Hawaii | Page 527 | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

September 13, 2015 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Laʻanui and Namahana

“I cannot die happy without making this reparation while the breath is in my body. Forgive me for the part I took in the wrongful measure.” (Namahana Kekuwai-Piia; Pratt)

Whoa … let’s look back.

“There were born to Nuhi and Kaohele first a daughter and then a son, the girl being named Kekaikuihala and the boy Laʻanui. Kamehameha, although fierce and cruel in war, was disposed to be conciliatory toward those he conquered, aiming to make amends in a measure for the wrongs he inflicted and to establish friendly relations with families to which he had brought misfortune.”

“He extended a welcoming hand and opened his heart to many, men and women alike, who flocked to his hospitable court. Alliances in this way were created, and one by one new homes spread over the lately deserted countryside once more, through the influence of which contentment was made to rule supreme in the land.”

“Among the visitors to the royal court was (Namahana) Kekuwai-Piia, who had just become a widow, coming as a guest of her sister, Queen Kaʻahumanu. Laʻanui was a boy growing to maturity.” (Pratt)

“The king had not forgotten the great wish of his heart, coveting possession of Waimea and hoping to gain it, if not in battle, through a matrimonial alliance. His failure to accomplish this end through Kaohele was a sting to the old warrior’s pride, and now he chose a new agent of his ambition by inviting Laʻanui to the court.”

“The invitation was gladly accepted and the visit lasted for months. Kamehameha was loath to have Laʻanui depart while he was slyly intriguing with Kaʻahumanu to negotiate a marriage between Piʻia and Laʻanui.”

“Piʻia is described as being a person heavily built and not prepossessing in appearance like her sisters Kaahumanu and Kaheiheimalie. When at last the proposition was put squarely to Laʻanui, that it was the united wish of the king and queen that the marriage should take place, for a moment he was dejected.”

“To wed a woman very many years his senior was not the desire of his heart. Yet realizing that it might be perilous to go contrary to the express desire of the powerful monarch he quietly consented ‘to take the bitter pill.’” (Pratt)

“The couple took up their residence at Waialua, permanently, upon one of the divisions of land which Piʻia had received as her portion out of her father’s large estate.” (Pratt)

Laʻanui and Piʻia were one of the first couples to be married by Hiram Bingham.

“He was an interesting young chief of the third rank, well featured, and a little above the middling stature.” (Bingham)

“I could not refrain from tears to see the happy meeting of this interesting pair, after their separation for so lamentable a cause. His protection and restoration they both now piously ascribed to the care of Jehovah – the Christian’s God.”

“After a few expressions of mutual joy and congratulation, and a few words as to the state of affairs at Kauai, at Namahana’s suggestion, with which her husband signified his concurrence, we sang a hymn of praise, and united in thanksgiving to the King of nations for his timely and gracious aid to those who acknowledge his authority and love his Word.” (Bingham)

“Laʻanui, by his correct behavior for more than five years, has given us much satisfaction. He is a good assistant in the work of translation; we consult him and others of his standing, with more advantage than any of the youth who have been instructed in foreign school.” (Bingham)

On June 5, 1825, Laʻanui, Piʻia, former Queen Kaʻahumanu and a couple others “came before the congregation (of Kawaiahaʻo Church,) the only organized church then in the island, and made a statement of their religious views, and their desire to join themselves to the Lord’s people, and to walk in his covenant.” (Bingham)

Unfortunately, Piʻia’s corpulence did not inure to healthfulness and before long, she sickened and died. On her deathbed, she said to her husband:

“Laʻanui, I wish to divulge a secret in my heart to you. It was not my work that you gave up your patrimonial inheritance to me. It was at the instigation of Kamehameha that I played coyly toward you in order to gratify his selfish motives.”

“For your cheerful sacrifice of what was so dear to your hear I feel it is my duty to repay you.”

