Prominent People | Page 163 | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

October 26, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Prince and Princess de Bourbon

King Kalākaua was the first ruling Monarch to tour of the world; in doing so, he made good on his motto, and motivation, proclaimed at his accession, ‘Hoʻoulu Lahui!’- (Increase the Nation!)

“Since the concert of the morning stars, or the appearance of man on the globe, sovereigns have done many great and many small things; but not one of them, even in these later days, has had the audacity or pluck to circumnavigate this little planet.” (Armstrong)

“A deep feeling of anxiety and interest pervaded the community on the eve of the departure of the King, and all classes and races strove to outvie each other in their expressions of good-will and affection, in bidding adieu to His Majesty.” (PCA)

“(T)he King goes but for the good of his people, to make the country richer by getting more capital and people to come this way. … So the King this time takes with him a Commissioner to enquire into and bring other people of brown skins here to re-people these isles.” (Kapena)

The King and others were concerned about the declining Hawaiian population in the Islands. “The King himself would be only so in name if he had no people to rule. The King will not rest until his hope of re-peopling these isles has been fulfilled.” (Kapena)

Leaving January 20, 1881 on the Oceanic and arriving back in the Islands October 29, 1881 (nine months and nine days later,) Kalākaua travelled to the US, Japan, China, Siam, Burma, India, Egypt, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

Kalākaua wanted to gain recognition for his kingdom and learn how other monarchs ruled. He believed the best way to conclude diplomatic relations with foreign countries was to understand their customs. He met with the officials of the Austrian Empire, in the absence of the Emperor.

For the most part, the King travelled incognito (his trip was claimed to have “no official significance.”) At times his unannounced arrivals caused some confusion (and missed opportunities to meet with leaders (who were out of town.))

However, he was greeted and handled with stately attendance. He was royally entertained and decorated with the highest orders; armies were paraded before him and banquets held in his honor.

A few years later, another royal party toured the world, with a short visit in the Islands, “Among the passengers on the steamer Australia, which arrived yesterday from Honolulu, were Count de Bardi, an Austrian prince of royal blood, and his wife, the Countess de Bardi. They are accompanied by the Baroness Hertling, Count Luchesi, Count Zileri and Baron Heydebrand, all of the Austrian nobility.”

“Prince Henry of Bourbon, or Count de Bardi, is thirty-six years of age and is a son of the Duke of Parma, and is closely related to the royal family of Austria. The Countess is a daughter of HRH Prince Miguel of Braganza.”

“The royal pair, accompanied, by their retinue, started about two years ago on a tour around the world and are now on their way home. Since leaving home they have traveled in Africa, India, Borneo, Java, China, Japan and other places.”

“The Count did considerable hunting, shooting ten or twelve wild bison in Borneo and five tigers in Java. The party spent some time in Japan, visiting the principal points of interest. Baron Heydebrand is the Count’s chamberlain, and has charge of the distinguished party during their travels.”

“They will remain in San Francisco at the Palace Hotel four or five days, and will then go to New York over the Burlington route via Niagara Falls.”

“While at Honolulu King Kalākaua save a grand ball at the royal palace in their honor. The palace was beautifully decorated with festoons of Chinese lanterns, so thickly that it appeared to be almost covered with them.” (Daily Alta California, November 2, 1889)

“There was a great crush of people in the throne room and main hall at the height of the reception, yet the procession past the royal dais flowed on in remarkably good order, the return stream of observed ones mingling with the throng of observers round the apartment. The band played throughout the ceremony.”

“Every approach to the palace presented a scene of gorgeous resplendence. The illumination of the building and grounds has never been surpassed in style or degree. From basement to battlements on every side the noble pile was profusely hung with rows of colored lanterns, festooned and straight but never departing from artistic symmetry.”

“These myriad lights were interspersed with the glittering rays from the permanent rose-shaped incandescent lamps on the outer walls, every door and window poured forth a welcoming glow from the electric crystal chandeliers richly bestowed within.”

“The paths in the grounds were lined, the trees and shrubbery decked, with hundreds of colored lanterns closely ranged in right lines and curves, all with such consummate art as to yield an effect of exquisite harmony to every point of vision.”

