893)

“(A) small force of marines and sailors was landed from the United States ship Boston, as a precautionary step for the protection of American life and property, and as a safeguard against night incendiarism stimulated by the hope of plunder, greatly feared by many of the best citizens.” (Stevens, The North American Review, December 1893)

“About 5 o’clock in the afternoon (January 16, 1893,) the USS Boston landed (162) men. Each man had two belts of cartridges around his waist and was armed with a rifle. The men marched up to the office of the Consul-General of the United States where a halt was made.”

“The Marines were detached and sent to the American Legation on Nuʻuanu Avenue, while the sailors marched out along Merchant Street with two gatling guns and made a halt at Mr JA Hopper’s residence. About sundown they moved to the grounds of Mr JB Atherton’s and after a stay of several hours returned to the Arion Hall, where they camped overnight.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, January 17, 1893)

“At the time the Provisional Government took possession of the Government buildings, no troops or officers of the United States were present or took any part whatever in the proceedings.” (John Foster, State Department, February 15, 1893, Blount Report)

That wasn’t the only time American Troops landed to keep the peace and/or restore order. It happened a couple of times, and, it was requested by the Monarchy.

On February 12, 1874, nine days after the death of King Lunalilo, an election was held between the repeat candidate David Kalākaua and Queen Emma, widow of King Kamehameha IV.

The election was held by the members of the legislature, not the public. The election was held in a special session of the Legislature at the old Courthouse on Queen Street (it was almost the last official action to take place in the courthouse.) When the vote was tallied, Kalākaua won by a count of 39 – 6.

Emma’s supporters (referred to as the “Queenites,” “Emmaites” or the “Queen Emma party”) were unhappy with the decision – an angry mob of about 100 of the Queen’s followers gathered.

No outbreak occurred … until the Committee of five representatives, which had been appointed to notify the King of his election, attempted to leave the building and enter a carriage waiting to convey them to the Palace. A riot ensued and many of the legislators were attacked (1 died.)

During the election riot of 1874, “No dependence could be placed on the police nor on the Hawaiian Guards; these had proved unfaithful to their duties to preserve order, and had in some cases joined the partisans of Queen Emma in their riotous actions.” (Lili‘uokalani)

“The only alternative, in this emergency, was to seek aid from the war vessels in port. About half-past 4 pm, a written request was sent by Charles R Bishop (the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Hawaiian Kingdom,) on behalf of the Government, to the American Minister Resident, for a detachment to be landed from the US ships Tuscarora and Portsmouth, lying in the harbor. And a similar request was transmitted to the British Consul General.” (Hawaiian Gazette – March 4, 1874)

The request stated, “Sir: A riotous mob having unexpectedly made a violent attack upon the Court House and the Members of the Legislature which we have not the force at hand to resist, I have to request that you will cause to be furnished at the earliest moment possible aid from the US ships “Tuscarora” and “Portsmouth” to the Police, in quelling the riot and temporarily protecting life and property. Your obedient servant, Chas. R. Bishop” (Hawaiian Gazette – March 4, 1874)

A force of 150 American marines and sailors under Lieutenant Commander Theodore F. Jewell were put ashore along with another seventy to eighty Britons under a Captain Bay from the sloop HMS Tenedos.

“Commander Belknap and Commander Skerrett of the United States forces took possession of the square on which the court-house is built; and on seeing this, the mob melted silently and entirely away. The armed marines subsequently, at the request of the Hawaiian authorities, guarded the treasury, arsenal, jail, and station-house.”

“The British marines were marched to the residence of Queen Emma, and, after dispersing the rioters assembled there, they occupied the barracks and guarded the palace itself.” (Liliʻuokalani)

Americans landed another time. “On the 30th of July, 1889, an insurrection was set on foot by Robert W. Wilcox and Robert Boyd (to overthrow the present Government of Hawaii and depose the King) on the afternoon of the same day, together with their adherents, about 100 in number, were defeated. The ringleader, with about 60 of his followers, was imprisoned.”

“About 6 o’clock am a message from the King informed me that an armed party, led by Mr. Wilcox, was in possession of the palace grounds, and soon thereafter it was learned that insurgents were in charge of the building containing the Government offices.”

“As soon as possible I had communication with Commander Woodward of the USS Adams, and at once all necessary preparations were made to land a force, if found necessary for protection of the people and property interests.” (Merrill, American Legation; Blount Report)

“About 70 sailors and marines from the USS Adams, then in the harbor, were landed by permission with a machine gun to protect life and property at the legation and in the city, and their appearance on the streets had a favorable effect on the populace.”

