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April 26, 2022 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Honolulu – 1820

In the dawn hours of January 18, 1778, on his third expedition, British explorer Captain James Cook on the HMS Resolution and Captain Charles Clerke of the HMS Discovery first sighted what Cook named the Sandwich Islands (that were later named the Hawaiian Islands.)  Hawaiian lives changed with sudden and lasting impact, when western contact changed the course of history for Hawai‘i.

Forty years after Cook’s death, the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries (American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM)) set sail on the Thaddeus for the Sandwich Islands (on October 23, 1819.)  There were seven American couples sent by the ABCFM to convert the Hawaiians to Christianity in this first company.  Missionaries arrived first at Kailua-Kona on April 4, 1820; they then went to Honolulu and arrived there on April 14, 1820.

Captain Cook estimated the population at 400,000 in 1778. When Vancouver, who had been with Cook, returned in 1792, he was shocked at the evidences of depopulation, and when the missionaries arrived in 1820, the population did not exceed 150,000.  (The Friend, December 1902)

By the time the missionaries arrived, Kamehameha I had died and the centuries-old kapu system had been abolished; through the actions of King Kamehameha II (Liholiho,) with encouragement by former Queens Kaʻahumanu and Keōpūolani (Liholiho’s mother,) the Hawaiian people had already dismantled their heiau and had rejected their religious beliefs.

But how were our ears astonished to hear the voice devine proclaim, “in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God”! How were our hearts agitated with new & various & unexpected emotions, to hear the interesting intelligence, “Tamahemaha is dead,” – “The Taboos are broken” – “The Idols are burnt” – “The Moreahs (heiau) are destroyed” – and the priesthood abolished.   (Hiram Bingham and others in a letter to the ABCFM)

So, what was Honolulu like forty-years after the first arrival of foreigners?  The following, from books, journals and letters, helps to paint the picture of Honolulu.

This village (Honolulu,) which contains about two hundred houses, is situated upon a level plain extending some distance back from the bay part of which forms the harbour, to the foot of the high hills which abound throughout the Island. The little straw-huts clusters of them in the midst of cocoanut groves, look like bee-hives, and the inhabitants swarming about them like bees. In passing through the midst, in our way to the open plain, it was very pleasant to hear their friendly salutation, Alloah (Aloha,) some saying, e-ho-ah, (where going?) We answered, mar-oo, up yonder. Then, as usual, they were pleased that we could num-me-num-me Owhyhee (talk Hawaiian.)  (Sybil Bingham)

Here we dropped anchor in the peaceful waters of this safe and commodious harbor, the best in this part of the world. It is sufficiently large to admit 150 sail, of the capacity of 100 to 700 tons. The depth of water at the bar, or mouth of the harbor, being little more than twenty feet, and little affected by the tide, the largest class of ships could not pass in and out with safety, without under-girders, or camels, to buoy them up.  (Hiram Bingham)

Ships lying at harbor whose officers were interesting themselves in our object, and whom we sought to entertain at our little dwelling as much after the manner of our own country as we could— a respectful attention also to the chiefs and their suite whenever they came in and spread themselves around upon our mats.  (Sybil Bingham)

Passing through the irregular village of some thousands of inhabitants, whose grass thatched habitations were mostly small and mean, while some were more spacious, we walked about a mile northwardly to the opening of the valley of Pauoa, then turning south-easterly, ascended to the top of Punchbowl Hill an extinguished crater, whose base bounds the north-east part of the village or town.  (Hiram Bingham)

On the east were the plain and grove of Waikiki, with its amphitheater of hills, the south-eastern of which is Diamond Hill, the crater of an extinct volcano, in the form of a cone, truncated, fluted, and reeded, larger, higher, and more concave than Punchbowl Hill, but of much the same model and general character.  (Hiram Bingham)

Below us (below Punchbowl,) on the south and west, spread the plain of Honolulu, having its fish-pond and salt making pools along the sea-shore, the village and fort between us and the harbor, and the valley stretching a few miles north into the interior, which presented its scattered habitation and numerous beds of kalo (taro) in it various stages of growth, with its large green leaves, beautifully embossed on the silvery water, in which it flourishes.  (Hiram Bingham)

Through this valley, several streams descending from the mountains in the interior, wind their way, some six or seven mile watering and overflowing by means of numerous artificial canal the bottom of kalo patches, and then, by one mouth, fall into the peaceful harbor.  (Hiram Bingham)

The soil is of the best kind, producing cocoanuts, bananas, and plantains, bread fruit, papia, ohia, oranges, lemons, limes, grapes, tamarinds, sweet potatoes, taro, yams, watermelons, muskmelons, cucumbers and pineapples, and I doubt not would yield fine grain of any kind.  (Ruggles, The Friend)

