Prominent People | Page 156 | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

August 29, 2016 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Henry Perrine Baldwin

Henry Perrine Baldwin, the most successful sugar producer of the Hawaiian Islands (Mid Pacific, February 1912,) was born on August 29, 1842 in Lahaina, Maui.

His father was American missionary Dwight Baldwin (1798–1886), and his mother was Charlotte Fowler Baldwin. (He was named after Matthew LaRue Perrine (1777-1836), a professor at Auburn Theological Seminary, from which his father had graduated shortly before his departure to the Hawaiian Islands.) (Davis)

After receiving his education at Punahou School, HP Baldwin undertook the management of a rice plantation, but the venture was not successful and in 1863 he turned his attention to the cultivation of sugar cane, working first for his brother, Dwight Baldwin, Jr, who was engaged in planting at Lahaina.

Christopher H Lewers founded Waiheʻe sugar plantation on Maui. It the mid-1860s it was managed by Samuel Thomas Alexander. Henry Perrin Baldwin took a ‘Luna’ (foreman) job with Alexander. (HP Baldwin and Alexander grew up together as kids in Lāhainā and became close friends.)

It was Mr. Baldwin’s intention – he was then but 21 years of age – to earn enough money to enable him to go to Williams College to take a medical course. (His father was a physician.) His youthful ambition to be a doctor was never realized.

Once launched in the sugar industry he continued in it, an increasingly important figure, for the remainder of his life. Baldwin was particularly successful as an agriculturist, a developer of plantations.

He left to his associates the office and administrative details of his widespread interests but almost to the day of his death continued to take a personal and active interest in the basic level of the sugar industry, the cultivation and production of sugar. (Orr)

In 1869, Baldwin and Alexander became business partners and bought 12-acres in Hāmākuapoko (an eastern Maui ahupuaʻa (land division.)) (They later formed Alexander & Baldwin, one of Hawai‘i’s ‘Big Five’ companies – and the only Big Five still in Hawai‘i.)

“The early years of the partnership of Alexander & Baldwin, represented a continual struggle against heavy odds. Haiku plantation had to have water.”

“Straining their financial resources almost to the breaking point, the young partners succeeded in bringing to completion the Hāmākua-Haiku ditch, the first important irrigation project in the islands.”

“The eventual enormous success of this enterprise made possible the great future of Alexander and Baldwin. Pā‘ia plantation was started and other extensive acreages were added to the partners’ holdings.” (Orr)

“As a pioneer in the construction of big irrigation ditches, Mr. Baldwin laid the foundation for his great fortune. In the latter 70s he caused other planters to gasp by his daring ventures in ditch construction, risking sums of money that were considered very large in those days in enterprises that were believed to be impossible to consummate because of the great gulches and ravines that had to be crossed in the irrigation projects.”

Then tragedy happened … “In 1876, while engaged in adjusting machinery at the sugar mill at the Pā‘ia plantation. Mr. Baldwin almost lost his life by being drawn between the rolls.”

“The engineer fortunately witnessed the accident and reversed the engine, but not before the right arm had been fearfully mangled almost up to the shoulder blade. The amputation was not followed by any serious results, but the handicap was a severe one to so energetic a worker as was Mr. Baldwin all his life.” (Mid Pacific, February 1912)

“When Mr. Alexander removed to Oakland, Calif., in 1883, because of failing health, Mr. Baldwin assumed full direction of their affairs in Hawaii, and for almost thirty years thereafter he was a leading figure in the industrial expansion of the islands.” (Orr)

“A heavy expansion of Alexander and Baldwin came with the acquisition of control of the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. of Puʻunene, Maui, formerly operated by the late Claus Spreckels.”

“Mr. Baldwin took personal charge of this plantation in 1902 and made it one of the most successful and productive estates in Hawaii. Today it ranks as one of the world’s finest and most modern sugar plantations.” (Orr)

“As manager of the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company, Mr. Baldwin had the satisfaction of seeing it become one of the greatest sugar plantations of the world, with other plantations under the control of his company ranking very high according to their size.” (Mid Pacific, February 1912)

“During its early years the firm operated a fleet of sailing vessels between Hawaii and the mainland, carrying sugar to California and returning with merchandise. These ships later were replaced by the steamers of the American-Hawaiian line and still later by the freighters of the Matson Navigation Co.” (Orr)

“It has been said that no man was ever more deserving of success, for he worked hard when manual labor was necessary, rising as early as four o’clock in the morning and working late into the night to make his enterprises what they have since become.”

