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June 21, 2022 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

To the Jubilee

“Monday, June 20th inst., being the 50th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, it is ordered as a mark of respect that all Government offices be closed during the day. L. Aholo, Minister of the Interior. Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, June 15, 1887.”

That wasn’t the only thing … church services, concerts, picnics and royal salutes made up the celebration in the Islands. The Royal Hawaiian Band played “God Save the Queen” at Emma Square.

The longest-reigning British monarch, Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee on June 20 and 21, 1887, marking 50 years of her reign. Fifty foreign kings and princes, along with the governing heads of Britain’s overseas colonies and dominions, attended. (British Monarch)

“I received from my brother, the king, a most unexpected proposition. This was that I should accompany the queen to the grand jubilee at London, in honor of the fiftieth year of the reign of the great and good Queen of Great Britain.”

“It was on a Saturday night early in April that I received this invitation, which I at once accepted. … I then told (my husband) what had transpired between His Majesty and myself, and that it was my wish and intention to accept. He cordially agreed with me, and said that he would like to be of the party”.

“Only a few days of necessary preparation were left to us and by the 12th of April (1887) we were ready to embark on the steamship Australia, by which we had taken passage for San Francisco.” (Liliʻuokalani)

Queen Kapiʻolani brought along Liliʻuokalani to serve as Kapiʻolani’s interpreter. Even though Kapiʻolani was raised to understand English, she would speak only Hawaiian. Newspapers noted that Liliʻuokalani was fluent in English while Kapiʻolani spoke ‘clumsily.’ (UH Manoa Library)

Their entourage for the trip included Liliʻuokalani’s husband General John Owen Dominis; Curtis Piʻehu ʻIaukea, Governor of Oʻahu; Colonel James Harbottle Boyd and four servants. (Mr Sevellon A Brown, chief clerk of the US State Department; Captain Daniel M Taylor, US War Department; and Lieutenant Christopher Raymond Perry Rodgers, US Navy Department accompanied them on the continent.)

They stopped off in San Francisco for a week where Lili‘uokalani tended her sick husband. They passed through Sacramento where most of them experienced snow for the first time. (OHA)

“A special train of three cars – kindly placed at the disposal of the excursionists by the D&RG (Denver & Rio Grande Railroad) … (was) reserved for their use over the D&RG system”. (Salt Lake Herald, April 30, 1887) They headed for the Great Salt Lake in Utah where they met with prominent elders of the Mormon Church. (OHA)

“Half an hour before the time for the train to arrive people began to gather at the depot. Whole schools of young children accompanied by their teachers flocked upon the platform and their number swelled by ladies and gentlemen made a crowd of several hundred people”.

“… the crowd gathered around the coach eager to get a glance at the Queen, a line was formed in the rear car and quite a number passed through the coach to shake the royal hand. The Queen received them all with a gracious smile in recognition of the courtesies shown her…. As the train pulled out of the depot the band played ‘Yankee Doodle’”. (Salt Lake Evening Democrat, April 29, 1887)

In Chicago, “The Kanakas’ Queen, Kapiʻolani and Suite in Chicago Enroute to Washington … “for the first time Chicago was visited by a real live queen. Her name is Kapiʻolani and she is the Queen of the Sandwich Islands There were no soldiers drawn up in line to receive her when the Burlington train roiled into the West Side station promptly at 2 p m and the populace consisted of an idle crowd of railroad men a few dozen curiosity hunters and two or three persistent reporters.”

“There was no one to cry in soft Kanaka ‘Aloha’ or ‘Love to you’ and as for the hundreds of people who at that hour alight from incoming trains they pursued their way all unmindful of the presence of royalty and its retinue.” (Fort Worth Gazette, May 6, 1887)

Unlike her visit to Chicago, in Washington DC, when the royal entourage arrived at Arlington Hotel, “There were scores of people at the station and hotel when her Majesty and suite arrived, and the crowd pushed hither and thither to get a glimpse of the company. Never before in the history of the Republic has a genuine Queen of a foreign power visited the United States.” (Sacramento Daily Union, May 4, 1887)

“Queen Kapiʻolani, wife of the Hawaiian King, was presented to the President and Mrs Cleveland today. The ceremony took place in the Blue Room. … Kapiʻolani is the first Queen to cross the White House threshold. … she carries herself with stately dignity”. (New York Tribune, May 5, 1887)