There are large droves of wild cattle in the mountains, and a herd of about fifty fine ones on a large plain near this village, owned by a Spaniard who neither makes any use of them himself, nor will he permit us to, yet. There are also immense numbers of goats both wild and tame. They supply us with milk, and are excellent meat. Hogs are numerous in the mountains. Dogs abound in great numbers. I have counted 250 brought in one day to King Tamoree. They are esteemed by the natives as the best food.  (Ruggles, The Friend)

From Diamond Hill, on the east, to Barber’s Point and the mountains of Waianae, on the west, lay the sea-board plain, some twenty-five miles in length, which embraces the volcanic hill of Moanalua, two or three hundred feet high, and among them, a singular little lake of seawater, abounding in salt crystalized through evaporation by the heat of the sun, the ravine of Moanalua, the lagoon of Ewa, and numerous little plantation and hamlets, scattered trees, and cocoanut groves, range of mountains, three or four thousand feet high, stretches aero the south-western part of the island, at the distance of twenty-five miles.  (Hiram Bingham)

Another range, from two to four thousand feet high stretches from the north-western to the eastern extremity of the island. Konahuanui, the highest peak, rises back of Punchbowl Hill and north by east from Honolulu, eight miles distant, and four thou and feet high, often touching or sustaining, as it were, a cloud.  (Hiram Bingham)

We were sheltered in three native-built houses, kindly offered us by Messrs. Winship, Lewis and Navarro, somewhat scattered in the midst of an irregular village or town of thatched huts, of 3,000 or 4,000 inhabitants.  (Hiram Bingham)  “(O)ur little cottage built chiefly of poles, dried grass and mats, being so peculiarly exposed to fire, beside being sufficiently filled with three couples and things for immediate use, consisting only of one room with a little partition and one door.”  (Sybil Bingham)

In addition to their homes, the missionaries had grass meeting places, and later, churches.  One of the first was on the same site as the present Kawaiahaʻo Church.  On April 28, 1820, the Protestant missionaries held a church service for chiefs, the general population, ship’s officers and sailors in the larger room in Reverend Hiram Bingham’s house.  This room was used as a school room during the weekdays and on Sunday the room was Honolulu’s first church auditorium.  (Damon)

© 2022 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Filed Under: General, Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings Tagged With: Hawaii, Hiram Bingham, American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, ABCFM, Sybil Bingham, Captain Cook, George Vancouver, 1820

February 15, 2022 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

1820 v. 1848

“Much has been published respecting the effects of Christianity and civilization upon the natives of these Islands. While the religious and philanthropic portion of the community see abundant cause of congratulation in the results produced by christian philanthropy …”

“… others there are who profess to believe that the Hawaiian race are at the present day in a worse physical and moral condition than they were previous to the introduction of Christianity.”

“If the Hawaiian race are in a worse physical and moral condition than they were twenty-eight years ago, the command ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every living creature,’ is no longer binding upon mankind; for it would be absurd to suppose on all-wise Creator would require the promulgation of doctrines calculated to degrade his creatures.”

“We can hardly believe any candid man, at all acquainted with the condition of the natives or these islands, sincerely thinks their physical and moral state worse now than it was previous to the introduction of christianity.”

“Most of those who have espoused this side of the question, may be numbered among transient visitors, who have had but few opportunities for observation, and who possess no knowledge of the former condition of the people.”

“On the one hand, the friends of Christianity have, in some cases, over rated the advances made, on the other, sweeping assertions have been made which the least attention to the subject would have shown utterly groundless.”

“While it may be safely asserted that no nation or people have made so great progress in civilization during the same period of time as the Hawaiians during the last quarter of a century …”

“… it must be borne in mind that a wide difference still exists between the condition of this people and the inhabitants of those countries which have enjoyed the benefits of civilization and Christianity for centuries.”

“The proportion of those who read and write already exceeds that of many other countries, while the proportion of practical business knowledge and enterprise falls far short.” (Polynesian, August 5, 1848)

The following are portions of remarks from Asa Thurston (printed in the Polynesian) on the changes which have taken place in the Islands, looking back over 28-years from 1820, to 1848 – the first 28-years of the Hawaiian Mission.

“In regard to the changes which have taken place in these islands, since the arrival of the first Missionaries, many things might be said. Many things have been said and written, and various opinions entertained and expressed by different persons.”