“The benefactions of Mr. Baldwin were innumerable. His life in every way was an example to the white boy born in Hawaii. He was of the second generation to the islands born and behind him left eight children of the third generation and several of the fourth.”

“Mr. Baldwin married Emily W. Alexander, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. William Patterson Alexander, early missionaries, and a sister of Mr. Baldwin’s partner, S. T. Alexander, at Wailuku, Maui, on April 5, 1870.”

“Eight children were born to them, Harry A Baldwin, Frank F Baldwin, Mrs. Maud (Baldwin) Cooke, Arthur D Baldwin, Dr WD Baldwin, Mrs Charlotte (Baldwin) Rice, Fred Baldwin and AS Baldwin.” (Orr)

“His sons were and are all athletes, mental and physical, worthy successors to their father, and sons of Hawaii that demonstrate that the islands produce men of brain and brawn throughout the succeeding generations.” (Mid Pacific, February 1912)

In January 1909, HP had an operation for appendicitis. Just as the incident with his arm, he recovered quickly and by the summer of 1911 he was healthy enough to make the voyage to California, but sadly, he died a few days after returning on July 8, 1911. (Davis)

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HP_Baldwin-before 1896-WC

Henry Perrine Baldwin scanned from a page from “The Story of Hawaii and its Builders” Hawaii

Alexander & Baldwin Building-PP-7-4-004-00001

Maui-Puunene-Sugar-Museum

Henry Perrine Baldwin High School-plaque

Paia_Mill

Makawao_Union_Church_also known as the Henry Perrine Baldwin Memorial Church was built in 1917-(WC)

August 26, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Confederate Flag

In the 1840s, Captain John Dominis, an Italian-American ship captain and merchant from New York, purchased property on Beretania Street and built a home for his family, Mary Lambert Dominis (his wife) and John Owen Dominis (his son.)

In 1847, on a voyage to the China Sea, Captain Dominis was lost at sea. To make ends meet, Mary Dominis rented out spare bedrooms in the house.

One such was to American Commissioner Anthony Ten Eyck. Ten Eyck said the house reminded him of Mount Vernon, George Washington’s mansion and that it should be named “Washington Place.”

King Kamehameha III, who concurred, Proclaimed as ‘Official Notice,’ “It has pleased His Majesty the King to approve of the name of Washington Place given this day by the Commissioner of the United States, to the House and Premises of Mrs. Dominis and to command that they retain that name in all time coming.” (February 22, 1848)

Twenty-four year-old Curtis Perry Ward (whom some called a ‘lonely Southern bachelor,’ while others say he was an ‘aloof, aristocratic Southerner’) arrived in the islands in 1853 and rented a room at Mary Dominis’ Washington Place.

He later opened a livery stable, started a small feed company and a draying business, all of which made money for Ward. In 1858, Ward rented a residential block now occupied by Davies Pacific Center as a home and location for his livery business. He named the property “Dixie”.

When tensions began to rise between the American North and South, the first shot of the American Civil War was fired at Fort Sumter off the coast of South Carolina on April 12, 1861, nearly six thousand miles away.

On August 26, 1861, five months after the outbreak of hostilities and four months after the news of Civil War arrived in Honolulu, Kamehameha IV issued a Proclamation that, in part, stated …

… “hostilities are now unhappily pending between the Government of the United States, and certain States thereof styling themselves ‘The Confederate States of America.’”

With the Proclamation, the King also stated “Our neutrality between said contending parties.” The discussion of neutrality versus partisanship had to include the reality that the Hawaiian kingdom had no standing army …

… and most importantly, no navy to protect its harbors if supporting either the Union or Confederacy brought the other side’s vessels to threaten the principal cities of Honolulu or Lāhainā. (Illinois-edu)

Likewise, while the majority of foreigners in Hawaiʻi were Americans from New England who supported the Union cause with great fervor, leadership and advisors to the King included European ties who believed that the Confederacy would succeed in securing its independence.

