Hawaii | Page 350 | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

June 25, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

John Meek

John Meek (Nov. 24, 1791 – Jan. 29, 1875) came to Hawaii from Massachusetts in 1809 along with his brother Captain Thomas Meek, who was engaged in the Northwest trade.

“A few year later he himself became captain, and continued in the same trade for many years. In 1830 or ’31, he became a resident of this port, occasionally making voyages to the Northwest Coast, China and other ports.” (Hawaiian Gazette, February 3, 1875)

“He sailed from this port in cant capacity on a number of voyages to China and the coast of Mexico, but has been a permanent resident of this Island for the past fifty years. The late John J. Astor thought so highly of Captain Meek that he built a ship specially for him.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, January 30, 1875)

“For more than twenty years he held a commission as pilot of this harbor, and for the past few years was also harbor master.” (Hawaiian Gazette, February 3, 1875)

“‘Vessels approaching Honolulu and desiring a Pilot, will set their national ensign and pilot signal, on which he will go on immediately.’ The great number of ships coming in from Lahaina, and intending to lie off and on, or to come to anchor without employing a pilot, renders attention to the above requirement of the Harbor Laws necessary.”

“The undersigned will give prompt attendance on all vessels that require his services, but he wishes it to be understood that he will not go off without being signalized as required in the above quoted law, a compliance with which will be necessary to justify
any future complaint against him for want of attention to duty.” (John Meek; Polynesian, July 6, 1844)

“He was the firm friend and often advisor of the chiefs and successive Kings of these Islands, from the days of the first Kamehameha to the present time”.

“He was the last surviving pioneer of the Order of Free Masons in the Pacific, having been one of the ten who were instituted as “Lodge le Progres de l’Oceanie,” No. 124, by Captain Le Tellier, in 1843.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, January 30, 1875)

“He engaged extensively in the grazing business, and took especial pains to introduce improved breeds of cattle and horses into the country. Combined with the plain and bluff manner of the true sailor, Capt. John Meek was noted for his probity of character, and a genial kindness of disposition.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, January 30, 1875)

“America is the home of the turkey …. In 1815 Queen Ka‘ahumanu went aboard a trading schooner and saw turkeys Capt. John Meek had obtained in Chile.”

“Never had she seen such large birds before. Upon going ashore she told the king. The king went to the vessel and asked for the birds. Upon refusal he seized the turkeys and went ashore.”

“The birds later escaped. On the slopes of the island’s volcanoes and even in the United States national park wild turkeys are fairly numerous, believed to be descendants of those brought to the islands by Captain Meek.” (Smithfield Times, February 25, 1937)

Meek is also credited with bringing the first documented mango into the islands in 1824. He had given some seedlings to Don Francisco de Marín, advisor to Kamehameha I; Marín is most often credited with planting the first mango tree in Hawai‘i soil, near what is now the corner of Vineyard Boulevard and River Street.

The fruit it bore became the progenitor of the “Hawaiian” mango – a strain that was dubbed “Manini” for the nickname Hawaiians gave Marín. The Manini is also known as the Common mango because, as its name suggests, it’s seen throughout the Islands. It’s a medium-size, juicy fruit with a large seed and skin that turns from light green to rosy-yellow as it ripens. (Lo; Hana Hou)

Meek was a defendant in one of the first landmark cases dealing with the rights of native tenants. (Oni v. Meek) In 1858, Oni, a tenant of the ahupua’a of Honouliuli, O’ahu, filed suit against John Meek, who had a lease over the entire ahupuaʻa. Oni brought suit when some of his horses, which had been pastured on Meek’s land, were impounded and sold.

Oni claimed that he had a right to pasture his horses on the land division as one of his traditional tenant rights (by custom and by language in the Kuleana Act.)

Oni notes, “We are hoaʻāina. We live on the land and grow our crops, and in return we work for the konohiki a few days a week. We call these labor days. The rest of the week, we have the right to use the lands for certain things, like gathering firewood, fishing, and pasturing animals. It’s our custom, our tradition.”