“Therefore, in return for great kindness I leave this dear Waialua to you, as well as all the other lands, which I own, for my token of love for you. I cannot die happy without making this reparation while the breath is in my body. Forgive me for the part I took in the wrongful measure.” (Namahana Kekuwai-Piʻia; Pratt)

“Laʻanui was the paramount chief of the Waialua division from 1828 to his death in 1849, as well as the particular ‘lord’ (hakuʻāina) of Kawailoa, the district (ahupuaʻa) corresponding to the Anahulu River valley.” (Kirch)

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Laanui-Namahana

Gideon_Peleioholani_Laanui-GL-gravestone

Gideon_Peleioholani_Laanui-gravestone

Gideon_Peleioholani_Laanui

September 8, 2015 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Hawaiian, American missionary, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean & Filipino

Hawaiʻi is the world’s most-isolated, populated-place; the Islands are about: 2,500-miles from the US mainland, Samoa & Alaska; 4,000-miles from Tokyo, New Zealand & Guam, and 5,000-miles from Australia, the Philippines & Korea.

Using stratigraphic archaeology and refinements in radiocarbon dating, studies suggest it was about 900-1000 AD that “Polynesian explorers first made their remarkable voyage from central Eastern Polynesia Islands, across the doldrums and into the North Pacific, to discover Hawai‘i.” (Kirch)

Then, 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.)

At the time of Cook’s arrival, the Hawaiian Islands were divided into four chiefdoms: (1) the island of Hawaiʻi under the rule of Kalaniʻōpuʻu, who also had possession of the Hāna district of east Maui; (2) Maui (except the Hāna district,) Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe, ruled by Kahekili; (3) Oʻahu, under the rule of Kahahana; and (4) Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, Kamakahelei was ruler.

Four decades later, inspired by ʻŌpūkahaʻia, a Hawaiian who wanted to spread the word of Christianity back home in Hawaiʻi, on October 23, 1819, the Pioneer Company of missionaries, from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) from the northeast United States, set sail on the Thaddeus for the Sandwich Islands (now known as Hawai‘i.)

Then, something more significant in defining the social make-up of Hawaiʻi took place.

Sugar changed the social fabric of Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i continues to be one of the most culturally-diverse and racially-integrated places on the planet.

The first commercially-viable sugar plantation, Ladd and Co., was started at Kōloa on Kaua‘i in 1835. It was to change the face of Hawai‘i forever, launching an entire economy, lifestyle and practice of monocropping that lasted for well over a century.

A century after Captain James Cook’s arrival in Hawaiʻi, sugar plantations started to dominate the landscape.

What encouraged the development of plantations in Hawaiʻi? For one, the gold rush and settlement of California opened a lucrative market. Likewise, the Civil War virtually shut down Louisiana sugar production during the 1860s, enabling Hawai‘i to compete with elevated prices for sugar.

In addition, the Treaty of Reciprocity-1875 between the US and the Kingdom of Hawai‘i eliminated the major trade barrier to Hawai‘i’s closest and major market. Through the treaty, the US gained Pearl Harbor and Hawai‘i’s sugar planters received duty-free entry into US markets.

However, a shortage of laborers to work in the growing (in size and number) sugar plantations became a challenge. The only answer was imported labor.

Starting in the 1850s, when the Hawaiian Legislature passed “An Act for the Governance of Masters and Servants,” a section of which provided the legal basis for contract-labor system, labor shortages were eased by bringing in contract workers from Asia, Europe and North America.

Several waves of workforce immigration took place (including others:)
• Chinese 1852
• Portuguese 1877
• Japanese 1885
• Koreans 1902
• Filipinos 1905

The sugar industry is at the center of Hawaiʻi’s modern diversity of races and ethnic cultures. Of the nearly 385,000-workers that came, many thousands stayed to become a part of Hawai‘i’s unique ethnic mix.

The Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens is a peaceful place to experience various cultural buildings; it was created as tribute and a memorial to Maui’s multi-cultural diversity.

Started in 1952, the park contains several monuments and replica buildings commemorating the Hawaiian, American missionary, Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino cultures that make up a significant part of Hawaiʻi’s cultural mix.

Attractions include an early-Hawaiian hale (house), a New England-style missionary home, a Portuguese-style villa with gardens, native huts from the Philippines, Japanese gardens with stone pagodas and a Chinese pavilion with a statue of revolutionary hero Sun Yat-sen (who briefly lived on Maui.)

It is situated near the entrance to ʻIao Valley in the West Maui Mountain, just above Wailuku. It is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm; admission is free.