In 1862, John Owen Dominis married Lydia Kamakaʻeha (also known as Lydia Kamakaʻeha Pākī – later, Queen Lili‘uokalani.) Lydia Dominis described Washington Place “as comfortable in its appointments as it is inviting in its aspect.”

“Lili‘uokalani liked young Ward and felt sympathy for him as a passionate upholder of Confederate rights.” (Taylor) “(A)ccording to a family story, some members of the court privately expressed sympathy for Ward’s Southern allegiance during the War Between the States.”

“Lydia Lili‘u Pākī is said to have worked quietly at night, in the privacy of her chambers, sewing a Confederate flag for Ward.”

“He accepted her gift with pleasure and promptly attached it to the canopy of his four-poster bed, declaring it was his wish to die under the flag.” (Hustace)

In 1865, Ward married Victoria Robinson, Hawai‘i-born daughter of English shipbuilder James Robinson and his wife Rebecca, a woman of Hawaiian ancestry whose chiefly lineage had roots in Kaʻū, Hilo and Honokōwai, Maui.

For many years they made their home at ‘Dixie;’ later Ward Homes were ‘Sunny South’ and ‘Old Plantation. The Wards had seven daughters.

It was said that all of them were born in the bed under the Confederate flag. The flag is a “treasured relic of the Ward family to this very day.” (Taylor) In 1882, Curtis Ward died at age 53.

Victoria rallied against the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893; and, reportedly, after promulgation of the law forbidding the public display of the Hawaiian flag, Victoria Ward replaced the Confederate flag with a Hawaiian flag bed-quilt with the words Ku‘u Hae Aloha (My Beloved Flag.)

It is said Victoria made the remark, “I was born under the Hawaiian flag and I shall die under it.” (Allen; Karpiel) (The image shows the Confederate ‘Stars and Bars’ flag, captured by soldiers of the Union Army at Columbia, South Carolina – the flag later had 13-stars.)

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Confederate_Stars_and_Bars_Flag_captured_at_Columbia_South_Carolina_-_Wisconsin_Veterans_Museum

August 17, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Dole Derby

The basis for the modern pineapple industry in Hawai‘i began when John Kidwell, a trained horticulturist, established a nursery in Mānoa Valley and started a pineapple farm with locally available plants.

The canning industry began in 1889 when Kidwell’s business associate, John Emmeluth, a Honolulu hardware merchant and plumber, produced commercial quantities of canned pineapple.

James Dole established the Hawaiian Pineapple Company in 1901 and is ‘‘usually considered to have produced the first commercial pack of 1,893 cases of canned pineapple in 1903.”

The pineapple plantation concept quickly spread to Kauai and Maui, perhaps because the already well-established sugar industry provided the near-ideal plantation model for those to whom it was not initially obvious.

The Panic of 1907 in the continental US resulted in a reduction in demand for Hawaiian canned pineapple. Under James Dole’s leadership, an industry association was created to organize a cooperative advertising campaign to revive demand.

At that time Dole and the other canners had not developed their own brands. Most of their output was sold with wholesalers’ brand labels such as “Sussman & Wormser.” Demand for Hawaiian canned pineapple revived.

In April 1927, the Hawaiian Pineapple Co began a national advertising campaign, independent of the Association of Hawaiian Pineapple Canners.

The advertisements were centered on the brand name “Dole,” which was stamped in bas-relief on the top of every can of pineapple produced by the company. The advertising was designed to enable consumers to identify the Hawaiian Pineapple Co’s products from other company’s products, no matter what label the can carried.

The advertising campaign was launched in a spectacular way. At the time, Charles Lindbergh successfully completed his solo flight across the Atlantic, leaving New York and landing at Le Bourget Field, near Paris, on May 21 at 10:21 pm. Thousands of cheering people had gathered to meet him. He had flown more than 3,600 miles in 33 ½ hours.

On May 25, 1927 James D. Dole offered $25,000 to the first flyer to cross from the North American continent to Honolulu, Hawai‘i, in a nonstop flight (second place would receive $10,000.)