“I take care of the land on labor days, so I can use the land to pasture my horses. Mr. Meek uses the Chief’s land like we do. We all take care of things together, so we should share the land, just like before.” (Judiciary History Center)

On September 22, 1858 the Police Court of Honolulu rendered a judgment for Oni. Meek was ordered to pay $80.00 for two horses and $4.00 in court costs. At the request of the defendant (Meek,) the case was appealed to the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.

Oni was the first Hawaiʻi Supreme Court case to discuss “the rights common people to go to the mountains, and the seas attached to their own particular land exclusively” in the 1850 Kuleana Act.

The Supreme Court noted, “the claim of a right of pasturage, put forward by the plaintiff, is made to rest upon far broader grounds than that just mentioned, which fact renders this case one of great importance, not only to the large landed proprietors throughout the Kingdom, but to thousands of the common people.”

“It is contended on behalf of the plaintiff that he, as a hoaʻāina of Honouliuli, has a right to pasture his animals on the kula land of that ahupua‘a, upon one or both of two grounds; first, by custom; or secondly, by statute law.”

“It appears by the evidence that horses were first introduced on the ahupua‘a of Honouliuli about the year 1833; that within ten years afterwards they had become numerous ; and that the horses belonging to the hoaʻāinas were allowed to pasture upon the kula land, in common with those of the konohiki.”

The Supreme Court was concerned with the right of a private property owner to use the land as he individually wished without having to share its use. The court said “the custom contended for is so unreasonable, so uncertain, and so repugnant to the spirit of the present laws, that it ought not to be sustained by judicial authority.”

The court also said “…it is perfectly clear that, if the plaintiff (Oni) is a hoaʻāina, holding his land by virtue of a fee simple award from the Land Commission, he has no pretense for claiming a right of pasturage by custom.” (Judicial History Center)

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Meek. For over a hundred years, the Oni v Meek case appeared to foreclose claims based on custom. (MacKenzie) The last fifty years of his life he was a resident of Honolulu and died January 29, 1875. (Kamakau)

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Oni v Meek-Judicial History Center

June 24, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Honolulu in the 1830s

“The plain of Honoruru exhibits, in a singular manner, the extent and effects of volcanic agency. It is not less than nine or ten miles in length; and, in some parts, two miles from the sea to the foot of the mountains.”

“The whole plain is covered with a rich alluvial soil, frequently two or three feet deep; beneath this, a layer of fine volcanic ashes and cinders extends to the depth of fourteen or sixteen feet …”

“… these ashes lie upon a stratum of solid rock, not volcanic, but calcareous, and apparently a kind of sediment deposited by the sea, in which branches of white coral, bones of fish and animals, and several varieties of shells are found.”

“The base of the mountains which bound the plain of the interior, appears to have formed the original line of coast on this side of the island; but probably, in some very remote period, an eruption took place from two broad-based, truncated mountains, called by foreigners, Diamond Hill and Punchbowl Hill, evidently extinguished craters …”

“… when the ashes and cinders thrown out, and wafted by the trade winds in a westerly direction, filled up the sea, and formed the present extensive plain; the soil of its surface having been subsequently produced either by the decomposition of lava, or by the mould and decayed vegetable matter washed down from the mountains during the rainy season of the year.”

“Across this plain, immediately opposite the harbour of Honoruru, lies the valley of Anuanu, leading to a pass in the mountains, called by the natives Ka Pari, ‘the precipice.’”

“The mouth of the valley, which opens immediately behind the town of Honorary is a complete garden, care fully kept, by its respective proprietors, in a state of high cultivation, and remarkably productive.”

“The valley rises with a gradual ascent from the shore to the precipice, which is seven or eight miles from the town. After journeying through varied scenery, all exceedingly rich and beautiful, for about this distance, the valley becomes gradually narrower, and the mountains rise more steep on either side.”