“Inside the palace the decorations were simple but in good taste. In the throne room on either side of the dais were potted palms, pyramids of roses were at the bases of the large mirrors, and a grand feather kahili stood at each side of the throne canopy.”

“An immense pyramid of plants with floral insets made a strikingly beautiful object opposite the grand staircase in the middle of the main hall. At the head of the stairs under a permanent mirror appeared the device of a shield rimmed with white flowers and bearing across the face in red flowers the greeting, ‘Aloha.’”

“This piece was universally admired. Bunches of ferns and flowers were disposed on the hallway walls between the statuary niches. The dining-room and the blue room, besides their usual adornments of curios and plate, were further beautified with bloom and foliage artistically composed and arranged.”

“The Prince and Princess de Bourbon and party were seemingly intensely gratified with the entertainment. Mingling freely with their fellow guests, many of whom were is privately presented to them, they chatted with animation to individuals and groups.”

“They wore respectively the decorations conferred on them by the King during the day. The amiable princess remarked to the Chamberlain her delight with the event, comparing the whole scene to ‘fairyland.’ His Majesty the King expressed his great pleasure, to a Bulletin reporter at the palace with the enthusiastic response made by resident society to the invitation to do honor to the distinguished visitors.” (Daily Bulletin, October 24, 1889)

“An unusually large number of people assembled at the Oceanic wharf on Friday to see the SS Australia leave for San Francisco. The whole Circus outfit and troupe, as well as the Katie Putnam theatrical troupe, left by this vessel.”

“The Prince and Princess de Bourbon and suite, and Princes Kawānanakoa and Kalanianaʻole were also passengers. The Hawaiian band played appropriate selections, and the steamship left the wharf a few minutes after 12 noon with a very full complement of passengers.” (Hawaiian Gazette, October 29, 1889) (The image shows ʻIolani Palace at about the time the Austrians visited in 1889.)

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Iolani Palace, circa 1889

August 27, 2015 by Peter T Young 4 Comments

John Owen Dominis

At four years of age, the child Lydia was sent to the Royal School. A neighbor attended the day school of Mr and Mrs Johnstone. The school yards joined each other, separated by a fence.

“The boys used to climb the fence on their side for the purpose of looking at the royal children, and amongst these curious urchins was John O Dominis.” (Liliʻuokalani)

He cried out, “Hey, come over here and we’ll play with you.” A friend noted, “They can’t come out. That’s the royal school. They’re all sons and daughters of princes. Someday, they may be kings and queens.” (Schenectady Gazette, August 27, 1932)

Later, Dominis and others ended up passing notes with the others on the other side, and occasionally had short visits with them, including Lydia.

John Owen Dominis was born March 10, 1832 at 26 Front Street in the home of Reverend Dr Andrew Yates in Schenectady, New York, son of Captain John Dominis and Mary Jones Dominis. They had two daughters. (Schenectady Gazette, August 27, 1932)

“Two marble headstones in the burial plot of Christopher Yates at Vale Cemetery bear the name of Dominis. They are for the daughters of Captain and Mrs. Dominis, older sisters of John Owen. Presumably both girls were born in Boston, as Dominis may be found in directories of that city before and including 1831 but not later.”

“One child, Mary Elizabeth, died on May 9, 1838 and the other, Frances Ann, died on January 11, 1842. Both were in the 13th year when stricken.” (Schenectady Gazette, August 27, 1932)

“When he was two or three years of age, the captain was called to his ship for a trading cruise to China, Mrs Dominis accompanied him”; the children stayed with neighbors.

“It may be that the China trip convinced Mrs Dominis of the necessity of her son’s presence.” The parents left the city a month or two later, taking the boy with them; they arrived in Honolulu Harbor in April 1837. (Schenectady Gazette, August 27, 1932)

Captain Dominis reportedly embarked on several trading voyages while their Honolulu house was being built, using the profits to pay off accumulated debts and resume operations (it’s not clear how many trips were required to build the new home.)

