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August 10, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

George Washington’s Mahiole

“The little ship ‘Columbia’ of Boston, only eighty-three feet long, was the first American vessel to circumnavigate the globe, and a few years later was also the first to visit our Northwest Coast.”

“This last voyage was perhaps the most famous one ever undertaken by an American merchant ship, and its consequences were everlasting. A young American seaman first called attention to the importance of the fur trade of the Northwest.”

“He endeavored to influence English and New York merchants, but with no success until he reached Boston, where he succeeded in interesting six men …”

“… Joseph Boswell, a recent graduate of Harvard; Bulfinch, the architect; Captain John Derby of Salem; Samuel Brown; Captain Crowell Hatch of Cambridge; and J. W. Pintard of New York. These six enterprising merchants subscribed $50,000, which was a very large sum in those days.”

“The little ‘Columbia,’ which was built on the North River in Scituate, where over a thousand seagoing ships have been launched, was selected for the long voyage, and as her consort an even smaller craft, a ship of ninety tons, called the ‘Lady Washington,’ was chosen.”

“The commander of the ‘Columbia’ was John Kendrick of Wareham, the captain of the other vessel being Robert Gray of Boston. To the latter was really due the success of the expedition.”

“The State and Federal Governments were especially interested in the undertaking, and many special medals were struck off and distributed at the ports where the vessels touched.”

“Hundreds of these medals were later found among the Spaniards in South America, throughout the Sandwich Islands, and Oregon.”

“The two vessels sailed from Boston on September 30, 1787, amid a tremendous demonstration. They encountered heavy gales off Cape Horn, and only the determination of Kendrick and Gray enabled them to reach their destination.”

“The smaller of the two, the ‘Lady Washington,’ arrived first, and while waiting, Captain Gray and his brave crew were attacked by the Indians, and some of his men killed. This place was therefore named ‘Murderers’ Harbour.’”

“The ‘Columbia’ arrived a week later, her crew suffering frightfully from scurvy, the voyage having consumed one whole year.” (Old Shipping Days in Boston, 1918)

“When the expedition arrived on the northwest coast, captain Kendrick turned his back on his country—prevailed on a number of the seamen to join him, took possession of the sloop Washington, and refused to return. Capt. Robert Gray then took command of the Columbia, and continued the voyage.” (Niles National Register, November 25, 1837)

“The cargo of hardware, tools, toys, beads, etc, brought from Boston was gradually exchanged during the long winter for furs, which were taken to Canton, the two captains then exchanging commands. The proceeds of the skins were used to purchase tea, which was brought back to Boston.” (Old Shipping Days in Boston, 1918)

“On his return (Gray) called at the different clusters of islands in the South seas, and among the rest at the Sandwich, where, as well as in other places, he met with the most friendly attentions from the natives, go at Owyhee, where their king resided.” (Niles National Register, November 25, 1837)

“The ‘Columbia’ … spent three weeks at the Hawaiian Islands, laying in a store of fruits, yams, potatoes, and hogs. They were kindly received there”. (Porter)

“Such was the confidence placed in captain Gray, both by king and people, that they permitted him to bring away with him to Boston their crown prince (Attoo), fully relying on his promise to return him to them.” (Niles National Register, November 25, 1837)

“Gray’s discoveries of Gray’s Harbor and the Columbia River were witnessed by Attoo before the Hawaiian completed his circumnavigation on Columbia in 1792.” (Mockford)

“From China the ship, loaded with teas, sailed for home by way of the Cape of Good Hope. In August of 1790 she dropped anchor in Boston harbor, the first American vessel to circumnavigate the earth.”

“The ship was absent upwards of three years, and had not been heard from for a large portion of the time, when, in the summer of 1790, in a fine afternoon, we had just arrived in Boston, from Worcester, when a strange ship, bearing the stars and stripes of our country, arrived abreast of the castle, and fired a national salute, which was promptly returned by that fortress.”

“The firing was distinctly heard and seen from Boston, but no one could imagine what ship it was, bearing our country’s flag, and doing and receiving such high honor. The inhabitants were all in motion, and coining to the long wharf by thousands; in the interim, the ship was recognized, the artillery were ordered out.”

“As she came to anchor off the end of the wharf, the delighted multitudes rent the air with joyful acclamations, while salvos of artillery shook the neighboring hills, and the astonished people hurried into the city to join in the general joy.”

“The ship having returned the salute of the city, the custom house barge was manned, when the venerable general Lincoln, collector of the port, with the owners of the Columbia, repaired on board …”

“… and after bidding a hearty welcome to captain Gray and his princely passenger, they all returned to the wharf together, when the air again rang, with loud acclaim, and the artillery again poured forth its thunder.”