“The scenery is romantic and delightful: the bottom of the valley is gently undulated; a rapid stream takes its serpentine way from one side of the valley to the other, sometimes meandering along with an unruffled surface, and at other times rushing down a fall of several feet, or dashing and foaming among rocks which interrupt its progress.”

“The sides of the hills are clothed with verdure; even the rocks that project from amongst the bushes are ornamented with pendulous or creeping plants of various kinds; and, in several places, beautiful cascades roll their silvery streams clown the steep mountain’s side into flowing rivulets beneath.”

“The beauty of the scenery around increases, until, at length, after walking some time oh a rising ground, more steep than usual, and through a thicket of hills, the traveller suddenly emerges into an. open space, and, turning round a small pile of volcanic rocks, the Pari all at once bursts upon him with an almost overwhelming effect.”

“Immense masses of black and ferruginous rock, many hundred feet in nearly perpendicular heights, are piled up on both sides; while, immediately before him, he looks down the fearful steep several hundred feet, and be holds hills and valleys, trees and cottages, streams and paths, cultivated plantations and untrodden thickets …”

“… in short, a varied landscape, many miles in extent, bounded by lofty mountains on the one side, and the white-crested waves of the ocean on the other.”

“From this lower level the ascent is at first gradual and easy, but, as the highest edge is approached, be comes more formidable, especially in two places, where the volcanic rocks appear to rise perpendicularly, and present an even and apparently projecting front, which it seems impossible to surmount.”

“The elevation of the upper ridge, over which the path leads, is from four to five hundred feet above the land below. Still the natives not only pass and repass without much difficulty, but often carry heavy burdens from one side to the other.”

“Within a few yards of the upper edge of the pass, under the shade of surrounding bushes and trees, two rude and shapeless stone idols were formerly fixed, one on each side of the path, which the natives called Akua no ka Pari, ‘gods of the precipice.’ …”

“Immediately south of the valley of Anuanu, are situated the town and harbour of Honoruru. The harbour is the best, and indeed the only secure one at all seasons, in the Sandwich Islands, and is more frequented by foreign vessels than any other; seldom having less than three or four, and sometimes upwards of thirty lying within it at the same time.”

“The town has, also, since the number of shipping has increased, become populous. It is one of the largest in the islands, usually containing six or seven thou sand inhabitants.”

“It is the frequent residence of the king and principal chiefs, who are much engaged in traffic with foreigners visiting the islands, or residing on shore for purposes of trade.”

“There are twelve or fourteen merchants, principally Americans, who have established ware houses on shore for foreign goods, principally piece goods, hardware, crockery, hats and shoes, naval stores, etc. which they retail to the natives for Spanish dollars, or sandal wood.”

“On the eastern side of the basin is a strong fort, one hundred yards square, mounting sixty guns. It was begun by some Russians, who were, however, expelled, and the fort finished by the natives, from an apprehension that these foreigners were in connexion with the Russian settlements on the north west coast of America, and were about to take possession of the island.”

“About six miles to the west of Honoruru, and nearly as far from the village of Eva, on the Pearl River, there is a singular natural curiosity – small circular lake, situated at a short distance from the seashore, so impregnated with salt, that twice in the year the natives take out between two and three hundred barrels of fine, clear, hard, crystalized salt.”

“This lake is not only an interesting natural curiosity, but an important appendage to the island. It belongs to the king, and is not only useful in curing large quantities of fish, but furnishes a valuable article of commerce. The population of Oahu is estimated at about twenty thousand.” (All from Mission Records, 1839)

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‘Honolulu_1836’_by_Joseph_Dwight_Strong

Honolulu_Fort_(PP-36-5-001)-1837

Interior_of_the_Fort,_Honolulu_Harbor-1830s-1840s

“Honolulu Salt Pan, near Kaka‘ako” drawn by a Auguste Borget-(Hammatt)-1838

Mission_Houses,_Honolulu,_ca._1837._Drawn_by_Wheeler_and_engraved_by-Kalama

Auguste_Borget_-_’Honolulu_Waterfront’,_graphite_on_paper,_1838

Honolulu_Harbor-(TheFriend)-1836

Niuhelewai-Fish_Ponds_at_Honoruru,_Oahu,_by_John_Murray,_after_Robert_Dampier-(WC)-1836-400

Anonymous illustrator entitled ‘Town of Honolulu- Island of Woahoo-Sandwich Islands’-(Hammatt)-1834

June 23, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Evolving Heiau Construction

Oral histories of the Hawaiian temple system indicate that several functional types existed, although all that remains today is dry-laid lava rock foundations and the ruins of stone altars, offering pits, and the foundations of thatched houses and wooden images.

