The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. Historical sketch written by Kevin Fraley ©1997. Submitted by Kevin Fraley May 2, 1997. Both above notices must remain when copied or downloaded. swimref@cmc.net First Visit by a US Naval Vessel to Hawaii, 1826 "The Battle of Honolulu" The first visit to the Hawaiian Islands, then known as the Sandwich Islands, by the US Navy was in 1826 when the warship USS Dolphin came into port in Honolulu. The ship was commanded by Lieutenant John Percival, now known as "Mad Jack" Percival, perhaps as a result of this affair. The Dolphin had been at sea for many months, and discipline had only barely been maintained, both by the cat-of-nine-tails and by the promise of liberty in the Polynesian islands. The sailors, many from puritanical New England, had been hearing for years about the warm welcome to be expected from the women of the South Sea. Anticipation had been building for months, but unfortunately for the eager tars someone had beaten them to the punch. The first American missionaries, also from New England, had arrived six years earlier, and already they had experienced unbelievable success. There had been an almost instantaneous mass conversion, led by the young King Liholiho (who declared the old religion dead) and his mother the regent and former Queen Kaahumanu, who still ruled with her Prime Minister Kalanimoku. Virtually the first thing the missionaries sought to radically change were island sexual practices, and a new law was proclaimed strictly banning indiscriminate promiscuity. Amazingly enough, this law was being pretty generally followed. The sailors couldn't wait to get ashore, but quickly were enraged to find that this promised land did not intend to keep this particular promise. The crew, which had already been issued a copious ration of rum, became a dangerous mob and returned to the ship to demand that the captain rectify this unbearable situation. The captain and other officers were com- pletely sympathetic, they had been at sea just as long and their expecta- tions were just as high. It must also be remembered that they were in a bad position -- Captain Bligh had lost his ship only a few years earlier in a similar situation. Captain Percival immediately sent an urgent message to the court, demanding a royal audience and proclaiming that denying his crew their hard-earned recreation with the wahines was nothing less than an insult to the American flag. The Queen, in a letter, responded, pointing out that she had every right to proclaim laws for her own subjects, that this law did not apply to foreign women, only Hawaiians, and that its purpose was not hostile to the United States but was for the care and protection of her subjects, to save their society from vice and degradation. She also pointed out that visitors to any foreign land were expected to conform to local law and custom. The Queen's letter, hand delivered by the governor of Oahu (a great honor to show every courtesy), does not seem to have cut any ice with the Yankee lieutenant, who flew into an uncontrollable rage. He shouted that he was through writing letters and would see the Queen in person immediate- ly, and if he ran across the leader of the cursed missionaries, he would shoot him on sight. An audience was arranged. Despite the fact that this was probably his only encounter with royalty, Mad Jack was not shy about doing his duty. He demanded that the Queen reverse her order, at least temporarily, saying "It is not good to taboo the women. It is not so in America! Why do you deny women to us when you gave them to the British?" The Queen responded, "In former times, before the Word of God arrived here, we were dark-minded, lewd and murderous; at the present time we are seeking a better way. Had you brought American women with you, and we had tabooed them, you might then justly be displeased with us." Discussion continued, but the poor captain was unable to make the Queen see reason. Finally, able to hold his temper no longer, Percival clenched his fists with rage and shouted that the next day he would issue his men rum and turn them loose, where, if they were still denied their recreational rights they would pull down the houses of the missionaries and take any women they pleased by force. The following day was Sunday, and in the afternoon the royal family attended church services in the prime minister's home. Suddenly 150 angry drunken men (seamen from merchant ships having joined the navy protest) showed up, demanding women, loudly interrupting the service, and smashing seventy windows. The mob went on to the home of Hiram Bingham, the leader of the missionaries. Fearfully, Mrs. Bingham locked the door, so the sailors broke in all her windows and swarmed inside. The mob found Mr. Bingham and surrounded him, clearly in a very ugly mood. A group of Hawaiian men, followers of Bingham, quietly looked on, their war clubs handy. When the mob surged forward and one of the Yank sailors struck Bingham, the riot ended in seconds. Despite being armed with knives and clubs, the sailors were drunk, and the Hawaiians were experienced warriors. They clubbed the ringleaders unconscious and soundly thrashed and captured or drove off the remainder. The captured sailors still able to walk were marched back to their ships, arms tightly bound. An hour or so later, the captain was back at the palace, admitting that his men may have overreacted somewhat, then repeating their demands for Hawaiian women. He then told the Queen that the Dolphin would not leave port until his men were taken care of. The Hawaiians by this time were very anxious to see the end of this goodwill visit, and fearful of further violence, so they agreed to lift the taboo long enough to show the crew the good time they were seeking. Canoes full of island ladies came to the ship, and apparently the Navy's Hawaiian mission was accomplished. Captain Percival was so pleased that he arranged for the repair of the damaged homes and clapped the two most violent sailors in irons, at least until they left port. The next day the USS Dolphin was on its way, no doubt hoping to next "show the flag" at a less religious location. The incident was quickly christened "The Battle of Honolulu," and remains as one of the strangest diplomatic affairs in our nation's history.