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Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens- Gardens

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens – Gardens

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens-Banyan

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens-Hawaiian Hale

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens missionary house

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens-missionary house

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens – New England

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens-Chinese

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens – Sun Yat-sen

Kepaniwai-Japanese_sugarcane_workers-Statue

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens Japanese

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens-Portuguese

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens – Korean

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens-Korean

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens Korean

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens Korean Garden

Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens-Filipino

September 5, 2015 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Hale Kilo Hoku

“In ancient times, the class of people studying the positions of the moon, the rising and setting of certain fixed stars and constellations, and also of the sun, are called the kilo-hoku or astrologers. Their observations of these heavenly bodies might well be called the study of astronomy.”

“The use of astrology anciently, was to predict certain events of fortunes and misfortunes, victory or defeat of a battle, death of king or queen, or any high chief; it also foretells of pestilence, famine, fine or stormy weather and so forth.” (Nupepa Hawaiʻi, April 2, 1909)

Hawaiʻi’s last King, Kalākaua, has been referred to as a Renaissance man. While seeking to revive many elements of Hawaiian culture that were slipping away, the King also promoted the advancement of modern sciences, art and literature … and astronomy.

King Kalākaua has also been described as a monarch with a technical and scientific bent and an insatiable curiosity for modern devices. He became king in 1874. Edison and others were still experimenting with electric lights at that time.

Five years after Kalākaua and Edison met (1881,) Charles Otto Berger, a Honolulu-based insurance executive with mainland connections, organized a demonstration of “electric light” at ʻIolani Palace, on the night of July 26, 1886.

“The first telephone ever used in Honolulu belonged to King Kalākaua. Having been presented to him by the American Bell Telephone Company.” (Daily Bulletin, December 4, 1894) (It followed (1881) the placement of a phone in the White House (1879.))

Kalākaua’s interest in modern astronomy is evidenced by his support for an astronomical expedition to Hawaiʻi in 1874 that came from England to observe a transit of Venus (a passage of Venus in front of the Sun – used to measure an ‘astronomical unit,’ the distance between the Earth and Sun.)

The King allowed the British Royal Society’s expedition a suitable piece of open land for their viewing area; it was not far from Honolulu’s waterfront in a district called Apua (mauka of today’s Waterfront Plaza.)

Kalākaua addressed those astronomers in 1874 stating, “It will afford me unfeigned satisfaction if my kingdom can add its quota toward the successful accomplishment of the most important astronomical observation of the present century and assist, however humbly, the enlightened nations of the earth in these costly enterprises to establish the basis of astronomical distance.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, September 19, 1874)

(When American astronomer Simon Newcomb combined the 18th century data with those from the 1874/1882 Venus transits, he derived an Earth-sun distance of 149.59 +/- 0.31 million kilometers (about 93-million miles,) very close to the results found with modern space technology in the 20th century.)

Kalākaua later helped astronomy with the Transit of Mercury (November 7, 1881.) “The king, Kalākaua, offered me the free occupancy of the site from which the observations of the Transit of Venus were made in December 1874 …” (Rockwell, Royal Astronomical Society)

Kalākaua reinforced his positive feelings toward modern astronomy – and noted the importance of scientific learning versus the financial aspect of it. On November 22, 1880, King Kalākaua wrote to Captain RS Floyd noting his interest in telescopes and astronomy:

“I must thank you sincerely for the pamphlet you sent me of the ‘Lick Observatory Trust.’ Something of this kind is needed here very much but we have so few people who take interest in scientific matters. Everybody is bent upon making money on sugar and the all might dollar.” (King Kalākaua)

The King then took his trip around the world, “Among our passengers on the voyage to San Francisco was a well-known Englishman, a lecturer on astronomy, returning from Australia.”

“’He discussed with the King the astral theories of the Polynesians, which were, it must be confessed, not as advanced as those held by the present generation of Europeans, but quite as valuable as those of learned men two centuries before, who believed that comets were sent by the Almighty to frighten men into obedience.”

“The King became much interested in these semi-scientific conversations, and at the end of the voyage their effect upon him was shown after a not altogether unexpected fashion.” (Judd; Around the World with the King)

Later, in 1881, during his travels to the US, King Kalākaua visited the Lick Observatory in California and was the first to view through its new 12” telescope (which was temporarily set up for that purpose in the unfinished dome.)

