King Kahekili, from Maui who had conquered O‘ahu, was living at Waikiki on May 25, 1787 when the British fur-trader Imperial Eagle (Master William Barkley) became the first Western ship to anchor in Waikiki Bay.
Her Log on that date records that the ship “hove to in a sandy bay under the lee of the island [O‘ahu], SW, to ENE, off-shore about one mile, sounded twenty-five fathoms, coral rock.”
“At noon, light breezes and hazy. Came alongside several canoes with fish. One of the natives remained on board signifying an intention to go in the ship.”
“(T)his appears to be the first record of any vessel at Waikiki” (Howay), explaining that the King George (Nathaniel Portlock) and the Queen Charlotte (George Dixon) while visiting during the preceding year in nearby Maunalua Bay, had not anchored in Waikiki Bay. (McClellan)
Recorded history suggests that in May 1787 Wynee (also spelled Winee) was the first Hawaiian to leave the islands on a western ship, the British ship Imperial Eagle. She served as the personal servant of the captain’s wife. (Duncan)
“This lady (Barkley’s wife) was so pleased with the amicable manners of poor Wynee, that she felt a desire to take her to Europe; and for that purpose she took her, with the consent of her friends, under her own particular care and protections.” (Meares)
Wynee is described by Mrs. Barkley as an engaging young woman, of fine character, quick to please, anxious to learn, and an agreeable companion. (McClellan)
The Imperial Eagle reached Nootka Sound (Vanucouver Island) about the middle of June, 1787. (Howay) Wynee was the first Hawaiian to visit the northwest coast of America. (McClellan)
The next Hawaiian to see the Northwest Coast was Kaiana, a chief of Kauai. He was taken by Meares in the Nootka to China in September, 1787. After spending some months there he sailed with Meares in January, 1788, for the Northwest Coast. (Howay)
Captain Barkley sailed for China in about three months. Soon after his arrival at Canton in November, 1787, he gave up his plans to return to Hawaii and America. So, Wynee was left stranded in Canton. (McClellan)
About January of 1788, Wynee sailed from Canton aboard the British vessel Felice, commanded by John Meares, for the northwest coast. On board was Kaiana. (McClellan)
Wynee became ill. “(T)he poor, unfortunate woman justified our fears concerning her, that she would never again see her friends or native land.”
“She every day declined in strength, and nothing remained for us, but to ease the pains of her approaching dissolution, which no human power could prevent.” (Meares)
“Nor did we fail, I believe, in any attention that humanity could suggest, or that it was in our power to bestow. She had been for some time a living spectre, and on the morning of the fifth of February (1788) she expired.”
“At noon her body was committed to the deep; nor was it thought an unbecoming act to grace her remains with the formalities of that religion which opens wide its arms to the whole human race, of every colour, and under every clime, to the savage as well as to the saint and the sage.” (Meares)
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