Before the Dole Derby got off the ground, on June 28, Army aviators Lester J Maitland, 29, and Albert F Hegenberger, 32 took off from Oakland Airport, headed west and after 25 hours and 50 minutes landed safely at Wheeler Field, Oahu; the first to complete a West Coast to Hawai‘i flight.

Then, on July 14, 1927, airmail pilot Ernie Smith and his navigator, Emory Bronte, lifted off in a monoplane called City of Oakland from Oakland field – they ran out of gas and crash-landed on Molokai 26 hours and 36 minutes later (the first civilian to complete the route.)

Not discouraged, the Dole Derby was still on. A committee of the National Aeronautic Association (chaired by chapter president, Clarence H Cooke, assisted by Frank O Boyer, Commander HB McComb of Pearl Harbor, Captain Lowell H Smith of Wheeler Field, John H Kangeter and Kenneth Barnes) established rules and other flight details, to ensure that “—it may cost no brave man either his life or limb.”

Thirty-three entries were narrowed down to 8-finalists (Aloha, Dallas Spirit, Miss Doran, Golden Eagle, El Encanto, Oklahoma, Pabco Flyer and Woolaroc were the eight finalists.)

Ships were lined up at sea for marking and emergency purposes. Along the route would be the Wilhelmina, 1,400 miles from Honolulu; Los Angeles, 800 miles from Los Angeles; SS Manukai, 950 miles from San Francisco; SS President Harrison, 800 miles from San Francisco; SS Manulani, 1,160 miles from Maui; SS Inora, 800 miles from Honolulu; SS Manoa, 1,820 miles from San Francisco.

The entire Pacific fleet was to be placed in readiness. The aircraft carrier LANGLEY, two destroyers, two mine sweepers and an aircraft tender were to be in position in San Diego.

“It was August 16th, 1927, only 86 days since Lindbergh had single-handedly fired the world’s imagination with his stunning solo flight from New York to Paris. On the field at Oakland California’s municipal airport next to San Francisco Bay, a bevy of would be ‘Pacific Lindberghs’ readied their aircraft for a flight to Hawai‘i.”

Thousands of bystanders lined the field. There were more atop buildings; and some watched from surface craft at sea. At noon, Ernie Smith fired the starter’s pistol and the race was on. The race had an inauspicious start …

At 12:01, the first airplane became airborne. It was the Oklahoma, a blue and yellow monoplane with Bennett Griffen and Al. L. Henley. The Oklahoma passed the Golden Gate but then returned with mechanical difficulties.

Navy Lieutenants Norman A. Goddard and K. C. Hawkins moved their silver monoplane El Encanto down the runway at 12:03. Goddard was with the U.S. Naval Reserve at San Diego and his navigator, Hawkins, was an active duty naval officer from the San Diego Naval Air Station, on special leave to participate in the race.

Thrown off course by a side wind, Goddard managed to get about four feet into the air but then crashed to the ground at the 7,000 foot mark, completely demolishing the left wing. The rudder had failed to react properly. It was damaged sufficiently to be out of competition.

In third position, at 12:11, was war ace Major Livingston J. Irving in his orange monoplane Pabco Pacific Flyer. He rose as high as 10 feet into the air then plummeted suddenly back to the ground, ending up in the marsh and water. Tail wheel shattered, Irving pulled off for repairs and another start at the end of the line, intent not to let down fellow employees of the San Francisco firm who were his backers.

The Golden Eagle took off without incident at 12:31 and headed west with its crew of John W. Frost and Gordon Scott. The Lockheed plane was a Vega cantilever type monoplane, cigar shaped, with a 200 hp radial engine, put in the race by George Hearst, publisher of the San Francisco Examiner.

John Augie Peddlar took off in his Buhl Airsedan biplane, Miss Doran, at 12:33. His navigator was Lieutenant Vilas R. Knopie, U.S. Navy, and a 22-year-old school teacher passenger named Miss Mildred Doran—inspiree for the first woman passenger title.