“Then that magnificent type of a man, stalwart fellow with black hair, splendid features and bronzed complexion stood before Mr Lick, and said that he had heard what Mr Lick had done, and that he proposed to do for the state, that he thanked him on behalf of humanity.” (Wright)

“Kalākaua arrived … at a crucial time, as the first important astronomical venture on Mount Hamilton was about to be launched. The 12-inch dome was not yet finished.”

They improvised “by mounting the telescope temporarily on the pier in the open air. The next morning … he again went up the ‘hill.’ He told (Thomas Edward) Fraser (builder of the Lick Observatory) he was delighted with what he saw and wanted a transit at his place.” (Wright)

Hawaiʻi had a chance for a Hale Kilo Hoku (observatory or astronomy building (Pukui)) in 1887. Harvard College Observatory issued a circular, “looking about for a suitable site for a station.”

“It appears that by the will of the late Uriah A Boyden, property the present value of which exceeds $230,000 was left in trust for the purpose of astronomical research, ‘at such an elevation as to be free, so far as practicable from the impediments to accurate observations now existing owing to atmospheric influences.’”

“A location in the southern hemisphere will be preferable for various reasons one of which is that ‘the southern stars invisible in Europe and the United States have been less observed than the northern stars and by the aid of a southern station the investigations undertaken at Cambridge can be extended upon a uniform system to all parts of the sky.” (Harvard)

“There is no doubt Professor Alexander (of the Hawaiian Government) will be able to show that the Hawaiian Islands are fully qualified to fulfill some, if not all, of the required conditions (called for in the Harvard prospectus.)” (Daily Herald, April 13, 1887)

“The response to the Circulars was enthusiastic. (Harvard) received letters recommending mountain sites in the Andes and the Himalayas, and in South Africa, Australia, Japan and Hawaiʻi.” (Harvard College Observatory) Harvard chose ‘Mount Harvard’ in Lima Peru for The Boyden Station of Harvard Observatory.

It wasn’t until nearly a century after Hawaiʻi’s participation in the first Transit of Venus that a high elevation observatory was constructed in Hawaiʻi – in 1964, a NASA-funded 12.5-inch telescope was installed on Puʻu Poliahu to see if Mauna Kea provide the right observation conditions.

Dr. Gerard Kuiper’s team began “seeing” studies. Kuiper concluded that “The mountaintop is probably the best site in the world – I repeat – in the world – from which to study the moon, the planets, and stars.” (Ironwood Observatory Research)

At the close of the decade Mauna Kea saw the construction of a 0.6-meter (24-inch) (1968) and 2.2-meter (88-inch) (1970) telescopes, provided to University of Hawaiʻi by the US Air Force and NASA.

These were followed by NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, 3.0-m, 1979; Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, 3.6-m, 1979; United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, 3.8-m, 1979; Keck I and Keck II, each 10-m, 1992 & 1996; Subaru Telescope, 8.3-m, 1999; Gemini Northern Telescope, 8.1-m, 1999; Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, 10.4-m, 1987; James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, 15-m, 1987; Submillimeter Array. 8x6m, 2002; and Very Long Baseline Array, 25m, 1992.

In 1891, while ill in bed, King Kalākaua recorded a message on a wax-type phonograph in the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Kalākaua died in San Francisco a few days later (January 20, 1891.)

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Observatories-Mauna Kea Summit

Kalakaua_1882

Kalakaua_Letter-Concerning_Lick_Observatory_Visit-(BishopMuseum-IfA-Hawaii-edu)

Map of the Summit. ( IFA )

Observation_Huts_in_Honolulu-(copyright-RoyalObservatoryGreenwich)-1874

Testing_in_advance_of_the_Transit-Honolulu-(copyright-RoyalObservatoryGreenwich)-1874

Transit of Venus Survey Marker-Hulihee_Palace-(KonaSkies)

Transit of Venus Plaque-Hulihee_Palace

Transit of Venus-Honolulu-colorized-(maptech-hawai-com)-1874

MaunaKea-Cuillandre-2000

UH 2.2 meter Telescope 1968-1970

Canada France Hawaii Telescope Photo IFA 1979

NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Built in 1979

United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (Photo UKIT) 1979

Caltech Submillimeter Observatory 1987

The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope 1987

The Very Long Baseline Array 1992

Twin Keck (Illustration by Tom Connell) 1992-1996

The Subaru Telescope (Photo Subaru) 1999

The Gemini Northern Observatory 1999

The SubMillimeter Array 2002

Road to the Summit with support buildings IFA

Hale Pohaku Photo IFA

September 1, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Hilo

Hilo Hanakāhi, i ka ua Kanilehua
Hilo of Hanakāhi, where the rain is in the lehua forest
(Naumu)

Each island was divided into several moku (districts,) of which there are six in the island of Hawaiʻi. There is a district called Kona on the lee side and one called Koʻolau on the windward side of almost every island. (Alexander) The moku of Hawaiʻi Island are: Kona, Kohala, Hāmākua, Puna, Kaʻū and Hilo.