Three general functional categories have been identified archaeologically with the excavation of eight Maui temples, (1) small open court ancestral shrines, (2) large platform temples used for major political rituals and feasts that helped glorify successful chiefly lines, and …

(3) smaller enclosed temples used for local rituals and feasts that promoted collective cosmological principles and encouraged consensus among political groups.

These temples ranged in size from family structures (~2,000 sq ft) to medium-sized community shrines ( ~7,000 sq ft) and larger polity temples (upwards of ~21,000 sq ft – about one-half acre).

Analysis of radiocarbon data show progressive changes that occur over three centuries: from open temples ~AD 1400 to large platform temples ~AD 1500 and finally the addition of small enclosed temples ~AD 1600.

However, Kirch and Sharp report dates of near-surface coral dedicatory offerings taken from seven temples from the political district of Kahikinui, Maui, and an additional temple from the neighboring island of Molokai.

Because these dates all fall into a very short interval of 60 years (~AD 1565-1638), they argue that Kahikinui’s temple hierarchy was rapidly built during a time of predatory territorial expansion under the reign of a single Maui chief around the turn of the seventeenth century AD.

New data relevant to this was included in analysis by Kolb, including an extensive radio carbon dating chronology consisting of a corpus of 73 new and 17 published dates.

This new chronology indicates a prolonged period of island-wide temple construction (~ AD 1200-1800) that consisted of four distinct ‘periods’ which correlate with some important social trends noted in the oral-historical literature of Hawai‘i.

Kolb’s analysis notes four distinct modes with notable peaks at – AD 1240-60, 1360-80, 1540-60, and 1800-1820, each of which is statistically distinguishable (95% confidence interval) by cluster analysis.

The first mode peaks at AD 1220-60 – these early dates document the oldest temples in Hawai‘i. On Maui because the data comes from sound architectural contexts of seven different temples, they may also signify the inception of an island-wide temple network.

Oral traditions from the 13th century indicate that this was a period of intensive social change with a widening economic and social gap between chief and commoner, more authoritative chiefly rule and the formation of at least three ruling political districts (Lahaina, Wailuku and Hana).

These early temple building episodes were small, located upon promontories, tied to public activities of ancestor worship and dispersed across most of the island – characteristics of a formative temple network used to mark emerging territorial boundaries.

A second mode peaks at AD 1360-80; these dates mark the clear expansion of the temple network. Temple-building episodes representing this mode were similar in style and location to those of earlier temples but larger in scale.

Oral traditions speak about the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries as a period of political polarization between the genealogically distinct and often antagonistic ruling lines of East and West Maui.

Competition was intense and led to a series of intra-island wars over rank succession and territory. Conflicting genealogies during this time also lend credence to the idea of polarized and shifting rule.

The next mode peaks at AD 1560-80. Oral history of the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries indicate, that this time was marked by political strife and the competing territories of East and West Maui eventually merged.

When this merger actually occurred, however, is difficult to say. At least three generations of chiefs are said to have been recognized as rulers by both East and West Maui: Kāka‘e, who ruled jointly with his brother Kaka‘alaneo; Kawaokaohele; and Pi‘ilani.

The final mode peaks at AD 1800-1820 (most Hawaiian temples were abandoned in AD 1819). Taken as a whole, these dates seem to indicate a final island-wide period of temple construction/use during the early nineteenth century.

Ethnohistory from this period sits on very firm ground, consisting pf numerous eyewitness Hawaiian and European accounts.

