Ships to Hawaii Before 1819

The following is a chronological listing of voyages to Hawai‘i. The information is from a summary from Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society (HMCS) and is limited to material in the library of the Mission Houses’ library, one of the largest of Hawaiiana in existence.)

While a complete list is desirable, to accomplish this, it would be necessary to examine carefully all the known ships’ logs, private journals, newspapers and other old documents. While it may not be a complete listing, it notes the bulk of voyages to the Islands. (Judd, HMCS)

1778
Resolution – Captain James Cook, arrived January 18, 1778, departed Feb. 2, 1778; Discovery – Captain Charles Clerke
Second visit – arrived Nov. 26, 1778, departed Feb. 4, 1779; but a broken mast on the Resolution forced both vessels to return Feb. 11, 1779. Captain Cook was killed Feb 14. Vessels finally left islands March 13, 1779.
“For several years after this melancholy event no ship visited the islands after Captain Cook.” (Dibble)

1786
King George – British registry, Capt Nathaniel Portlock, arrived May 24, 1786, departed Jun 13, 1786 – came a second time in Nov 1786 and a third in Sept. 1787. Accompanied by Queen Charlotte.
Queen Charlotte – British registry, Capt. George Dixon, with Portlock’s expedition, arrived May 26, 1786, departed June 13, 1786
Boussole – French naval frigate, La Pérouse in command; arrived May 29, 1786, departed May 30, 1786. He landed at Maui only. Accompanied by Astrolabe.
Astrolabe – French naval frigate, de Langle in command, with La Pérouse’s expedition; arrived May 29, 1786, departed May 30, 1786.

1787
Nootka – British registry; John Meares, master; arrived Aug. 2, 1787, departed Sept. 2, 1787.
Queen Charlotte – British registry; Capt George Dixon; with Portlock’s expedition; arrived Sept. 5, 1787, departed Sept. 18, 1787
King George – British registry; Capt. Nathaniel Portlock; arrived Sept. 27, 1787, departed Oct. 8, 1787
Imperial Eagle or Loudoun – Charles William Barkley, master
Prince of Wales – British registry; James Colnett, master; spent winter of 1787-88 at Hawaii; accompanied by Princess Royal
Princess Royal – British registry, merchant vessel; Charles Duncan, master; spent winter of 1787-88 at Hawaii with Prince of Wales

1788
Felice – Britsh registry; John Meares, master; arrived Oct. 18, 1788, departed Oct. 26, 1788
Iphigenia – British registry, ship; William Douglas, master; arrived Dec. 6, 1788, departed Mar. 16, 1789; accompanied by North West America
North West America – British registry, schooner; Robert Funter, master; arrived Dec. 6, 1799, departed March 15, 1789; accompanied by North West America

1789
Iphigenia – British registry; William Douglas, master; arrived July 20, 1789, departed Aug. 20, 1789
Columbia – Boston registry, ship; Robert Gray, master; arrived in August 1789
Mercury – British registry, brig; Capt. John Henry Cox, master; arrived Sept. 23, 1789, departed Sept. 25, 1789; George Mortimer on board

1790
Eleanora – American registry, brig; Simon Metcalf, master; by ordering the Olowalu Massacre, Simon Metcalf provoked the natives to retaliation. This the Hawaiians accomplished by capturing the Fair American and murdering all the crew except Isaac Davis. When John Young, the boatswain, was sent ashore from the Eleanora a few days later, he was held by natives for fear he would tell Metcalf of the fate of the crew of the Fair American. Young and Davis became two of Kamehameha I’s chief advisors.
Fair American – American registry; Thomas Metcalf, master

1791
Princess Royal – Formerly British registry, now under Spanish colors; Manuel Quimper, master; arrived Apr. 1791
Argonaut – British registry, merchant vessel; James Colnett, master; arrived Apr. 1791; credited with bringing first sheep to Kauai
Hope – American registry, brigantine, trader; Joseph Ingraham, master; arrived Oct. 6, 1791, departed Oct. 12, 1791
Lady Washington – American registry, sloop; Capt. John Kendrick, master
Hancock – American registry, brig; Capt. Crowell, master

1792
Discovery – Capt. George Vancouver; accompanied by Chatham; arrived Mar. 2, 1792, departed Mar. 16, 1792
Chatham – Lieut. William Robert Broughton; accompanied Discover; arrived Mar 2, 1792, departed Mar. 16, 1792
Daedalus – British naval store ship; lieut. Hergest; arrived May 7, 1792, departed May 12, 1792
Columbia – Boston registry, ship; Robert Gray, master; arrived Oct 29, 1792, departed Nov. 3, 1792
Halcyon – Charles William Barkley, master; arrived Nov. 8, 1792, departed Nov. 15, 1792
Margaret – American registry, ship; Capt. Magee, master
Jenny – England; Capt. Baker, master

1793
Discovery – Capt. George Vancouver; accompanied by Chatham; arrived Feb. 12, 1793, departed Mar. 30, 1793
Chatham – Lieut. Peter Puget; accompanied Discovery; arrived Feb. 12, 1793
Jefferson – American registry, trader; Capt. Roberts, master; arrived Mar 1793
Butterworth – English registry, trader; William Brown, master