Under director John Philip Sousa, the band played ‘Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi,” Hawaiʻi’s national anthem and the “Star Spangled Banner.” Earlier, Kapiʻolani gave the former’s score to the band. (UH Mānoa, Library)

“After spending a few days here (Washington DC) sight-seeing she will go to New York. From there she goes to England to be present at the Queen’s jubilee. She has never been out of her own country before, and is quite anxious to see the “greatest woman on the face of earth,” as she calls Queen Victoria.” (The Stark Democrat, Ohio, May 5, 1887)

After a few days in New York City, Queen Kapiʻolani and her entourage departed for England, where they attended the Queen’s Jubilee.

Upon their return from Europe, Queen Kapi‘olani and her entourage stopped again in Washington, D.C. At that time, they toured the National Museum, later to become the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. As a result of that visit, Queen Kapi‘olani gifted the museum with a Hawaiian outrigger canoe to add to their collection. (OHA)

Queen Kapiʻolani had left the Islands under stress. Just before she left, Liliʻuokalani and Kalākaua’s sister, Miriam Likelike, wife of Archibald Cleghorn and mother of Princess Kaʻiulani, died on February 2, 1887. Her return was under stress, and expedited, as well. Rather than visits and state affairs, she limited her time.

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee was held on June 20 and 21, 1887. On June 30, 1887, the Honolulu Rifles demanded that King Kalākaua dismiss his cabinet and form a new one. Within days, with firearms in hand, the Hawaiian League presented King Kalākaua with a new constitution. Kalākaua signed the constitution under threat of use of force. (hawaiibar-org) As a result, the new constitution earned the nickname, The Bayonet Constitution.

“Queen Kapiʻolani and party reached (New York) from London (on July 11.) The queen expressed a wish to return home as soon as possible consistent with the health of the suite. It was decided not to stop more than a day or two at the longest in New York.”

“The queen … had been inclined to tears when she first heard the news of the Hawaiian revolution”. (Bismarck Weekly Tribune, July 15, 1887) Queen Kapiʻolani returned to Hawai‘i on July 26, 1887.

© 2022 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Queen Kapiolani wearing the peacock gown, and Princess Liliuokalani in London-PP-97-14-009-1887
Queen Kapiolani wearing the peacock gown, and Princess Liliuokalani in London-PP-97-14-009-1887
Kapiolani_and_Liliuokalani_at_the_Stewart_Estate,_England,_1887
Kapiolani_and_Liliuokalani_at_the_Stewart_Estate,_England,_1887
Princess_Liliuokalani-at Queen's_Jubilee-S00012-1887
Princess_Liliuokalani-at Queen’s_Jubilee-S00012-1887
Kapiolani_and_Liliuokalani_at_the_Stewart_Estate,_England_1887
Kapiolani_and_Liliuokalani_at_the_Stewart_Estate,_England_1887
Queen Kapiolani at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, Westminster Abbey-PP-97-15-011-June_21,_1887
Queen Kapiolani at Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, Westminster Abbey-PP-97-15-011-June_21,_1887
Kapiolani Canoe-Na Mea Makamae o Hawaii-National Museum of Natural History- 2004–05
Kapiolani Canoe-Na Mea Makamae o Hawaii-National Museum of Natural History- 2004–05

Filed Under: Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance Tagged With: Hawaii, Liliuokalani, Kalakaua, Queen Victoria, Kapiolani, Jubilee, Bayonet Constitution

October 22, 2018 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Mission Jubilee

“Fifty years ago it looked like a gigantic task that would require perhaps two centuries to perform, but under the power of God it was effected in half a century. Let this glorious triumph stimulate all evangelical churches to strengthen and enlarge their missionary operations in foreign lands.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)

“The fiftieth anniversary of the introduction Christianity into these Islands will be celebrated this year as a jubilee, the Government, through the Minister of Interior, having given public notice that Wednesday, June 15th, will be a national holiday. … A hymn for the occasion has been prepared by Rev. L Lyons, of Hawai‘i”. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 4, 1870)

“The present week having been designated for the observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the landing of the first American Missionaries on Hawaii, in April 1820, the exercises have partaken of a character designed to celebrate the event.”