Movie stunt flyer Arthur C. Goebel guided Woolaroc ,his yellow and blue Travelair monoplane, down the runway with Navy Lieutenant William V. Davis as his navigator. Davis was an active duty Navy pilot on 30 days leave from his North Island, San Diego station. He was formerly an Annapolis swimming star

Taking off next was Honolulu’s Martin Jensen in the Aloha, with Paul Schluter as navigator. The ALOHA was previously christened with a bottle of Waikiki water, complete with Hawaiian singers and hula dancers.

Miss Ruby Smith, an Oakland beauty queen, broke the bottle amidst Hawaiian strains and dances. Jensen was particularly proud of the painted Hawaiian flower lei which draped comfortably around the plane’s nose.

The Pabco Pacific Flyer’s tail wheel was repaired and Irving attempted another takeoff. The overloaded plane crashed, smashing one wing. Pilot and navigator came out unhurt.

Dallas Spirit took off at 12:37, flown by Captain William P Erwin with AH Eichwaldt as navigator. Erwin returned because of torn wing fabric.

Four airplanes were in the race, winging across the Pacific: Aloha, Golden Eagle, Miss Doran and Woolaroc … later, only two landed in Hawai‘i (Woolaroc (the first finisher that landed August 17, 1927 at Wheeler Field after a flight of 26 hours, 17 minutes and 33 seconds) and Aloha.)

When it became obvious the other two contestants were lost, Dole put up a $10,000 reward for anyone finding each of the missing planes. Sponsors of the Golden Eagle put up an equal amount for their plane, so did sponsors for the Miss Doran.

A huge search party was set up, soon swelling to 42 ships and planes. The amazing Jensen took off in the Aloha for a five-hour search over O‘ahu, Molokai and Maui. One of the Army planes on search crashed into the sea, killing its two occupants. The search was to no avail.

In Honolulu, the following day, the Star Bulletin carried James Dole’s statement: “Hawaii is on the lips of the world today, in the minds of countless millions of people.”

“Aviation during this year 1927 has definitely brought our own Hawaiian territory closer than ever before into the consciousness of the whole American people. Time and distance between Hawaii and the Pacific Coast are magically shortened.”

“I feel that this has great practical as well as sentimental value to the people of Hawaii. Business and commerce, social and civic relations, national and international contacts, are the better served, the more greatly inspired and stimulated.”

“There is, I feel, immediate and substantial advertising value to Hawaii, to Hawaii’s business, and to Hawaii’s resources and products, in giving to many millions of people the picture of the modern American community which can be reached from the Pacific Coast in 24 hours.”

“There is also, I feel, a definite stimulus to commercial aviation on the Pacific in the ‘Dole Derby.’ It is my hope and belief that the achievements of the trans-Pacific flyers today point to the early establishment of commercial aviation in Hawaii with regular and ample facilities for business and pleasure transportation.”

“In this spirit of building for Greater Hawaii, I join with my fellow citizens everywhere over the territory in welcoming contestants in this great competition of skill, science and experience, in the conquest of the air.” (Lots of information here is from hawaii-gov, Bartholomew and Hawkins.)

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DoleDerby-Competitors Line up in Oakland-hawaii-gov

1927-8-16 Dole Derby Woolaroc-William W. Davis, navigator, and Arthur C. Goebel, finished first lin a time of 26 hours, 17 minutes and 33 second

Start of the Dole Air Race in Oakland, California on August 16, 1927

Aloha takes off from Oakland

1927-8-16 Dole Derby Aloha 03-Capt. William P. Erwin and A. H. Eichwaldt took off in the Dallas Spirit and returned because of torn wing fabric.

1927-8-17 Dole Derby 06-Dole Derby winner Art Goebel lands the Woolaroc at Wheeler Field, August 17, 1927

1927-8-17 Dole Derby 07 Woolaroc- finished first landing at Wheeler Field on August 17, 1927

1927-8-17 Dole Derby 05-Woolaroc taxis at Wheeler

1927-8-17 Dole Derby 08-Dole Derby winner Art Goebel lands the Woolaroc at Wheeler Field, August 17, 1927.

Winner Art Goebel’s Woolaroc and runnerup Martin Jensen’s Aloha, Wheeler Field

1927-8-17 Dole Derby 18-Dole Derby runnerup Martin Jensen's Aloha at Wheeler Field, August 17, 1927.