1794
Discovery – Capt. George Vancouver; accompanied by Chatham; arrived Jan. 9, 1794, departed Mar. 14, 1794
Chatham – Lieut. Peter Puget; accompanied Discovery; arrived January 9, 1794, departed Mar. 14, 1794
Britannia – first vessel built in Hawaii; constructed under Vancouver’s supervision in Feb, 1794
Jefferson – American registry; Capt. Roberts, master; arrived Oct 1794
Phoenix – Capt. Moore, master
Jackal – English registry, schooner, trader; William Brown, master
Prince Lee Boo – English registry, Capt. Gordon, master
Lady Washington – American registry; Capt. John Kendrick, master

1795
Union – Boston registry; John Boit, jr., master; arrived Oct. 13, 1795, departed Oct. 16, 1795
Jane – arrived Oct. 13, 1795, departed Nov. 12, 1795
Ruby – Charles Bishop, master
Mercury – Capt. Barnett, master

1796
Providence – Capt. William Robert Broughton; arrived Jan. 1, 1796, departed Feb. 20, 1796
Arthur – Henry Barber, master
Otter – Boston registry; Ebenezer Dorr, master; sighted Hawaii Dec. 2, 1796, left Kauai Jan. 1, 1797

1798
Neptune – American registry; Daniel Greene, master; arrived Aug. 12, 1798, departed Aug. 31, 1798

1799
Caroline or Dragon – American registry, Richard J. Cleveland, master; arrived July 19, 1799, departed July 21, 1799

1800
Betsy – British registry; arrived Oct. 21, 1800, departed Oct. 28, 1800

1801
Perseverance – American registry; Masa Delano, master; arrived December 10, 1801, departed December 20, 1801

1802
Atahualpa – Boston registry; Capt. Wildes, master; arrived Aug. 5, 1802, departed Nov. 4, 1802
Margaret – British registry; Johy Buyers, master; arrived Dec 17, 1802, departed Jan. 21, 1803
Ann – American registry; arrived Dec. 25, 1802, departed Dec. 28, 1802

1803
Lelia Byrd – American registry; William Shaler, master; arrived June 21, 1803, departed July 7, 1803; brought first horse to Hawaii

1804
Nadeshda -Russian; Capt. Lieut. Adam John von Krusenstern in command; arrived June 7, 1804, departed June 10, 1804
Neva – Russian; Capt. Lieut. Urey Lisiansky in command under von Krusenstern; arrived Jun 8, 1804, departed Jun 20, 1804

1805
Lelia Byrd – American registry; William Shaler, master; arrived Aug. 22, 1805
Tamana – John Hudson, master; built in Hawaii 1805
Atahualpa – Boston; Capt. Adams, master; arrived Aug. 1805, departed Oct. 6, 1805
Yarmouth – arrived Dec. 8, 1805; Samuel Patterson; departed Dec. 22, 1805

1806
Hamilton – Boston; Capt. Porter
Perseverance – American; Amasa Delano, master; arrived Sept. 8, departed Sept. 30.
Port au Prince – London; Mr Brown, master; arrived Sept. 29, 1806, departed Oct. 26, 1806
Pearl – Boston; Capt. Ebetts, master
O’Cain – Boston; Jonathan Winship, master
Tamana – John Hudson, master

1807
Maryland – New York; Jonathan Perry, jr., master; arrived May 19, 1807, departed July 19, 1807

1809
Neva – Russian; Capt. Hargemeister; arrived Jan. 27, 1809
Dromo – American; arrived Feb. 24, 1809, departed Mar. 15, 1809

1810
Duke of Portland – Capt. Spence, master; arrived Feb., departed Mar. 4
Albatross – American

1811
Tonquin – American; Capt. Jonathan Thorn, master; arrived Feb. 13, 1811, departed Feb. 28

1812
Beaver – American; Capt. Cornelius Sowles, master; arrived Mar 26, 1812, departed Apr. 6, 1812

1813
Lark – American; Capt. Northcop, master

1814
Sir Andrew Hammond – U.S. ship of war; commanded by Lieut. John Gamble of Marine Corps; arrived May 23, 1814, departed June 11, 1814
Cherub – British ship of war; Capt. Tucker; arrived Jun 22, departed July 15
Atahualpa – Boston; sold to Russians, renamed to Bering; wrecked off Kauai during attempted occupation by Russians
Isabella, Othrytie, Kodiak, Ilmen and Bering – Russian vessels

1815
Columbia – British; Anthony Robson, master; arrived Jan 16, 1815, departed Jan 18, 1815
Millwood – New York; Samuel G. Bailey, master; arrived Dec. 7, departed Feb. 16
Columbia – British; Capt. Jennings; arrived Dec. 10, departed Jan 4, 1816

1816
Rurick – Russian; Lieut. Otto von Kotzenbue; arrived Nov 21, departed Dec 14

1817
Columbia – British; Capt. Jennings; arrived January 27, departed Apr. 16
Bordeaux Packet – American; Andrew Blanchard, master; arrived Aug 12; sold to Kalaimoku in Dec.
Rurick – Russian; Lieut. Otto von Kotzebue; arrived Sept 27, departed Oct. 14, 1817
Columbia – British; Capt. Jennings, master; arrived December 6; sold to Kamehameha I, May 2, 1818.

1818
Santa Rosa – A pirate ship under Capt. Turner; arrived May, departed Oct. 20
Osprey – arrived Aug 28, 1818, departed Sept. 20, 1818
Argentina – belonged to independents of South America; Capt. Hippolyte Bouchard; arrived Sept, departed Oct. 20
Kamschatka – Russian; Capt. Golovnin; arrived Oct. 20, 1818

(All information is from Voyages to Hawaii Before 1860, HMCS, 1929.)

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