Then, “on August 5, 1846, Captain Dominis left again on a ship under his leadership, but after he left Honolulu for China, there was no word that his ship landed on any dry land until this day.” (Kuokoa, March 16, 1895)

Mary Jones Dominis and teenage son John Owen Dominis remained at the house but rented out rooms to maintain it. The American representative to the Hawaiian Kingdom, Anthony Ten Eyck, rented it (he said it 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)

Young Dominis remained in school until about 1848 – then, the fever set in with him and he was one of the first to join the gold rush in California; he served as bookkeeper for merchants there, but returned to Honolulu in about a year and started work with Charles Brewer.

Dominis later served as chamberlain and secretary to Kamehameha IV. (He would later hold significantly greater roles in the Hawaiian Government (Governor of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Oahu; House of Nobles, Lt General and Commander in Chief, among others.))

“(Liliʻuokalani) was engaged to Mr Dominis for about two years; and it was our intention to be married on the second day of September, 1862 (her birthday.)”

“But by reason of the fact that the court was in affliction and mourning (young Prince Albert had died August 27, 1862,) our wedding was delayed at the request of the king, Kamehameha IV, to the sixteenth of that month; Rev Dr Damon, father of Mr SM Damon, at present the leading banker of the Islands, being the officiating clergyman.”

“It was celebrated at the residence of Mr and Mrs Bishop, in the house which had been erected by my father, Paki, and which, known as the Arlington Hotel, is still one of the most beautiful and central of the mansions in Honolulu. To it came all the high chiefs then living there, also the foreign residents; in fact, all the best society of the city.” (Liliʻuokalani)

“Soon after our marriage, Prince Lot invited my husband and myself, with Mr and Mrs Robert Davis, who were married about the same time, to accompany him on a trip to Hawaiʻi … We accepted, and it became really my bridal tour.” (Liliʻuokalani)

“On the accession to the throne of Prince Lot as Kamehameha V, (Dominis) was at once appointed his private secretary and confidential adviser, which position he occupied during the entire reign.”

“The king was surrounded by his own people, with whom he was in perfect accord, but showed this mark of royal favor to my husband simply because he preferred to advise with him on matters of public importance.” (Liliʻuokalani)

Lydia was eventually titled Princess and later Queen Liliʻuokalani, in 1891. Dominis died August 27, 1891, seven months after Liliʻuokalani took the throne.

“His death occurred at a time when his long experience in public life, his amiable qualities, and his universal popularity, would have made him an adviser to me for whom no substitute could possibly be found.”

“I have often said that it pleased the Almighty Ruler of nations to take him away from me at precisely the time when I felt that I most needed his counsel and companionship.” (Liliʻuokalani)

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John_Owen_Dominis_(PP-71-2-022)

Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop and her husband, Charles Reed Bishop

Photograph_of_the_Royal_School,_probably_after_1848

(L to R) Laura Cleghorn, Princess Liliuokalani, Princess Likelike, Keawepooole. (L to R) Thomas Cleghorn, John Owen Dominis, Archibald Scott Cleghorn

Liliuokalani, Likelike and Elizabeth Sumner. – Dominis and Cleghorn-PP-98-9-014

John O. Dominis, King Kalakaua and John M. Kapena; Henry A Peirce and Luther W. Severance, in SFO-PP-96-13-03-1874

King Kalakaua and Liliuokalani lead the way with Queen Kapiolani and Gov. John O Dominis following-PP-36-8-014-1886

Kalakaua, King of Hawaii, 1836-1891, with his staff on steps of Iolani Palace-PP-96-13-007-1882

Col George W Macfarlane, Gov John O. Dominis, Capt AB Hayley, Maj John Dominis Holt, and Maj Antone Rosa-PP-96-13-008-1882

August 23, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Uldrick Thompson

Uldrick Thompson, Sr was orphaned at the age of 4 – his father, Ambrose Thompson, died of tuberculosis when he was 3 years old. While caring for her husband, his mother contracted the same disease, and died a year later.

His maternal uncle, Uldrick Reynolds and his wife Sarah Myners-Reynolds took him in as one of their own according to the wishes of Thompson’s mother. They farmed halfway between Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs in New York.

