A man-on-the-street impression is that the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries hopped off the boat in 1820 and was promoted on the spot to $$1 (navy jargon for still smasher first class).
Not so. There was a time “before the Temperance Movement engaged the loyalties of the missionaries in the Pacific.” (Greer)
It turns out, while the Pioneer Company of missionaries left the Long Wharf at Boston as scheduled, on October 23, 1819, they then lay at anchor in the Presidential Roads.
The next day, Captain Andrew Henri Blanchard, the Captain of the Thaddeus, “(O)n the passengers examining their stores, they found a short supply of that article at day light Capt. Blanchard went up to Boston at 11 am (October 24, 1819). Captain Blanchard returned from town with a supply of bread & spirits for the missionaries.” (James Hunnewell Log)
While not necessarily a booze cruise, the missionaries continued to have their alcohol. Shortly after their arrival in the Islands, anchoring April 4, 1820 at Kailua Kona, they were soon ‘treated’ with glasses of wine …
“As soon as we approached the beach we were discovered by the natives, who flocked-about the boat in such swarms that it was with much difficulty we could land and force our way to the King’s house, which was about 20 rods from the water.”
“When we arrived at the door we found the King at breakfast on his mat; we took our seats and were soon treated with a glass of wine, and invited to stay and dine. Soon after the Queens made their appearance, each attended by a servant holding a feather fly brush in their hands.” (April 7, 1820, Samuel Ruggles)
Lucia Holman referenced the same dining experience, noting, “We returned about 1 Oc. to the house of his Royal Majesty (Oreho-reho, son of the deceased King) where we dined upon roast pig, fowls, vegetables, well dressed, etc., etc. – a glass of wine crowned the dish.” (April 7, 1820, Lucia Holman)
Others supplied them with the fermented beverage … “The fourth day after our arrival, the King sent us a Mahogany (koa) round table with six drawers, which answer the place of a cupboard.”
“A few weeks after our arrival on shore we were visited by 2 English Captains (whalers) who had come to these Islands for water and provisions. From them we secured many valuable presents, such as crockery, wine, butter, and each of us a chair.” (Lucia Holman)
When Ruggles and Whitney delivered Humehume hone to his father King Kaumualiʻi on May 3, 1820, their ‘excellent’ supper was topped with brandy, gin and wine …
“A supper was soon provided for us consisting of a couple of hogs baked, whole after the American manner, several fowls and a dog cooked after the style of the Island, together with potatoes, tarro, bananas, cocoanuts, and watermelons, brandy, gin, wines, &c. The table was set in good style; our supper was indeed excellent.” (May 3, 1820, Samuel Ruggles)
Anthony D Allen (a former slave from the continent) had his home at about where the Washington Middle School is situated (including about a dozen other houses.) Several references note his property as a “resort;” “… it is a favourite resort of the more respectable of the seamen who visit Honoruru. …” (Reverend Charles Stewart) It may have been Waikiki’s first hotel.
“His plantation is two miles from the Mission House on the plain, towards Waititi. The road to it, although on the plain, is uncultivated and entirely unshaded, affords the most pleasant walk in the immediate vicinity of Honoruru.”
Allen entertained often and made his property available for special occasions. “King (Kauikeaouli – Kamehameha III) had a Grand Dinner at AD Allen’s. The company came up at sunset. Music played very late.” (Reynolds – Scruggs, HJH)
Missionaries Hiram and Sybil Bingham also visited. Sybil noted in her diary, “To avoid walking in the heat, we made ourselves ready by ten – locked up our houses and set off. A multitude had assembled by the time we were at the gate, to attend us. Our little handcart, the only wheels, I believe on the Island, served for a carriage for those for whom the walk might prove too great.”
“He set upon the table decanters and glasses with wine and brandy to refresh us”. They ended dinner “with wine and melons”. (June 24, 1820, Sybil Bingham)
As late as 1827 the Honolulu contingent ran in effect a liquor store for its members. From May 15, 1826, to May 2, 1827 (Greer):
Hiram Bingham bought on his personal account:
• 7 ½ gal. of wine
• 6 ¾ gal, 1 pt. and a bottle of rum
• 4 gal. of brandy
• 1 doz. bottles of porter, and
• 4 bottles of port
Elisha Loomis bought:
• 8 gal., 1 pt. of wine
• 1 gal. of rum, and
• 1 ½ gal. of brandy
Abraham Blatchley bought:
• 4 gal. of brandy
• 2 gal. of rum, and
• 2 gal. of gin
Joseph Goodrich bought:
• 2 ½ gal. of wine and
• 1 qt. of rum.
Samuel Ruggles bought:
• 1 ¼ gal. of brandy and
• 2 ¼ gal. of wine.
Levi Chamberlain bought”
• 3 qts. of wine and
• 2 qts. of brandy
The Medical Department drew 4 gal. of rum. After May 1827, recorded purchases dwindled to a stop. (Mission Account Book; Greer)
We even see some references to beer (brewing and drinking) in missionary journals. On November 19-20, 1824, missionary Elisha Loomis notes, “Yesterday and today I have been engaged in making beer and vinegar from a root called tee, which grows plentifully in these islands. It is the most sweet of any vegetable I ever tasted. The juice is nearly as sweet as molasses.”
On October 31, 1832, Clarissa Armstrong (wife of Reverend Richard Armstrong) noted, “Capt. Brayton has given me a little beer cask – it holds 6 quarts – Nothing could have been more acceptable.”
“I wanted to ask you for one, but did not like to. O how kind providence has been & is to us, in supplying our wants. The board have sent out hops – & I have some beer now a working. I should like to give you a drink.”
On July 24, 1836, Clarissa Armstrong notes (during an illness:) “We had a bottle of wine of which I drank … All the nourishment I took after leaving Honolulu til we reached Wailuku was two biscuit about the size of small crackers, & a bit of dried beef.”
“Drinks were my nourishment. Limes grow at Oahu & I obtained some for the voyage, which furnished me pleasant drink. Also a little beer which I had made.”
However, they shortly got on the bandwagon against liquor and encouraged King Kamehameha III and most of the chiefs to pledge themselves to total abstinence. And, in part, became zealous preachers of temperance; the king himself frequently addressing the people on the subject. (The King and others regularly fell off the water wagon.)
In March 1838, the first liquor license law was enacted, which prohibited all selling of liquors without a license under a fine of fifty dollars for the first offense, to be increased by the addition of fifty dollars for every repetition of the offense. (The Friend, December 1887)
All houses for the sale of liquor were to be closed at ten o’clock at night, and from Saturday night until Monday morning. Drunkenness was prohibited in the licensed houses under a heavy fine to the drinker, and the loss of his license to the seller. (The Friend, December 1887)
In 1843, the seamen’s chaplain, Samuel C. Damon, started ‘The Temperance Advocate and Seamen’s Friend;’ he soon changed its name to simply “The Friend.” Through it, he offered ‘Six Hints to seamen visiting Honolulu’ (the Friend, October 8, 1852,) his first ‘Hint,’ “Keep away from the grog shops.”
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