“The very idea of such a festival stirred up great enthusiasm among the native population, who have been eager to manifest their appreciation of the efforts of the missionaries, and their joy at the improved state; and nearly five hundred dollars were contributed by them during April to aid in the celebration. The exercises opened on Sunday morning, when both the native congregations in this city united at Kawaiahaʻo Church to hear.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 18, 1870)

“It was fitting, at the close of the half century from the landing of the mission on the Sandwich Islands, should be a formal recognition of God’s signal blessing on the enterprise. A Jubilee celebration was accordingly planned by the Hawaiian Board for some time in the month of June, 1870, the usual time for the annual meeting of the mission; and the Prudential Committee of the American Board, and the English missions in the South Pacific, were invited to be present by their representatives.” (Anderson)

“(T)he king (Kamehameha V) proclaimed Wednesday, June 15th, a national holiday, as it was to be observed in commemoration of ‘the introduction of Christianity into this kingdom, under the auspices and direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.’” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)

June 12, 1870

“On Sabbath morning June 12th, the two native congregations in Honolulu united, in the Kawaiaha‘o or great Stone Church, to hear the Rev. Mr. Kuaea, the distinguished native pastor, preach the Jubilee sermon. It was of course in the Hawaiian language. Every seat in the church was occupied, and benches were brought in till all available space was filled. As many as twenty-five hundred persons were seated.”

“At half past ten, the officiating clergymen, seven in number, entered the pulpit; when there was a voluntary skillfully played, by Mrs. Governor Dominis, on the powerful organ belonging to the church.

“After a short prayer by the Rev. B. W. Parker, a hymn in the native language, composed for the occasion, was sung by a choir of fifty Hawaiian singers.” (Anderson)

“Mr. Kuaea’s text was Lev. xxv. 11: ‘A Jubilee shall the fiftieth year be to you.’ The discourse was not less noticeable for its orderly arrangement, than for its matter, and occupied an hour in the delivery, during which the preacher is said not to have referred to note or memorandum of any kind.”

“In the course of his sermon, he called attention to the wonderful change that had been brought about in the short space of half a century. The Hawaiians he said, were a law-abiding, Sabbath-keeping people; and so general was education among them, that it was extremely rare to find a man or woman who could not both read and write.” (Anderson)

“In the evening, members of the royal family, government officials, and foreign ministers, assembled to hear an interesting historical discourse by the Rev. Dr. Damon.”

June 13 and 14, 1870

“The most interesting features of Monday and Tuesday, June 13th and 14th, were the reading of memorial essays by Mrs. Thurston and Mrs. Whitney, the only survivors of the pioneer missionaries. They gave many interesting reminiscences of their life among the natives.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870) (That church was again filled”. (Anderson)

June 15, 1870

“Wednesday will be a holiday, and the proceedings can best be inferred from these programmes, which have been prepared for the occasion:

Jubilee Procession, June 15th, 10 am
Form at Kawaiaha‘o, at 9 am, under the direction of Major Moehonua, assisted by SB Dole Esq and others
Order of Procession.
Band.
Kawaiaha‘o Sabbath Schools.
Members of the Hawaiian Evangelical Association, and Clergymen of all Denominations.
Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society.
Lahainaluna Alumni.
Members of the Legislature.
Kaumakaplli Sabbath School.
Fort Street and Bethel Sabbath Schools.
Citizens Generally.

The procession will start at 10 am from Kawaiaha‘o Church, move down King to Richards street, up Richards to Beretania, thence to Nu‘uanu and King, and back to Kawaiaha‘o Church”. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 11, 1870)

“On Wednesday, the great day of the week, large numbers of the native men, women, and children, all neatly attired, formed in a grand procession. A detachment of native soldiers joined in the march, and the children of the various Sunday-schools marched together, with flags and banners, making an imposing appearance.”

“(King Kamehameha V) and the various government and foreign officials, were present at the church, where services were held, together – with about 3,000 people, and many more were unable to gain admission.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)

“Wednesday was the Jubilee, and a day long to be remembered on these Islands. The people attended in great numbers, and the day was as pleasant as could have been desired. The Kawaiaha‘o was tastefully decorated by the hands of ladies. A procession was formed at ten o’clock. Two companies of infantry and one of cavalry, all native soldiers, did honor to the occasion.”