Thompson was raised in a Methodist community and in the Methodist church. Uncle Uldrick attended Church regularly, revival meetings occasionally and Camp meetings not at all. The family kept the Sabbath day by attending church, avoiding unnecessary work and reading the Bible and good literature.

But Uncle Uldrick’s personal conduct was more influential; he didn’t swear, drink or gamble and paid his debts, his word being as good as a bond. Thompson sought to do likewise throughout his life.

Thompson was encouraged to become a professional teacher and enrolled at Oswego Normal School. There he met Alice Haviland of Brooklyn, New York; they were married at her parents’ home on July 5, 1882.

On November 4, 1887, the Kamehameha School for Boys opened with 37 students and four teachers. A year later the Preparatory Department, for boys 6 to 12 years of age, opened in adjacent facilities. (Organization of the Kamehameha School for Girls was delayed until 1894.)

Then, Thompson received a letter from General Samuel C Armstrong, the founder of Hampton Institute and son of Hawaiʻi missionary Reverend Richard Armstrong. He was recommended to teach in Hawaiʻi. He met with Charles Reed Bishop and agreed to teach at the new Kamehameha School for Boys.

On August 23, 1889, Rev William Brewster Oleson, principal of the Kamehameha School for Boys (popularly called the Manual School or Department) and Mr Harry Townsend, the vice-principal, met the Thompsons on the dock; they stayed at the Oleson home for a few days.

Thompson (1849-1942) was a teacher at Kamehameha School for Boys (1889-1898 and 1901-1922) and served as the school principal (1898-1901.)

“You who come to Kamehameha and find it as it now is, cannot conceive the degree of barrenness that greeted us that day. No rain for two years! Not a blade of green grass or even a weed in sight!”

“The few algaroba trees scattered about were not taller than a man, and seemed as stunted and discouraged as the mesquite of Arizona. And rocks, rocks, rocks everywhere, with cracks in the clay between large enough to put your foot in.” (Thompson; KSBE)

“One and one half hours work, before breakfast was required of every boy, from the first day of organization. The rising bell sounded at 5:30 am; the Morning Work began at 5:45 and continued till 7 o’clock. Then breakfast.”

“This work consisted of care of the buildings, grounds; helping about the kitchen and dining room; cutting wood for the school fires and for the teachers; and in clearing the Campus of rocks and weeds.”

The core classes were arithmetic, algebra, geometry, English, geography, penmanship, business, health, book-keeping and mechanical drawing. “The curriculum emphasized industrial training considered necessary for a Hawaiian to achieve personal and social success.”

For the girls, along with the standard curriculum, there were sewing, cooking, laundering, nursing and hospital practice classes. Girls 13 and older learned how to be homemakers and mothers. (Ruidas)

“Mrs. Thompson and I and the children, had an ideal life on The Kamehameha Campus. We would not have exchanged our experiences there for anything that might have been offered on the mainland.”

A lasting legacy of Thompson is a clock he made when he was 80; in 1928 he donated it to Oswego Normal School, where Thompson first received his teacher training. (Charles King and Sam Keliinoi of the first graduating class at Kamehameha (1891) came to the Oswego Normal School.)

It took Thompson a year to complete the towering grandfather clock made of koa; “His friend, DH McConnell, donated the Oxford-Whittington-Westminster chimes and works.” Thompson “requested it be placed in Sheldon Hall when built.”

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Uldrick Thompson-ksbe

The Dolphin Clock by Uldrick Thompson

Grandfather-clock-built-by-Uldrich-Thompson-Principal-KSB-1898-1901

Early Teachers at Kamehameha Schools

V4-01-A-KSB-First-Graduating-Class-1891

L2R-Dormitory A, Dormitory B, the Dining-Kitchen-Classroom Building, Dormitory C-ksbe

Graduating_Class_of_the_Kamehameha_School_for_Boys,_1900

Assembly-Uldrick Thompson-ksbe

Downtown Honolulu-Uldrick Thompson-ksbe

Downtown Honolulu Landmarks-Uldrick Thompson-ksbe

August 18, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Toketa

Toketa, a Tahitian, arrived in Hawaiʻi in 1818; he probably landed on the island of Hawaiʻi. He was a member of the household of the chief (Governor) John Adams Kuakini, at that time a prominent figure in the court of Kamehameha I in Kailua, Kona.