Aloha Arrives in Honolulu

Travel_Air_5000_Woolaroc_NX869,_winner_of_ill-fated_Dole_race_in_flight

Woolaroc

Dole Air Derby-map of contestants-1927

August 16, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Mary Hannah Krout

“Learning that a revolution was imminent in the Hawaiian Islands, she induced her editor to send her to Honolulu. She would have been the only special correspondent upon the ground at the time of the Queen’s disposition; but two days before she was to set out, she made a misstep and broke her foot.”

“This postponed her departure until the revolution was an accomplished fact. But eventually, with the foot in a silicate cast and on crutches, she made the journey, reached Honolulu safely, and remained until the American flag was hauled down from the government building – a ceremonial of which she was an eyewitness …”

“(S)he was at once placed in personal communication with the heads of the government, even Queen Liliʻuokalani giving her an audience.” (Hawaiian Gazette, December 24, 1901)

“When I visited the Islands first, in 1893, I went prejudiced in favour of the natives, deeply sympathising with them because they had been dispossessed of their lawful possessions.”

“A careful and conscientious study of the situation on the spot led me to change my views absolutely, and I perceived that whatever had been done had been done of necessity and with wisdom and forbearance.” (Krout)

Mary Hannah Krout was born on November 3, 1851 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, daughter of Robert Kennedy Krout and Caroline VanCleve Brown Krout. She was the oldest of eight children, and after their mother died early in Mary’s life, they were raised by their strict father.

Mary Hannah Krout traveled the world at a time when women stayed home and tended the hearth, but she always returned to her family on West College Street in Crawfordsville. (Turchin)

Mary became one of the leading feminists in Indiana, perhaps in reaction against the strict social structure that she and her other sisters were forced to follow by her father.

She was educated in Crawfordsville, first in subscription schools, then in Crawfordsville public schools. Like many women of her time, Mary Hannah chose teaching as a career and taught in the Crawfordsville schools for about a dozen years.

But her passion was for journalism, a field almost completely closed to women in the 1800s, except for occasional articles on homemaking and other feminine pursuits. First writing for area newspapers while she was still teaching, in 1879 she got a job on the Crawfordsville Journal and contributed to Indianapolis and Cincinnati papers.

On the Journal, besides reporting, she wrote a gossip column under the pseudonym “Heinrich Karl,” a lively, perhaps libelous account of Crawfordsville people and their activities, which was also sold to other papers.

In 1881 she became associate editor, and in 1882 was hired as editor by the Terre Haute Express. Long hours eventually forced a partial retirement during which she kept writing, but was unable to work at a job.

Krout’s career took a great leap forward in 1886 when she began a ten-year affiliation with the Chicago Inter-Ocean, presumably as a result of her position as a writer for the Chicago Interior.

The Inter-Ocean was a weekly paper delivered by mail via the transcontinental railroad across the country. For about forty years beginning in 1872, the paper was a definitive source of business news to subscribers throughout the American west. (Turchi)

That paper sent her to Hawaiʻi to cover the installation of the new provincial government. This led to her first book, Hawai‘i and a Revolution, in 1898, and later, two biographies of prominent Hawaiian women. In 1900, Alice’s Visit to the Hawaiian Islands (an ‘imaginary journey’ through the Islands) was published.

After an extended trip to New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia, “In 1895, Miss Krout was sent to London, where she remained nearly three years as staff correspondent of the Inter-Ocean … she saw London as few American women have ever seen it.”

“She was received not only be exclusive English nobility, but by artists, writers, musicians, men and women identified with the universities and worldwide philanthropic work.”

“In 1899, this noted correspondent went to China for a syndicate of newspapers, collecting data mainly relating to the commercial relations of that empire with the United States. “

“From Peking she made a journey into the interior with the wife of the Rev Mr Gamwell, one of the heroes of the siege of the British consulate. On this journey the two women, accompanied only by their native servants, penetrated the very fastnesses of the Boxer country, which was then even in a state of ferment.”

“When asked ‘if the demands of her profession had not overtaxed her strength,’ she replied: ‘On the contrary, I left the position of teacher a nervous wreck.”

“Engaged in a profession to which I felt myself adapted, and even the drudgery of which I loved, my physical condition steadily improved, until I am now in robust health, and good, I hope, for active duty for many years to come.’”