“The legislature, had adjourned, and the members were in attendance, with the older missionaries, in carriages. The younger ministers, the native preachers and delegates, the faculty of Oahu College, the alumni of Lahainaluna Seminary, and the Mission Children’s Society, added numbers and dignity to the display.”

“But the most interesting feature, of the procession was the array of children from the Sabbath-schools of the two native and two foreign churches of the city, eight hundred in number, all in neat holiday attire, and each school with its beautiful banner. The place of martial music was well supplied by hymns, ringing out in a multitude of harmonious youthful voices.”

“The children occupied the spacious galleries of the church, and the body of the house was filled to repletion by adults. the king then entered, with Queen Emma, queen dowager, and attended by his ministers. He was received by the audience standing, the choir singing a version of ‘God save the King,’ in the Hawaiian language.”

“The scene was impressive. On the front of the gallery was the inscription in evergreen, ‘1820-JUBILEE -1870; and beneath, the national motto ‘Ua mau ka ea o ka aina, i ka pono,’ ‘The, Life of the Land is preserved by Righteousness.’”

“The king sat at the right of the pulpit, and behind him were the members of his cabinet, and the diplomatic representatives of foreign nations. On the left were the missionaries; and a great mass of natives, numbering perhaps three thousand, crowded the edifice; and there was believed to be a greater number outside.”

“After prayer in Hawaiian, by Dr. Lowell Smith, and singing by the choir, Dr. Clark speaking in behalf of the American Board, made remarks; which the Rev. HH Parker, pastor of the native church, translated sentence by sentence into the native tongue.”

“The choir now sang, in Hawaiian, the hymn commencing ‘No mortal eye that land hath seen, Beyond, beyond the river.’ after which addresses were delivered by Hon. C. C. Harris, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. HA Pierce, American Minister Resident, the Rev. Artemas Bishop, the oldest of the resident missionaries, the Hon. D. Kalākaua, of the House of Nobles, the Hon. Mr. Aholo, of the Legislative Assembly, and the Rev. Mr. Kauwealoha, who had spent the last seventeen years as a missionary at the Marquesas Islands.”

“After the benediction, the assembly retired to the adjoining well-shaded grounds, where a collation was spread … such as had never before been seen on those Islands. His Majesty the King, and Queen Emma, honored the feast by their presence for a brief space.” (Anderson)

“In the afternoon a feast was given, at which nearly 7,000 persons partook, and to which the King made the royal contribution of 10,000 lbs. of poi, 20 hogs, 8 sheep, 400 mullet fishes, 1 bullock, &c.” (Christian Work, 1870) “The king had previously contributed (most of the food) and afterwards he gave a hundred dollars towards expenses.” (Anderson)

“The exercises of the week were participated in by Hawaiian, English, American, and natives of Tahiti and the Marquesas, ‘all freely mingling together and enjoying the profuse hospitality of a genial host.’ Connected with the missionary work are two literary institutions, the Oahu College and the Kawaiaha‘o Female Seminary.”

“From all this may be gathered some idea of the magnitude of the work accomplished by a few missionaries among a heathen and degraded people.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)

This is a summary; click HERE for more information on the Mission Jubilee.

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Kawaiahao_Church-King-Punchbowl-dirt-roads-PP-15-11-015-00001
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Filed Under: Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings Tagged With: American Protestant Missionaries, Hawaiian Mission, Hawaii, Jubilee, Missionaries

June 13, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Three Events that Prepared the Way

“The fiftieth anniversary of the introduction Christianity into these Islands will be celebrated this year as a jubilee”. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 4, 1870) “(T)he king (Kamehameha V) proclaimed Wednesday, June 15th, a national holiday …”

“… as it was to be observed in commemoration of ‘the introduction of Christianity into this kingdom, under the auspices and direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.’” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)

“The present week having been designated for the observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the landing of the first American Missionaries on Hawaii, in April 1820, the exercises have partaken of a character designed to celebrate the event.”