“In the afternoon, and as soon as I ascertained from one of the cabinet ministers that an attempt would be made to dislodge the insurgents from the “bungalow” before dark by the use of dynamite, and as there were large crowds of people congregated on the streets …”

“… I deemed it advisable to ask for the landing of the remainder of the forces from the Adams before dark as a precautionary measure in the event any assistance to preserve order might be required, and to be immediately available in the event a conflagration should start.”

“In this matter Commander Woodward fully agreed, and by permission of the minister of foreign affairs the forces landed about 5 o’clock pm. Early the following morning all the men belonging to the Adams returned to the ship.”

“The members of the cabinet and many prominent residents expressed much commendation of the prompt landing of the men, and remarked upon the very salutary effect their presence seemed to have among the people on the streets.”

The USS Adams was the only naval vessel in port. The British ship Espiegle recently left under sealed orders on a cruise south.”(Merrill, American Legation, Blount Report)

“Remaining over night, quartered at the armory, they returned on board the next morning when tranquility was restored.” (Blount Report)

Purported Landing of US Marines & Sailors from the USS Boston-PP-36-3-003-Jan 17, 1893

July 29, 2017 by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Ali‘i Letters – Ka‘ahumanu to Kamāmalu (1822)

“We want literacy, it may make us wise.”

Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (Mission Houses) collaborated with Awaiaulu Foundation to digitize, transcribe, translate and annotate over 200-letters written by 33-Chiefs.

The letters, written between 1823 and 1887, are assembled from three different collections: the ABCFM Collection held by Harvard’s Houghton Library, the HEA Collection of the Hawaii Conference-United Church of Christ and the Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society.

These letters provide insight into what the Ali‘i (Chiefs) were doing and thinking at the time, as well as demonstrate the close working relationship and collaboration between the aliʻi and the missionaries.

In this letter, sent in late-July 1822, Kaʻahumanu writes to Kamehamalu (Kamāmalu) to introduce Kaumualiʻi as her new husband, encourage more letter writing and send a gift of goby fish.

Kamehamalu, also known as Kamāmalu and Kamehamehamalu, was the primary wife of Liholiho, Kamehameha II. The favorite wife of Kamehameha I, Kaʻahumanu was the first Kuhina Nui, or regent, from 1819-1832.

While this letter predates her commitment to Christianity, she did become a convert and a strong advocate for the Protestant religion.

“Waimea, Mahoehope 32, 1822”

“Greetings to you, Kamehamalu,”

“Here is a letter from your aunt and your uncle, from your new uncle, my new husband.”

“Love to you, to my son and to all of my daughters. The two of us have had no illness, but are in good health. Uheke gives his/her regards to all of you. There are three of us, but there was one letter and no more.”

“Here is my word to you, there you are among the longnecks, so send letters here. There are many people, but few letters. I want [you] to send eight hundred Hawaiian letters.”

“We want literacy, it may make us wise.”

“Give our affection to Mr. and Mrs. Bingham and all the longnecks. Here is my gift to you, some bundles of goby fish.”

“Me, your aunt, Kaahumanu Kaumualii”

Here’s a link to the original letter, its transcription, translation and annotation:
https://hmha.missionhouses.org/files/original/2f3417658026fcd6af51a69dc5330273.pdf

On October 23, 1819, the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries from the northeast US, led by Hiram Bingham, set sail on the Thaddeus for the Sandwich Islands (now known as Hawai‘i.) They arrived in the Islands and anchored at Kailua-Kona on April 4, 1820.

Over the course of a little over 40-years (1820-1863 – the “Missionary Period”,) about 180-men and women in twelve Companies served in Hawaiʻi to carry out the mission of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) in the Hawaiian Islands.

One of the earliest efforts of the missionaries, who arrived in 1820, was the identification and selection of important communities (generally near ports and aliʻi residences) as “stations” for the regional church and school centers across the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian Mission Houses’ Strategic Plan themes note that the collaboration between Native Hawaiians and American Protestant missionaries resulted in

The introduction of Christianity;
The development of a written Hawaiian language and establishment of schools that resulted in widespread literacy;
The promulgation of the concept of constitutional government;
The combination of Hawaiian with Western medicine, and
The evolution of a new and distinctive musical tradition (with harmony and choral singing).