This was a time of interisland warfare and conquest, when competition between the Maui and Hawai‘i island ruling chiefs grew especially intense. The chiefs Kekaulike and Kahekili II dedicated numerous Maui war temples during the course oi their internecine struggles.

The Maui chiefly line abruptly ended in AD 1795, when Kamehameha I, a conquering chief from Hawai‘i Island, absorbed Maui into his emerging kingdom.

This last mode coincides with a flurry of temple activities that included Kamehameha’s rededication of the Maui temples in AD 1800-18001 to his own war god. It also coincides with other archaeological data documenting the rise of the Hawaiian incipient state, such as settlement intensification, internecine warfare and temple sacrificial activity.

The general trend of temple construction followed four phases between – AD 1200 and 1800, phases that correlate with some general sociopolitical trends distilled from ethnohistory.

These include (1) the formation of district-sized polities and the rise of chiefly prerogatives, (2) the expansion of the chiefly hierarchy and a bifurcation of the island into eastern and western kingdoms, (3) island unification and a shift in land tenure and (4) interisland competition and eventual absorption into a larger incipient state.

An important shift in temple construction and use coincided with island unification and a shift in land tenure and occurred – AD
1452-1625. Overall, the temple system followed a cycle of construction and use characteristic of incipient state development, coinciding with distinct periods of political tension when it was important to encourage and control social allegiances.

This pattern has significance for the development of complex societies throughout the world, where the processes of political formation and ritualized ideology can be interwoven with architectonic and economic questions in discussions of historical or archaeological change. (All here is from Kolb.)

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Piilanihale_Heiau_in_Kahanu_Garden

aerial-view-of-piilanihale-heiau

21-Hāpaiali‘i_Heiau_and_Ke‘ekū_Heiau

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Hikiau Heiau

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Mailekini_Heiau-Puukohola_Heiau-(USGS)

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Heiau, probably Kukuionapeha, at the top of Koko Head Avenue, between Crater Road and what is now the Kaimuki Fire Station-(HSA)-PPWD-11-7-020

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An illustration by William Ellis of the Morai (heiau) at Kealakekua-1782

Ahuena_heiau_1816

Periods of Heiau Construction-Kolb

June 22, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

First American Ship to Circumnavigate the Earth

“Followers of the sea more than the people of any other place in America before the Revolution, the men of Boston could not but return, in the general restoring of normal conditions, to their interest in maritime affairs. How could it be otherwise?”

“At their very feet lay the inviting bay, with its best of harbors, safe from the sea, of which it is less an arm than a shoulder. At their very doors lay all the materials for ship building. (The) Constitution, finished in 1797, was a home made vessel”.

“With the coming of peace (following the Revolutionary War) it might have been expected that the doors of commerce would be thrown immediately open. Yet it would have been hardly human for the mother country to smooth any paths for the child that had cast off all parental authority.”

“The British West India trade was of course subject to English legislation. It was not long before the merchants of Boston, as of all our ports, found themselves forbidden to bring their fish to the islands or to carry the island products to England.”

“These products, if brought first to New England, could not even be carried to England in British ships. This prohibition was followed in 1784 by that of exporting anything from the West Indies to the United States except in British vessels.”

“Here the citizens of Boston asserted themselves, and entered as of old into agreement to buy none of the wares so imported.”

“The Massachusetts legislature passed measures of retaliation; and the national laws of navigation and commerce reflected for some years the British policy of restriction.”

“If success is determined by obstacles, the commercial enterprise of Boston could not have had a more favorable beginning. Not content with the difficulties nearest home, the merchants of America, in the earliest days of peace, began turning their eyes to the distant trade of China.”

“To New York belongs the credit of sending out the first vessel in this trade, the Empress of the Seas, which set sail for Canton in February of 1784, and was back in New York in May of the next year.”

“Her supercargo was a Boston youth of twenty, Samuel Shaw by name, whose service on General Knox’s staff in the Revolution had already won him the rank of major.”

