Tetautua

“The voyage of the Tetautua is as remarkable as that of the Japanese junk which came ashore here in the early fifties or sixties. The Islands are the dumping ground of all kinds of ocean flotsam and jetsam.”

Early in the year 1898 the clipper schooner Tetautua was lost to its bearings about a week out of Papeete, Tahiti, and eighty-two days from the beginning of the voyage arrived May 21, 1898 at the port of Ho‘okena, Hawai‘i. (HHS)

“She had sailed from Tahiti for Penrhyn Island (also called Tongareva, Mangarongaro, Hararanga and Te Pitaka), but, a short time after her departure, a terrific storm broke, before which she was driven for several hours.”

“In this gale the compass was lost, and the crew, unable to navigate the small vessel, insufficiently supplied for a voyage of any length, decided merely to go with wind and tide. The amazing fact is that the schooner is not drifting yet.”

“For forty-two days the crew had no water except what could be caught in sails, and at times suffered severely from thirst.” (Farrell, Pacific Marine Review, December 1920)

“Said (Sheriff) Lazaro: ‘The Tetautua arrived in Ho‘okena (on the Island of Hawai‘i) on May 21st. There was an abundance of food such as flour and rice aboard but no firewood with which to cook it.”

“As to water, it happened that three days before sighting Hawaii, they were blessed with a shower which gave them about three gallons. Previous to this they had suffered for many days from thirst. When the schooner arrived at Ho‘okena the people aboard were in a pitiable state.’”

“‘I furnished them with all the necessaries in the line of eatables and they were made very comfortable.’”

“‘When the Tahitians began to look about them they expressed great wonder at various objects unknown in their native land. Never did they once complain about their ill luck; a more affable set of people I have never met. They are graceful in the extreme and were thankful for the favors done them.’”

“‘The Tahitian language is so very similar to the Hawaiian, that it was not long before I could understand them as well as people of my own race.’”

“‘They do not pronounce their words in a very distinct manner but seem to depend on the sound and force placed on the various syllables for the meaning which they wish to convey.’”

“‘When they first came ashore they shouted ‘Tanotapu,’ one of the islands, near their home. When they spied some of us on horseback they shook their heads signifying a mistake and called our animals ‘pua-a hele honua’ which means pigs that travel over the earth.’”

“‘We told them they had landed in Hawai‘i. This word they could not say but persisted in calling it ‘Pahi.’”

“‘The sympathy of the people of Ho‘okena was with the castaway Tahitians from the moment they landed. They were to have been given a big luau on Tuesday but it was necessary for the vessel to make Honolulu so there was a regular hookupu and all the eatables were sent aboard.’” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, May 27, 1898)

“There were eight Tahitians aboard the Tetautua when she arrived at Honolulu, and one Frenchman had quit her at Ho‘okena and preceded her to Honolulu”. (Farrell, Pacific Marine Review, December 1920)

“‘On Sunday night the captain of the vessel gave a short and interesting talk in the church, telling of the voyage and of some of the customs and laws of his country.’”

“‘Upon arrival off port on Wednesday night, the Tahitians threw up their hands and shouted ‘Honolulu’ as if they were arriving back in their own home.’”

“Deputy Sheriff Lazaro will return to his home on the Mauna Loa today. He is an old sailor and, on that account was entrusted with the mission of piloting the Tetautua to this port.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, May 27, 1898)

“The British schooner Tetautua which drifted in towards the Kau coast some time ago, sailed for her home in Tahiti yesterday morning. She was sent back in charge of Captain Cook, an old sea captain, well acquainted with the Islands of the South Pacific.” (Hawaiian Gazette, June 10, 1898)

“From (Captain John Cook) a Honolulu gentleman received the following letter by the Moana: Tahite, City of Papeete, July 18, 1898 …”

“‘Friend Charley: Arrived here safe and sound, after a passage of thirty-eight days. We stopped at Hoaheine Island one day to get provisions, and reached this place last night. Mail steamer leaves at 9 this morning. Do not know yet what I will no. Give my aloha to all my friends. Yours truly, John W Cook.’” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, August 22, 1898)

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