In old Hawaiʻi, it was the nature of ‘place’ that shaped the practical, cultural and spiritual view of the Hawaiian people. The name chosen might reflect the physical characteristics of the place, it might recall some event which occurred there, or it might refer to the god or gods which invested that spot.

The meaning of a particular Hawaiian place name might have been evident to all, or understandable only to those intimately familiar with the place and its history. Often times a single place name carried more than one meaning. In addition to its easily discernible descriptive meaning, a place name might also possess a kaona, a hidden meaning.

The name ‘Hilo’ carries several meanings.

Hilo is the name of a renowned Polynesian navigator who is believed to have discovered this coast. His chief, to honor the feat, named the area for him.

Hilo means “twisted,” like a thread or rope as in spun, drawn out and twisted into thread.

Hilo is the name of the first day of the month according to Hawaiian calculation (the first night of the new moon – the first thin, twisted sliver of light.) (It was a favorable day, and the potato, melon and banana seeds planted by the farmer on this day would bear well. (Fornander))

While we call the district and broad Bay Hilo, there are three parts of Hilo: Hilo Pali Kū, Hilo One and Hilo Hanakāhi.

Hilo Pali Kū means “Hilo of the standing cliffs” and refers to the northern part of this moku, where the shore is mainly high, rocky cliffs (extending from the cliffs on Wailuku River to Ka‘ula.)

Hilo One or “Sandy Hilo,” is a stretch of black sand beach fronting the downtown area ( extending from Kanukuokamanu (at the mouth of Wailoa Stream) to Wailuku River.)

Hilo Hanakāhi (the area from Waiākea to the Puna boundary,) named after a great chief of Hilo, is the area south of Kanukuokamanu, where the Wailoa pond meets the ocean. Mokuola, also called Coconut Island, sits in the bay. (Kumukahi) Hanakāhi was renowned for the peace and prosperity of his reign.

Hilo has a long history, and already was populated when the first European visitors arrived. It has been the residence of chiefs and the home of legendary heroes.

The song Hilo Hanakāhi names various places on the island of Hawaii and things for which they were noted: rain, pandanus, wind and sea. The listing is more or less in clockwise direction. The annual makahiki processions went in this order. ʻUmi-a-Liloa was strongly advised by his priests to travel in this fashion.

Pukui notes, when seeking knowledge of the past, to travel with your right (strong) arm on the side of the mountains, where strength lies. Journeys for relaxation or to lessen grief, journey with the sea on the left side, to wash away sorrows and tribulations. (Elbert & Mahoe)

The song, Hilo Hanakāhi, takes the listener on a tour around the Big Island of Hawaiʻi; leaving from Hilo you are taken through eight different districts and learn the physical attributes of each: Hilo, rain in the lehua forest …

… Puna fragrant hala blossoms; Kaʻū , wind scattered dust; Kona, land of calm seas; Kawaihae, a sea that whispers; Kohala, a gusty wind; Waimea, a cold pelting rain and Hāmākua, cliffs where the bird soars, returning to the rain in the lehua forest. (Naumu)

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Hilo-1891-Map_over_Google_Earth