A convert to Christianity (he likely received missionary instruction in his homeland – first Europeans arrived in Tahiti in 1767; in 1797 the London Missionary Society sent 29 missionaries to Tahiti,) he became a teacher to Hawaiian chiefs, made a visit to Honolulu with Kuakini in January-February of 1822. (Barrere)

On October 23, 1819, the Pioneer Company of missionaries from the northeast US, set sail for the Sandwich Islands. After 164-days at sea, on April 4, 1820, they arrived and anchored at Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaiʻi; the Honolulu contingent arrived on Oʻahu on April 19, 1820.

One of the first things Hiram Bingham and his fellow missionaries did was begin to learn the Hawaiian language and create an alphabet for a written format of the language. Their emphasis was on teaching and preaching.

Initially, the missionaries worked out a Hawaiian alphabet of 17-English letters. On January 7, 1822, on the mission press set up in the (Levi) Chamberlains’ thatched house, “we commenced printing the language in order to give them letters, libraries, and the living oracles in their own tongue, that the nation might read and understand the wonderful works of God.” (Bingham)

(Later, on July 14, 1826, the missionaries established a 12-letter alphabet for the written Hawaiian language, using five vowels (a, e, i, o, and u) and seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p and w) in their “Report of the committee of health on the state of the Hawaiian language.” The report was signed by Bingham and Chamberlain. The alphabet continues in use today.)

On February 4, 1822, “Adams (Kuakini) sent a young Tahitian to us (Toketa,) to obtain for him that part of the spelling book which is printed, with a view to commence learning to read his own language. … This young Tahitian is one of the three, whom we have found here from the Society Isles, able to read and write their native language.”

“He, with one hour’s instruction, is able to read the Hawaiian (Owhyhean) also, and to assist the chief to whom he is attached.” (Missionary Herald, 1823) Toketa then began to teach Kuakini to read and write.

Shortly after (February 8, 1822,) “Adams (Kuakini) sent a letter to Mr B (Bingham) written by the hand of Toleta the Tahitian, which Mr. B answered in the Hawaiian language. – ‘This may be considered as the commencement of epistolary correspondence in this language.’” (Missionary Herald, 1823)

Kuakini’s interest in learning to read had not stopped, and he continued to study under Toketa. Kuakini later requested that the missionaries send him more books and teachers. In response, Elisha Loomis was sent to Kailua-Kona in mid-October to organize a school.

By early November 1822, that school had fifty students under Kuakini and Toketa, the latter being “sufficiently qualified to take charge of it for a season till a teacher could be sent from Honolulu.” Within a few weeks Thomas Hopu, a Hawaiian youth trained as a teacher by the American missionaries and part of the Pioneer Company, was sent to Kailua and put in charge of the school. (Barrere)

Later, Toketa moved to Maui and entered the service of Hoapili, a high chief of great note and foster father of the princess Nahiʻenaʻena (sister to Kiholiho and Kauikeaouli.)

While on Maui Toketa taught classes for the chiefs and helped in the translating of the Scriptures. Early in 1824, “The most interesting circumstance of the day, is an application for baptism from Kaikioewa and wife, from another chief and wife, Toteta, a Tahitian in the family of our patron Hoapili …”

“Every thing in the characters of these persons, as far as we can ascertain, sanctions the hope, that, through the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, they have been turned from darkness to light … and are proper subjects for the administration of the ordinance, the benefits of which they are desirous of receiving.” (Stewart, February 24, 1824)

Toketa “continues a favorite with the chiefs, a diligent teacher and has given pleasing evidence of piety. He and several others would probably have been baptized before this had it not been for the difficulties that lie in the way respecting some of the chiefs who have requested baptism but which we hesitate to comply with and who would probably take great offence were any to be admitted to that ordinance before themselves.” (Ellis; Barrere) (It is not clear if Toketa was ever baptized.)