“Asked what she considered to be the chief essentials of good newspaper work, she said: ‘Energy in the doing, a knowledge of what is wanted, and accuracy – accuracy before all else, for, no matter how cleverly a statement may be put, one error invalidates the whole, and it is labor lost.’” (Hawaiian Gazette, December 24, 1901)

“She has an affection for Hawaii strengthened by several visits, and a great many residents here who know her personally are very anxious to make her present stay a permanent one.” (Hoosier State Chronicles, April 2, 1900)

“In my account of the political changes that have occurred, I have had occasion to criticise Mr. Cleveland and his personal representative, Mr. Blount, with some severity, and in defence of my statements I will merely say that much that I have written I saw; the rest is a matter of public knowledge”. (Krout, January 9, 1898)

It had been said, and truthfully, that the greatest influence of the 20th century would be the influence of educated women an influence which civilization had never yet felt.”

“The pupils of the Kamehameha Schools had been preparing themselves for the new duties which changed conditions ordained. The times had changed, and, in the highest and best sense, they were changing with them.” (Krout; Advertiser, October 20, 1907)

“The Hawaiian race had produced great women, who, in their natural qualifications, were equal to the greatest women rulers of Europe – Kapiʻolani, Kaʻahumanu, Kīnaʻu and Bernice Pauahi Bishop (Krout wrote a book, Memoirs of Hon. Bernice Pauahi Bishop.) There would be yet others, whose work and influence would be a blessing to the land and to the people.” (Krout; Advertiser, October 20, 1907)

She never married, but had no lack of suitors and never exhibited the appearance of the daring woman traveler she was. At the same time, she lectured whenever possible on women’s suffrage, in America, in England, in New Zealand, China and Hawai‘i. (Carnegie Museum)

Between 1898 and 1910, seven of her books were published. Krout died on May 27, 1927 at Crawfordsville, Indiana. (Lots of information here is from Carnegie Museum and Turchi.)

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Mary Hannah Krout

August 14, 2016 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Moreno Episode

Celso Caesar Moreno, a professional lobbyist well known in Sacramento and Washington, DC, arrived in Honolulu on the China Merchant Steam Navigation Company’s ship ‘Ho-chung’ in November 1879.

One week later, he invited King Kalākaua, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Chamberlain aboard the steamer to meet Fan Yau Ki, a wealthy Chinese industrialist. Moreno presented four proposals to the King.

First, the Chinese company planned to establish a line of steamers between China and Honolulu, and later expand to California and Peru with the idea of securing a large share of the passenger traffic between there and China.

Another of Moreno’s schemes was the laying of an ocean cable to connect the American and Asian continents. While he succeeded in getting a cable act passed by Congress in 1876, he did not get sufficient financial backing in the US.

The third plan was the liberalization of Hawai‘i’s strict opium laws. He advocated making Honolulu the opium processing and distribution center for the whole Pacific.

Finally, Moreno proposed a $10-million loan, half the funds would be spent in building forts and warships; $3-million would be used to buy gold and silver bullion to be converted into a national coinage; and the rest would be used to build hospitals, schools, harbor improvements, etc. (Hsiao-ping Huang)

“He won the entire confidence and admiration of the King by endorsing as sound wisdom all the royal views and theories of government. … He filled the King’s mind with dreams of navies and forts and armies and power.”

“(O)n August 14, 1880, King Kalakaua dissolved his then Cabinet and appointed another comprising: Edward Hush, Minister of the Interior; Caesar Celso Moreno, Minister of Foreign Affairs; M. Kuaea, Minister of Finance, and WC Jones, Attorney General.”

“This action, which popular opinion looked upon as unprecedented, unwarranted and inimical, caused great excitement and indignation. There were meetings and demonstrations by the people.”

“The American and British Ministers declined to have anything to do with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was considered to be disreputable and incapable.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, March 22, 1901)

“The abdication of the King, the crowning of Queen Emma, annexation to the United States, the lynching of Moreno, were as openly discussed on the streets …. Business was nearly suspended. The feeling against the King and the new Cabinet was unanimous, among all classes of the community.”