“In his journal of the outward voyage he tells of landing at St. Jago, an island of the Cape de Verde group. The officer of the port was a Portuguese.”

“‘On telling him,’ says Shaw, ‘by the interpreter, a negro, that we were Americans, he discovered great satisfaction, and exclaimed, with an air of pleasure and surprise, “Bostonian! Bostonian!”’”

“With this – and the Boston supercargo – to remember, the New England town may comfortably orient herself with the first of the Chinese traders.”

“It was not long, however, before the town could claim as her own a commercial venture of the first importance and magnitude. The journals of Captain Cook, the navigator, were published in 1784. Through them the great possibilities of the fur trade on the northwest coast of America were made known.”

“Five Boston merchants, including the Bulfinch whose architecture still dominates the local landscape, and one merchant of New York, joined themselves to enter this new field.”

“The vessels they secured for the expedition were two: the Columbia, a full rigged ship of two hundred and twelve tons, eighty-three feet in length; and the Washington, a sloop of ninety tons.”

“Let those who dread six days of the Atlantic on liners of fifteen thousand tons’ burden stop a moment and picture these cockleshells – as they must appear to-day – and the spirit of the men who embarked in them for the North Pacific, and – in the Columbia – for the complete circling of the globe.”

“Before they set sail, September 30, 1787, they provided themselves plentifully with silver, bronze, and pewter medals commemorating the expedition, and with useful tools and useless trinkets, jews’-harps, snuff-boxes, and the like. Rounding the Horn, and sailing northward, it was the little Washington which first reached the northwest coast.”

“While waiting for the Columbia, the sloop’s crew had an encounter with natives who gave them good reason to call their anchorage ‘Murderers’ Harbor.’”

“Then the Columbia came, with scurvy on board. But the cargo of furs was secured, and, in pursuance of the owners’ plan, was carried to Canton for sale.”

“Stopping on the way at Hawaii, Captain Gray took on board the Columbia a young chief, Attoo, promising to send him back from Boston as soon as might be.”

“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.” (Howe; The Atlantic Monthly, 1903)

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George Davidson sketch, “Columbia in a Squall”

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June 21, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Policy of Great Britain toward the Hawaiian Islands (1824-1854)

Here are a number of correspondences between British leadership at the time that suggest the position of the British government on Hawai‘i during the reign of Kamehameha III. (All are from an Appendix in the Report of the Historical Commission of the Territory of Hawai‘i, 1925.)

A note of George Canning, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (July 14, 1824), to King George, Announcing the Death of Kamehameha II notes, “an Attention perhaps the more advisable as the Governments both of Russia and of the United States of America …”

“… are known to have their Eyes upon those Islands: which may ere long become a very important Station in the trade between the N. W. Coast of America and the China Seas.” (Canning to King George IV, July 14, 1824)

“On the Question of the Right of Great Britain to the Sandwich Islands … their Lordships confide in your Judgement and discretion in treating unforseen Circumstances according to the Principles of Justice and Humanity which actuate H[is] M[ajesty]’s Councils …”

“… and They recommend to You, that while You are ready to assert and vindicate H[is] M[ajesty] ‘s Rights, you will pay the greatest Regard to the Comfort, the Feelings, and even the Prejudices of the Natives, and will shew the utmost Moderation towards the Subjects of any other Powers, whom you may meet in those Islands.”

“H[is] M[ajesty] ‘s Rights you will, if necessary, be prepared to assert, but considering the Distance of the Place, and the Infant State of political Society there, You will avoid, as far as may be possible, the bringing these Rights into Discussion …”

“… and will propose that any disputed Point between Yourself and any Subjects of other Powers shall be referred to your respective Governments.” (Secret Instructions Given to Lord Byron, September 14, 1824)

“Considering the increasing importance to Great Britain of many of the islands in the Pacific, and especially of the Sandwich and Society Islands, both in a naval and commercial point of view …”

“… Lord Aberdeen is desirous of impressing on the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the expediency of a more frequent intercourse between Great Britain and those Islands, by the visits of ships of war, than has hitherto been maintained.”