Toketa then goes to Honolulu, still engaged in teaching the chiefs. Chamberlain wrote, “Some very interesting classes were examined. The classes of Toteta and Haʻalilio were particularly so. In the former class were Boki, Kekauruohe (Kekāuluohi,) Kekauōnohi, Liliha, Akahi, and other chiefs of high grade …”

“… in the latter were Kaʻahumanu, Opiia, Tapule, and others – all stood forth like pupils made obeicence at the signal of their teacher with the docility of children spelled a lesson from the spelling book read in the tract repeated a number of hymns & the whole of the catechism.” (Chamberlain, November 23, 1825)

While in the Islands, Toketa wrote a journal. In part, he notes, “Those of Hawaiʻi talk much – day and night – about farming. In the cultivation of the land there is life. But it must be done continuously, otherwise death comes. They make great efforts in cultivating. There is no land which they do not ready for planting – they even raise taro (ʻai) on ʻaʻa lava.” (Toketa Journal; Barrere)

Toketa was but one of a number of Tahitians in such a position during the 1820s and 1830s. The earliest, and model for the rest, was the Tahitian missionary Auna who came to Hawaii with a visiting English delegation of missionaries in 1822.

Others among the Tahitian teachers were Tauʻa and his wife Tauʻawahine and a female teacher, Kaʻaumoku, who came to Hawaii with William Ellis when he returned in February of 1823.

The three were taken into the household of the queen mother Keōpūolani and after her death that September, into that of Hoapili on Maui.

Stephen Pupuhi (Popohe), a Tahitian youth educated at the Cornwall School, accompanied the Second Company of missionaries to Hawaii in 1823. He entered the service of Boki, governor of Oahu, and later that of Kalanimōku, the prime minister.

Another is Kahikona, who took over Toketa’s journal. Kahikona’s first entry refers to incidents of 1838 and may indicate the time of Toketa’s death or perhaps his return to Tahiti. We believe one or the other to have occurred at some time before 1843. (Barrere)

The image shows a view of Kailua, Kona, at about the time Toketa was there, teaching Kuakini how to read and write Hawaiian. (Thurston, Lahainaluna Engraving) (Lots of information here is from Barrere.)

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P-02 View of Kailua

July 10, 2015 by Peter T Young 3 Comments

13 Signatories

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 Hawaiian League came into control of the Honolulu Rifles (made of about 200 armed men.) In June 1887, the Hawaiian League used the Rifles to force King Kalākaua to enact a new constitution. (Kukendall)

The opposition used the threat of violence to force Kalākaua to accept a new constitution (1887) that stripped the monarchy of executive powers and replaced the cabinet with members of the businessmen’s party. (archives-gov)

The new constitution, which effectively disenfranchised most native Hawaiian voters, came to be known as the “Bayonet Constitution” because Kalākaua signed it under duress. (archives-gov)

When King Kalākaua died in 1891, his sister Liliʻuokalani succeeded him; she drafted a new constitution in an attempt to restore native rights and powers. The move was countered by the Annexation Club, a small group of white businessmen and politicians who felt that annexation by the United States, the major importer of Hawaiian agricultural products, would be beneficial for the economy of Hawaiʻi. (archives-gov)

“Queen Liliuokalani attempted on Saturday, Jan. 14, 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 … 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)

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.”

“The Queen, with the aid of armed force, and accompanied by threats of violence and bloodshed from those with whom she was acting, attempted to proclaim a new constitution; and, while prevented for the time from accomplishing her object, declared publicly that she would only defer her action.”

“This conduct and action was upon an occasion and under circumstances which have created general alarm and terror. “We are unable to protect ourselves without aid, and therefore pray for the protection of the United States forces.”

On the afternoon of January 16, 1893, 162-sailors and Marines aboard the USS Boston in Honolulu Harbor came ashore under orders of neutrality.

To avoid bloodshed, the Queen yielded her throne on January 17, 1893 and temporarily relinquished her throne to “the superior military forces of the United States”. A provisional government was established.