View_of_Hilo,_Mauna_Kea_and_Mauna_Loa_in_the_1820s

Hilo_illustration,_c._1870s

‘Hilo_Bay’,_oil_painting_by_Joseph_Nawahi,_circa_1868

‘View_of_Hilo_Bay’,_oil_painting_by_Joseph_Nawahi,_1888

WLA_haa_Hilo_from_the_Bay_by_James_Gay_Sawkins_1852

View_of_Hilo,_Mauna_Kea_and_Mauna_Loa-Bingham-in_the_1820s

Ke_Kūlanakauhaleʻo_Hilo,_1874

Hilo

Hilo-DMY

Hilo_by_Harvey_Hitchcock-between 1871 and 1891

Edward_Bailey_-_’View_of_Hilo_Bay’,_oil_on_canvas,_c._1875

Charles_Furneaux_-_’Hilo’,_oil_on_canvas,_c._1880s

Near Hilo wharf. Mauna Kea in the background.-(HSA)-PPWD-5-2-011-1895

Beach scene at Hilo Bay, Hawaii-(HSA)-PPWD-5-2-009

August 29, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Greek Artillery

Ua makaukau pono ʻo Liliʻu
Ma na poka ʻAhi Helene. …
Noho hou o Liliʻu i ke Kalaunu.

Liliʻu is readily prepared
With her Greek artillery fire. …
Return again Liliʻu to the throne.
(Hawaiʻi Holomua, February 11, 1893; Chapin)

Greek sailors found their way to the Islands on whalers and trading vessels after 1830. Beginning in the late 1870s, some forty men from the small Mediterranean country migrated and settled on the Big Island and O‘ahu.

They set up produce-growing and shipping operations, cafés, bars, rooming houses, and hotels. (Greek Festival Hawaiʻi)

In 1883, Peter Camarinos, originally from Sparta, opened the California Fruit Market on King Street, near Alakea, in Honolulu, and in 1891, established the Pearl City Fruit Company with other Hawaiian-based businessmen, inspiring relatives and others to venture here. (Lucas)

They were pioneers in exporting pineapples and bananas and other exotic fruits to California markets. He installed refrigeration containers on ships that can hold up to 2,000 lbs. of fruit. Camarinos transported their own goods to market and allowed other businesses to use their refrigeration containers for a fee. (Lucas)

George Lycurgus, known as Uncle George, was a cousin of Camarinos who came to Hawaiʻi in 1887 and played an important role in the development of the San Souci, Hilo Hotel and Kilauea Volcano House. (Gonser)

Migration from Greece in the last third of the 19th Century was primarily due to crop failures and a surplus population that caused wide-spread poverty. A Western technological revolution of cheap and fast steamship and rail travel, along with rapid industrialization, made feasible large scale emigration to America and, on a smaller scale, to Hawaiʻi.

The Greeks came into direct conflict with that small but powerful group of American businessmen who effectively weakened Kalakaua’s government by means of the ‘Bayonet Constitution’ of 1887.

Later, there was a revolution against Queen Liliʻuokalani’s constitutional monarchy and in 1895 a subsequent counter-revolution that attempted to restore her to the throne.

From January 6 to January 9, 1895, patriots of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and the forces that had overthrown the constitutional Hawaiian monarchy were engaged in a war that consisted of three battles on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.

This has frequently been referred to as the “Counter-revolution”. It has also been called the Second Wilcox Rebellion of 1895, the Revolution of 1895, the Hawaiian Counter-revolution of 1895, the 1895 Uprising in Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Civil War, the 1895 Uprising Against the Provisional Government or the Uprising of 1895.

In their attempt to return Queen Liliʻuokalani to the throne, it was the last major military operation by royalists who opposed the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. The goal of the rebellion failed.

It turns out several of the Greek businessmen were royalists and were implicated in getting guns past customs officials, notably, Lycurgus at the San Souci in Waikiki.

Lycurgus was a royalist and was implicated with other counter-revolutionists in supplying arms (1895.) He was arrested, thirteen counts of treason were filed against him and he was held at ‘The Reef’ (Oʻahu Prison) for 52-days. (Chapin)

The beginning chant in this post appeared in Hawaii Holomua shortly after Queen Lili’uokalani’s removal in early 1893; it expressed a strong desire that she regain her throne.

“Greek artillery fire” was a classical and heroic allusion by the poet, but it was also, as events turned out, appropriate in that Greek men in Hawaiʻi during the Revolution and Counterrevolution were loyal to her.

During those years, a dozen or so natives of Greece who were Hawaiʻi residents were involved in the prolonged and ultimately futile struggle to preserve the monarchy. Seven men were active participants, and the rest were royalist sympathizers. (Chapin)

Take part in the Hawaiʻi Greek experience – food, entertainment and marketplace. The 34th annual Greek Festival happens noon to 9 pm, August 29 & 30, 2015 at the McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Park; General Admission $3; Children 11 and under and active military free.

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