“The very idea of such a festival stirred up great enthusiasm among the native population, who have been eager to manifest their appreciation of the efforts of the missionaries, and their joy at the improved state …”

“… and nearly five hundred dollars were contributed by them during April to aid in the celebration. The exercises opened on Sunday morning, when both the native congregations in this city united at Kawaiahaʻo Church to hear.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 18, 1870)

Later, a “collation was spread for six or seven thousand people, such as had never before been seen on those Islands. His Majesty the King (Kamehameha V), and Queen Emma, honored the feast by their presence for a brief space. The king had previously contributed two thousand pounds of poi, with meat and fish, and afterwards he gave a hundred dollars towards expenses.” (Anderson)

“On Sabbath morning June 12th, the two native congregations in Honolulu united, in the Kawaiaha‘o or great Stone Church, to hear the Rev. Mr. Kuaea, the distinguished native pastor, preach the Jubilee sermon.” (Anderson)

“It was of course in the Hawaiian language. Every seat in the church was occupied, and benches were brought in till all available space was filled. As many as twenty-five hundred persons were seated.”

“In the evening, members of the royal family, government officials, and foreign ministers, assembled to hear an interesting historical discourse by the Rev. Dr. Damon.”

“The speaker noticed the occurrences which led to the coming of missionaries to the Islands, the remarkable results achieved, and expressed the opinion that the Chinese in time would take the place of the present people, who seem to be declining.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)

Damon spoke, in part, about three events that formed the foundation for the success of the Hawaiian Islands Mission – and the reason for celebration of the Jubilee.

He noted, “During the forty-two years after the Islands were discovered by Cook, or during a longer period than one whole generation, the inhabitants of these Islands lived and died unvisited by Gospel Missionaries, or unblessed with the light of Divine Revelation. …”

“The introduction of Christianity among the in habitants of any nation, savage, semi-civilized, or civilized, is a great event. The case of the Hawaiians forms no exception to this remark. It has appeared becoming to commemorate this event by a Jubilee gathering, and other anniversary meetings and exercises …”

“In a careful review of the history of the Hawaiian nation previous to 1820, I think there are three great and leading events which prepared the way for the new order of things, viz.:….”

“… The conquest of the Islands by Kamehameha I, and the consolidation of the government under one ruler; the visit to the United States of Obookiah (‘Ōpūkaha’ia) and his Hawaiian associates, Thomas Hopu and others; the abolition of idolatry, and the utter renunciation of the old tabu system.”

“These three events, I deem of vast moment, if a person, would take a clear, calm, and philosophical view of the great event, which we are gathered to commemorate. The Hawaiians were led through a period of forty years’ wanderings, even after their existence was known to the civilized world, before they were permitted to enter the Land of Promise.”

“(F)or seventy years (the Kamehameha Dynasty) has stood as firmly, and exercised its functions as efficiently for the welfare of the people of these Islands, as that of any other government on earth. A glance at other nations would disclose the existence of wars, turmoils and revolutions, far more disastrous than have existed here during the past seventy years.”

“I do not hesitate to regard the establishment of a regularly ordered and firmly administered government, although despotic, by Kamehameha I, as a very necessary and important step towards the successful spread of the Christian religion, when the time came for the arrival of the American Mission.”

“It has been reported by some, that Vancouver was instructed by Kamehameha I to send Missionaries from England to these Islands, but the project failed from causes now unknown.”

“The visit of that great English navigator has ever been regarded as among the memorable events in the early history of these Islands, but that was of trifling moment compared with the influence which Obookiah and Lis associates exerted in behalf of this Kingdom and people.”

“He was educated for a priest, to an idol temple, but the Great Ruler of nations led him to forsake his home, embark on board an American ship, by which he reached the United States, in 1809. … “

“The arrival or Obookiah led the Rev. SJ Mills Jr, thus to write to his friend, Gordon Hall ‘What does this mean? brother Hall, do you understand it? Shall he be sent back unsupported to reclaim his countrymen? …”

“… Shall we not rather consider these Southern Islands a proper place for the establishment of a mission?’ This is the first allusion to the subject or a christian mission to the Islands, which I have met with in any American publication.”

“His subsequent career for ten years was identified with the Cornwall Foreign Mission school, in Connecticut, and with efforts to awaken an interest In behalf of the Hawaiian Islands as a mission field.”