“Some have regarded them as affording evidence of a better state of things than formerly existed here, and as indicating some advancement in civilization and general improvement …”

“… while others have stated that the people are in a worse condition in many respect now than they were formerly; or before the publication of the gospel, and before these was any written language, or any books printed, or schools established, and the people taught to read …”

“… in fact, that they are more degraded now than when they were worshipping idols. Many statements of the like nature have been made and are still circulated. We envy not the reputation of a man for soundness of intellect, or goodness of heart, who could give currency to such reports.”

“Could the generation of 1820 be placed side-by-side with the present generation (1848), the contrast in their outward appearance would be very striking, scarcely a feature of that generation would be discernable in this. They would not be recognised as belonging to the same race.”

“(Previously), none of the relations of domestic, or social life, were regarded as sacred or binding. A man might have as many wives as he could take care of or feed; or he could turn them all adrift, as best suited convenience or pleasure.”

“A woman also might have as many husbands as she could conveniently entertain, but she could turn them off and take others at pleasure; and they might leave her if they so desired. Poligamy was one the privileges and features of that age.”

“The king had only five wives; one of them was the widow, and two of them were the daughters of his deceased father. Each one had a particular day of service, when she followed her lord with a spittoon and fly-brush.”

“It is easy to see that in such circumstances, there could no such thing as conjugal affection, or domestic concord and there was no such thing as parental authority, and parental affection was rarely to be seen and filial affection and obedience were equally unknown.”

“There were no statute laws, which defined the duties of parents towards children and of children towards parents; children some times regarded parental commands, if they were quite at leisure, and only so far as suited their convenience.”

“No obligations were felt on the part of parents to take care of their children, nor on the part of children to obey their parents, especially mothers, often destroyed their children, before or after birth, in order to be released from the trouble of taking care of them. Such are a few of the facts which belonged to the generation of 1820.”

“The present generation stands in a very different position in these respects. The facts are altogether of a different character. There scarcely a feature of that generation discernible at present, in respect to their social habits and domestic arrangements.”

“Then there was no law, nothing to regulate society. Now, all the natural, social and domestic relations are respected, and the duties of each in some measure, defined and regulated by good and wholesome laws, and any neglect to perform the duties attached to these various relations, is punishable by fine, imprisonment, and other disabilities.”

“Parents and children, husbands and wives, masters and servants, and most of the relations of a civilized life are recognized in law; and for any delinquency in the performance of the respective duties of these relations, they are amenable to the laws of the land. Any breach of promise, any neglect of any does not pass unnoticed.”

“At that period also, there was but one ruler. His word was law. Life and death were at his disposal. The people had no voice in the government, they had no rights that were respected, and they could have no property that might not be seized.”

“A field of taro, or other food might be tabooed at any time, by the chief or landholder, by placing a stick of sugar cane in one corner, and no one would dare to take any of the food afterward, without liberty from the land-holder.”

“Every other kind of property was equally liable to seizure, and if a man refused to execute any of the orders; or neglected to perform any service required by a chief or head man, his house might be burned, with all its contents, and he and his family, left entirely destitute.”

“In short, the people were ruled with a rod of iron. The government was despotic, and the people were allowed no right, they had nothing which they could call their own. They were ignorant, degraded, miserable and destitute.”

“There was no written language – no books – no schools … Every foreign ship was fully freighted with females as she passed from island to island, and there was no want of a supply when in port.”

“From that period (1820) we date the commencement and progress of religious truth. For a few of the first years of missionary effort, the effects of their labor was hardly discernable, but as years rolled on, the onward march of light and truth became more distinctly marked, and now, all who are competent to judge, are ready to exclaim, ‘What hath God wrought?’”

“Many more facts might be stated in favor of the progress which the Hawaiian have made in civilized habit. They practise many of the arts and usages of civilized life.”

“But why should we multiply examples in proof of the advanced, civilized position in which the nation now stands. Every eye can see it, and the great and commanding facts which go to complete the proof of its advancement are not of difficult discovery.”

“They are distinctly marked upon the map of its progress from downright, naked heathenism to its present decently attired civilization. Why, may we ask, has the Hawaiian people been received into the community of nations?”

“Would the American, English and French government have acknowledged the independence of the Hawaiian people, had not its government, its laws, its institutions, civil and religious, commanded respect?” (Asa Thurston; Polynesian, August 5, 1848)

© 2022 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Na Mokupuni O Hawaii Nei-Kalama 1837
Na Mokupuni O Hawaii Nei-Kalama 1837

Filed Under: General, Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings, Hawaiian Traditions Tagged With: Hawaii, Hawaiian Constitution, 1820, Christianity, Timeline, Laws, 1848

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