“The prince, who was an Apollo in personal symmetry and beauty, was dressed in a helmet of the ancient roman form, covered with small feathers of the most beautiful plumage, which glittered in the sun …”

“… while on his body he wore a close dress, not visible except the sleeve, and over it a large and flowing robe, in the form of the toga, made of cloth, covered with feathers precisely like the helmet. In this splendid costume, he took the arm of captain Gray, and a procession being formed, they marched to governor Hancock’s, who sent his adjutant general to bid them welcome.”

“After a residence of some months, the ship was refitted, and, with the same commander, returned the prince in safety to his country and friends (“The Hawaiian, Jack Attoo, went back as cabin-boy.” (Porter)) …”

“… from thence sprung all that friendly intercourse between those happy islanders and the United States, to whom they are indebted for civilization and the useful arts which are making such progress among them. (Niles National Register, November 25, 1837)

“(T)hat helmet of the ancient roman form, covered with small feathers” (Mahiole) was given to (Governor John Hancock) of Massachusetts, and it was then given to President George Washington. (Peabody Museum)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oRFhujeu5o&t=19s

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Mahiole-feather helmet-Gray-Washington-WC
Mahiole-feather helmet-Gray-Washington-WC

Filed Under: Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Prominent People, Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks Tagged With: Attoo, Hawaii, George Washington, Mahiole, Robert Gray, Columbia

November 30, 2016 by Peter T Young 14 Comments

Kahikilani

The island of Oʻahu is divided into 6 moku (districts), consisting of: ‘Ewa, Kona, Koʻolauloa, Koʻolaupoko, Waialua and Waiʻanae. These moku were further divided into 86 ahupua‘a (land divisions within the moku.)

Paumalū (‘taken secretly’ (a shark bit off the legs of a woman who caught more squid than was permitted)) is an ahupua‘a in the moku (district) of Koʻolauloa, on the North Shore of O‘ahu. (23-ahupua‘a make up the district of Koʻolauloa.)

“’Pūpūkea-Paumalū survey in progess’ is a note appearing in for February (1904,) which refers to an important discovery of homestead lands on this island. They consist of two tracts of good land aggregating 4,000-acres just northeast of Waimea Bay, and the Oahu Railway runs through the lower portion on the seashore.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, April 29, 1904)

In 1907, the territory was advertising sale of agricultural – pastoral land in the Pūpūkea-Paumalū Tract, “Each of these lots contain large proportions of fine pineapple land.” (Evening Bulletin, June 1, 1907) Later, appropriations were made for water service.

A few years later (1913,) portions of the makai land was noted as subdivided into the Pūpūkea-Paumalū Beach Lots. A resubdivision happened later (1919.)

By 1919, land along the beach, named the Pūpūkea-Paumalū Beach Tract, was sold for residential property. These houses were mostly vacation homes for those who lived in Honolulu. (Dagher) Territorial appropriations were made in 1921 for the construction of roads through the tract.

Long ago there lived on Kauai a chief who was very fond of surfing by the name of Kahikilani (‘the arrival (of) chief.’) He had won every surfing contest on his own home island and now came to O‘ahu to try his skill.

As the surf at Waikiki was not to his liking, he went on to the Koʻolau side of the island. He wanted to prove his prowess in Paumalū surf. He found what he wanted in the large thundering waves of Paumalū.

While he was surfing he noticed some birds circling about him. One old bird in particular would fly a short distance away and then return to circle about him as if urging him to follow.

He did so, and the bird led him into a cave where he met a beautiful girl who had fallen in love with him as she watched him surfing and had sent her pets, the sea-birds, to lead him to her.

She asked him to become her husband and he accepted her proposal. Each morning before he left her for his favorite sport she made him two lehua wreaths to wear, one for his head and one for his neck.

For a long time they lived thus happily until one day as he came ashore from surfing, another girl greeted him and threw about his neck several strands of the golden ʻilima.

The old seabird flew home and reported to his mistress what he had seen. When she saw her lover returning with the ʻilima wreaths about his neck in addition to the lehua strands which she had braided for him, she was very angry and called upon her ancestral gods (ʻaumakua) to punish him.

As he ascended the hill he felt his body becoming heavy and, as he turned to look once more at his beloved surfing beach, there he remained transfixed in stone and is so to this day. (Cultural Surveys)

Some refer to the stone as the ‘George Washington Stone (or Rock;)’ it resembles George Washington wearing a hat.

Oh, one other thing …

Paumalū continues its reputation for its big waves; today, most generally refer to it as Sunset Beach.

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George Washington Rock-1924
George Washington Rock-1924
Kahikilani-George_Washington
Kahikilani-George_Washington
Emanuel_Leutze_(American,_Schwäbisch_Gmünd_1816–1868_Washington,_D.C.)_-_Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware
Emanuel_Leutze_(American,_Schwäbisch_Gmünd_1816–1868_Washington,_D.C.)_-_Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware
George Washington
George Washington
Kahikilani-Paumalu
Kahikilani-Paumalu

Filed Under: Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Hawaiian Traditions, Place Names Tagged With: Kahikilani, K, Hawaii, Aumakua, George Washington, Paumalu

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