“Persons who have not carefully reviewed the rise of the Foreign Missionary enterprise In New England, from 1810 to 1820, can with difficulty realize how prominently Obookiah stood before the religious community in America”

“He travelled through the New England States addressing large assemblies. His name became as familiarly known among the churches as that of the most prominent minister of the Gospel.”

“(D)estruction of Idolatry and the abolition of the Tabu system … is one of the most remarkable events not only in the history of the Hawaiian but of the world. It is without a parallel, either in ancient or modern times.”

“It was altogether an unheard of event in the history of idolatrous nation, for any one to cast aside its Idols, unless others were adopted in their place, or their idols were cast aside for the people to embrace Christianity.”

“Hawaiians cast aside theirs, and did not take others In their place, nor were Influenced thereto by the messengers of gospel truth, for as yet the missionaries had not landed on these shores, and it was not known that they were on voyage hither.”

“‘Hath a nation changed their gods, which are as yet no gods?’ asks the prophet Jeremiah. He did not ask, ‘Hath a nation cast aside their gods?’”

“We have now arrived at a point in our historical review, when it is fitting we should carefully consider, the special event which gives significance to this Jubilee Day. The Anniversary of the landing of the Pioneer Missionaries”.

“Soon after the landing of the pioneer band of Missionaries, stations were taken on Hawaii, Oahu, and Kauai. The King and Chiefs were led to adopt a most liberal and enlightened policy in regard to grants of land and other privileges.”

“The history of no Christian Mission, in ancient or modern times, reveals a more cordial welcome to the messengers of the Gospel. For the most part, that policy has been uniformly continued through the entire half-century which has since elapsed.”

“Fully to appreciate those labors, the observer must review the nation’s history prior to the arrival of those judicial and legal gentlemen who have labored in conducting this people from their Feudal state and system, to the adoption of a Constitutional Monarchy.”

“The whole time allotted for this discourse might be fully employed in repeating the narrative of American, French and English aggressions.”

“The only wonder is, that the nation now remains free and independent, when we reflect upon the strong tide of revolution which has raged, and which has swept away the native governments of the Society Islands, New Zealand, Fiji, and other Polynesian groups.”

“While I acknowledge the jealousies of rival Great Powers has had something to do in this matter, I will not ignore the fact, that from 1820 to 1870, the American Missionaries on these Islands have uniformly combined to form a strong conservative element to uphold the throne.”

“Democratic or Republican by birth and education, they have rallied for the support of the Hawaiian Government, represented by the Kamehameha Dynasty.”

“The fact is patent, that from the landing of the Missionaries to the present time, they have exerted a greater or less influence upon the general policy and administration of the government. I make no attempt to ignore or conceal this fact …”

“… but I challenge the world, to show that this influence, direct or indirect, has not been good, salutary, and conservative. I can point to the Bill of Rights … as embodying those principles which the Missionaries had taught the Rulers of these Islands, and you will find them in harmony with the Magna Chart of England, and the Declaration of American Independence. …”

“We do not thus assemble because the results of Missionaries and philanthropic labor reflect so much honor upon man or any human agency, as upon God the Great Head of Church. The work has been God’s work. As we have seen, He prepared the way, for the introduction of the Christian religion. God’s mighty power has ever been recognized and acknowledged.”

Samuel-Chenery-Damon
Samuel-Chenery-Damon

Filed Under: Prominent People, Economy, General, Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings Tagged With: Hawaii, Jubilee, Samuel Damon, Missionaries, 1870

January 25, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Queen Kapiʻolani’s Canoe

In April 1887, Queen Kapiʻolani and Princess Liliʻuokalani traveled to England to participate in the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.  They first sailed to San Francisco, traveled by train across the North American continent, spent some time in Washington and New York; they then sailed to England.

Upon their return from Europe, Queen Kapiʻolani and her entourage stopped again in Washington, DC. At that time, they toured the National Museum, later to become the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. As a result of that visit, Queen Kapiʻolani gifted the museum with a Hawaiian outrigger canoe to add to their collection.  (OHA)

“The royal yacht of Queen Kapiʻolani of Hawaii is in the National museum, and may be passed and re-passed without attracting the notice of the sight-seeker.”

“High against the eastern wall it is placed, and from the floor little can be seen except the small sail of straw. This royal boat was once a log, and with rude instruments was hollowed into the semblance of a canoe, making a craft 18 feet long and but 18 inches wide.”