“Queen Dowager Emma was very active in a social way, showing herself everywhere and being everywhere received with enthusiasm, in which the American element for the first time joined. She gave parties and balls a number of times during the excitement, but seemed to take no overt part in the proceedings outside.” (Comly; Kuykendall)

“If there had been any doubt as to public opinion on the matter of Ministerial appointments, that doubt must have been put at rest with any person present at the meeting at Kaumakapili last Monday evening.”

“Before dark the streets were full of men thronging towards that corner of town, and at half past seven, the great building was packed full, and the windows crowded. Outside was a dense mass of people trying to catch word or sign from within.”

“A few words from the Chair, explained the object of the meeting to be, for the purpose of expressing public opinion upon the action of His Majesty in removing a Cabinet which had by vote received the endorsement of the Legislative Assembly, and appointing in place thereof, others not so well known, and particularly one CC Moreno, an alien unknown to the public.”

“Mr. Dole then with a short and vigorous speech offered the following resolution, condemning the action of His Majesty as contrary to the traditions of the Government and the spirit of the Constitution,. His remarks were greeted with applause from all parts of the house:”

“Whereas, His Majesty Kalākaua, King of the Hawaiian Islands has arbitrarily and without cause dissolved the late Ministerial Cabinet while they bid the confidence of the Legislative Assembly and of the country at large, and has appointed in their stead a Ministry Including one Celso C Moreno, a stranger and foreign adventurer …”

“… who has identified himself with interests hostile to the prosperity of the Hawaiian Kingdom and who has neither the confidence nor respect of the community nor of the Representatives of Foreign Powers as Minister of Foreign Affairs;

“Be it resolved – That His Majesty has thereby acted inconsistently with the principles of the Hawaiian Government as a Constitutional Monarchy as established and handed down by the Kamehamehas and their successor Lunalilo …”

“… and that his action therein is hostile to the permanence of Hawaiian Independence, the perpetuity of the Hawaiian race and the security of life, liberty and property In the Hawaiian Islands.”

“Loud calls for the question here arose, and the resolution in both English and Hawaiian was then slowly and distinctly read, and on the vote being called for by a show of hands, the house became one vast forest of uplifted arms.”

“The call for the negative was responded to with not over twenty-five or thirty hands, and the resolution was declared to be adopted by an almost unanimous vote.” (Hawaiian Gazette, August 18, 1880)

“(T)he King sent a messenger with an urgent request that (James M Comly, Minister Resident of the United States in Hawai‘i) would come to the palace and consult with him.”

“(Comly) said to him: ‘Your Majesty, I have no personal affair with Mr. Moreno. He is nothing to me personally, one way or another. I found him abusing the confidence of yourself and people by false pretenses, and I brought you the proofs that he was a false pretende(r) and a dangerous adventurer — that is all.” (Comly; Kuykendall)

On August 17, 1880, Comly received a note from Kalākaua stating, “‘Mr Moreno has resigned his portfolio and I have accepted his resignation.’”

Comly then approached a gathering and noted, “‘Gentlemen – I am authorized to say to you that His Majesty, entirely of his own volition, has dismissed Mr. Moreno from the Ministry.’”

“The whole house rose, and cheer after cheer burst forth, with cries of ‘Long live the King!’ ‘Three cheers for Kalākaua!’ and the like. I was informed that the uproar was kept up some minutes. …”

“A committee of 13 ‘solid men’ was appointed to convey the thanks of the people to the King.” (Comly; Kuykendall) (The next day, John E Bush, Minister of the Interior, was appointed to act as Minister of Foreign Affairs ad interim.)

“(Kalākaua) still held (Moreno) in favor, and secretly sent him abroad with a commission as Minister to the United States and every court in Europe.”

“Moreno took with him three Hawaiian youths to be educated in Italian schools. One of these, Robert Wilcox, is the Delegate at Washington. Another, Robert Boyd, … living in Honolulu and active in Honolulu politics. The third, Booth, died abroad.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, March 22, 1901)

Some suggest Moreno helped ignite the flame of ambition in Kalākaua’s quest in forming a Polynesia Confederacy, a failed effort launched by Walter Murray Gibson for Kalākaua.

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