So, who were in the 13-signatories from the Committee of Safety who sought American intervention and what interests did they have in Hawaiʻi?

The Committee of Safety was made up of 6-Hawaiian citizens (naturalized or by birth (American parentage;)) 5-Americans, 1-Englishman and 1-German.

The Committee selected Henry Ernest Cooper as chair at a meeting on January 14, 1893. Cooper, a lawyer specializing in real estate abstract work, had moved to Honolulu from San Diego with his family on February 3, 1891.

Crister Bolte was a German national who became a naturalized Hawaiian subject. He was a merchant in the corporation of Grinbanm & Co. and was connected with the Planters’ Labor and Supply Association and a sugar shareholder; “There is hardly any person of property in this country who is not an owner of some sugar stocks.”

Andrew Brown, Scottish national, was formerly a coppersmith at the Honolulu Iron Works and later superintendent of the water-works system of Honolulu.

William Richards Castle, son of Samuel Northrup Castle, was born in Honolulu 1849, attorney general for Kalākaua 1876, Hawaiian legislator 1878-1886, the House of Nobles 1887-1888. (His brothers were executives at Castle & Cooke – a Big 5 company formed by his father.)

John Emmeluth was an American citizen who emigrated to Hawaiʻi in 1879; he was owner of John Emmeluth and Company, Honolulu’s principal plumbing and household furnishings business. He was also a pineapple grower and experimented with pineapple canning and later was shareholder and officer in the Hawaiian Fruit & Packing Company. He later joined forces with Robert Wilcox in the Home Rule Party.

Theodore F Lansing was an American citizen (from New York;) he was an insurance agent and commission agent. He later became Treasurer of the Territory.

John Andrew McCandless was an American (Pennsylvania) and later naturalized Hawaiian subject. He was a well-driller and cattleman. He was the first superintendent of public works under the territorial government, and while holding this office built the first road around Diamond Head on the sea side of the crater, and the lighthouse there.

Frederick W McChesney is grandson of Matthew Watson McChesney (who came to the Islands from New York in 1879.) His father was a tanner by trade and established a small tannery in connection with a grocery store and later formed MW McChesney & Sons. They later added Honolulu Soap Works; Frederick also worked in the fruit trade, with Woodlawn Fruit.

William Owen Smith was born on Kauaʻi August 4, 1848 of American missionaries; he was an attorney. He served as Sheriff on Kauaʻi and Maui. On April 24, 1873, while serving as Sheriff on Maui, he planted the banyan tree on Front Street in Lāhainā (to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the American Protestant Mission there.) He was later law partner with Lorrin Thurston and served as Attorney General in the Provisional Government.

Lorrin A Thurston, was born on July 31, 1858 in Honolulu, grandson of Asa and Lucy Goodale Thurston, who were in the Pioneer Company of American Protestant Missionaries (1820.) He was a lawyer and publisher (Pacific Commercial Advertiser – later, Honolulu Advertiser.) He was member House of Representatives, Hawaiian Legislature, 1886; Minister Interior, 1887-1890 and House of Nobles, 1892. He worked with George Lycurgus and others for ten years, starting in 1906, to have the volcano area made into Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Edward Suhr, a German citizen, worked for H Hackfeld & Company. 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.

Henry Waterhouse was born in Tasmanian in 1845; at age 5, his family moved to Hawaiʻi. He was a businessman, operating Henry Waterhouse Trust Company, real estate and investment firm; he was also managing partner of John T Waterhouse, a general mercantile business. He served in the House of Representatives (1876) and House of Nobles (1887-1888.) In addition, he occasionally filled in as pastor for the Sabbath services at Kaumakapili Church.

William Chauncey Wilder, born in Canada in 1835, spent his early years in the US and Europe. In 1861, Wilder was the first man to enlist in the first company that was organized in Kane Co., in the State of Illinois; he eventually was made Captain. His brother (Samuel G Wilder of the Wilder Steamship Company) sent for him to come work with him in the Islands. He was active in the transportation business and was elected to public office on several occasions (serving as presiding officer of the Hawaiian Senate.)

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