“It is such a boat as the Hawaiians used long before Columbus sailed on his voyage to a new country, and it was in such a boat that the Hawaiians sailed from the western Islands in the Pacific to the Samoan islands.”

“The little craft is what is known as an outrigger canoe, and has a small float extended on arms from either side of the canoe. This plan renders it impossible for the boat to be upset.”

“The sail is of the rudest kind, made of plaited straw, supported on rudely-hewn masts.  In the boat is a gourd to be used for bailing out the water and also a net with which to catch fish.”

“In such a boat the proud queen of the Hawaiians went forth, on the waters of her country to woo the cool breezes of the ocean. In the bottom of the boat is found the strangest thing of all, a small English flag of the commonest type, which the queen was wont to place in the stern of her pleasure boat.”

“… Liliʻuokalani was asked lately if she remembered this craft of her royal sister-in-law, and answered that she did most distinctly, and even related the circumstance which led to the boat being given to the museum.”

She noted, “I accompanied Queen Kapiʻolani on her visit to England in 1887, and on our return we stopped for some time in this city. One day I accompanied the queen and her party, consisting of Col. Boyd, Col Iaukea and Gen. Dominis, to the museum.”

“After looking around the different apartments the curator showed us a boat, something like a canoe, with a man at the bow, and asked the queen if our canoes were like that in Hawaii. The queen, said yes, and that she would be pleased to contribute one to the museum on her return to her own country.” (Washington Post; Decatur Daily, August 30, 1897)

When Queen Kapiʻolani sent this fishing canoe to the Smithsonian, it was already quite old. A hole at the bottom of the canoe suggests that it had hit a reef and would have been difficult to repair. (Smithsonian)

Outrigger canoes of this kind were formerly quite extensively used for fishing and other purposes by the natives in Hawaiʻi, in the Sandwich Islands, but in recent years they have been superseded by boats more conventional in their construction and better adapted to the needs of the fisherman.  (Smithsonian)

This is an open, sharp-ended, round-bottomed, keelless dugout canoe, with low superstructure fastened to upper part of hull, and provided with small balance log lashed to the ends of two outriggers.  It is rigged with a single mast and loose-footed spritsail.  (Smithsonian)  The canoe was added to the Smithsonian collection on January 25, 1888.

The canoe was refurbished for a subsequent display in the National Museum of Natural History exhibit “Na Mea Makamae o Hawaiʻi – Hawaiian Treasures,” 2004-2005.

Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education (SCMRE) collaborated closely with the National Museum of Natural History to restore a 19th-century Hawaiian outrigger canoe; it is reportedly the oldest existing Hawaiian canoe in the world.

In the years since Hawaii’s Queen Kapiʻolani presented the canoe to the Smithsonian, the boat’s wood had deteriorated. A SCMRE team, including a senior furniture conservator, restored the bow, stern and an outrigger boom and replaced the original coconut-fiber lashings. Wherever possible they used materials that were both handmade and native to Hawaii.  (Smithsonian)

Throughout the years of late-prehistory, AD 1400s – 1700s, and through much of the 1800s, the canoe was a principal means of travel in ancient Hawaiʻi.  Canoes were used for interisland and inter-village coastal travel.

Most permanent villages initially were near the ocean and at sheltered beaches, which provided access to good fishing grounds, as well as facilitating convenient canoe travel.

Although the canoe was a principal means of travel in ancient Hawaiʻi, extensive cross-country trail networks enabled gathering of food and water and harvesting of materials for shelter, clothing, medicine, religious observances and other necessities for survival.

These trails were usually narrow, following the topography of the land.  Sometimes, over ‘a‘ā lava, they were paved with water-worn stones.   Back then, land travel was only foot traffic, over little more than trails and pathways.

The image shows Kapiʻolani’s Canoe in the Na Mea Makamae o Hawaiʻi exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History, 2004–2005.  In addition, I have included other related images in a folder of like name in the Photos section on my Facebook and Google+ pages.

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© 2015 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Filed Under: Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Hawaiian Traditions Tagged With: Hawaii, Liliuokalani, Queen Victoria, Kapiolani, Smithsonian, Jubilee, Canoe

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