“[It appears from Captain Jones’ letter to Admiral Thomas that British trade in the Sandwich Islands had increased in the last three years from $20,000 to $150,000 annually, and] that at the time of his arrival there, two years had elapsed since a British Ship of War had visited those islands.”

“Lord Aberdeen is of opinion that such an increase of trade alone would fully justify the more frequent appearance of British ships of wax in those parts. It would also tend to maintain the just influence of Great Britain, and to counter balance the efforts which are now making by other Powers, to establish a dominant authority in the islands of the Pacific.”

“The object of Her Majesty’s (Queen Victoria) Government in increasing their connexion with the chiefs of those islands, ought, in the opinion of Lord Aberdeen, to be rather to strengthen those authorities and to give them a sense of their own independence, by leaving the administration of justice in their own hands …”

“… than to make them feel their dependence on Foreign Powers, by interfering unnecessarily in every matter in which a foreign subject is concerned, and to compel those rulers by peremptory menace, or a show of physical force …”

“… to render to foreign subjects that measure of justice which may appear to the aggrieved person, or to the officer who steps forward in his behalf, to be his due. (Viscount Canning, Under Secretary of State to Sir John Barrow, Second Secretary of Admiralty, October 4, 1842)

“Her Majesty’s Government have no intention of retaining permanent possession of that country; and they have already given, both to the French Government and to that of the United States, an assurance to that effect. But it will be desirable that possession should be held, until the grievances complained of shall have been finally and formally redressed.”

“Her Majesty’s Government have already announced to the Ruler of the Sandwich Islands, their intention to acknowledge his independence. The United States have, it is understood, already taken that step; and the French Government have declared that they are ready, and intend to adopt the same course.”

“Therefore there appears to be no reason to apprehend that when Great Britain gives up her present possession of that country, it will fall into the hands of any other Power.”

“Never-the-less in order to provide against such a possible contingency, Her Majesty’s Government propose, before they release the Chief of the Sandwich Islands from the conditions into which he entered with Lord George Paulet, to endeavour to come to an understanding with the French Government …”

“… to the effect that both Governments shall engage not to assume to themselves any separate or special protection over that country; but that, on the contrary, both Governments shall equally recognise, and at all times treat the King of the Sandwich Islands as an independent ruler, and his country as open to all nations alike.” (Foreign Office to Admiralty, July 11, 1843)

“I have to desire that you will lose no time in officially assuring the Government of the United States that this Act (Paulet’s) was entirely unauthorized by Her Majesty’s Government, and that they propose, with the least practicable delay, to call on Lord George Paulet to render an account of his conduct.” (Foreign Office to Henry S Fox, British Ambassador to the United States, June 3, 1843)

“Without giving way to unreasonable jealousy or suspicion, it is desirable that you, should constantly keep a vigilant eye on the proceedings of the French in the Pacific, and that you should report on them to Her Majesty’s Government whenever you may have the means of safe communication.”

“But I do not wish that you should make any parade of vigilance with respect to the French. The less you appear to watch them the more surely you will be able to do so with effect.” (Earl of Aberdeen, Secretary of State to William Miller, British Consul General for the Hawaiian Islands September 29, 1843)

“Our only object is to secure the independence and permanent well-being of that country. … All that the British Govt, desire is that British Subjects and British interests in general should be placed upon the same footing with the subjects and interests of other Countries …”

“… and also that that footing should be such as to prevent, so far as possible, all future misunderstanding and contention between the respective Govts.” (Aberdeen to Miller, July 1, 1844)

“Her Majesty’s Government have learnt with great satisfaction that the attempts to bring about the annexation of the Sandwich Islands to the United States have been so completely defeated, and principally owing to the stand in favour of Independence which has been made by Prince Alexander and John Ii, a Member of the Upper House …”

“… and I have to instruct you to convey to the Prince and to such other Persons as you may think expedient the expression of that satisfaction on the part of her Majesty’s Government.” (Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to Miller, June 26, 1854)

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