Hawaii County HI Archives History - Schools .....The Arrival Of Missionaries July 28, 1840
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The Arrival of Missionaries.
The first missionaries to these islands arrived at Kawaihae, on Hawaii, March 30,
1820, in the reign of Liholiho, and soon after the battle, which was fought at
Kuamoo. They did not, as is sometimes the case, land their goods without first
consulting with the chiefs; but visited Liholiho at Kailua to obtain his permission,
or refusal. After some hesitation, the king consented to their request to dwell at
the islands. Humehume and other natives had accompanied the missionaries from
America. 
They went on shore to look at the country, and approaching to the residence of
Keopuolani at Oneo, one of the natives just mentioned, hastened forward and standing
outside of the house inquired, "Is the chief's place tabu?" To which it was replied,
"No, it is not." Therefore they went in and the native foreigner introducing them,
said, "These are the priests of the most High God, and they have come hither to
proclaim to you the name of the Being who made heaven and earth. From this address
to the chiefs and men he was called Maoi, [the bold]. He added also, "There will be,
hereafter, the great day." He intended the judgment day, but the natives understood
him to speak of a great natural day as approaching. 
When they went to the beach at Kaiakeakua, a multitude of men and women collected
about them; and when the foreigners proceeded to the residence of the chiefs, the
crowd still followed, and took the liberty of looking under the hats and bonnets of
the strangers, meaning and giving by it no offence. 
They expressed their surprise thus; "Strange indeed! their wives are white, and have
hats with a spout. Their heads are not as the men's, shaped like the horned moon;
[hats with brims turned up] their faces are round and far in; their necks are long -
they look well." From the length of their necks and the depth of their bonnets they
were denominated, "Aioeoe," [the long necked.]
Mr. Thurston remained at Kailua, Mr. Bingham and others resided at Oahu, Mr. Whitney
and Mr. Ruggles sailed to Kauai. 
The natives imbibed strange notions when they first heard the word of God. On
hearing of God in heaven, Jehovah, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, they conversed
about it; and "becoming vain in their imagination,"  "Jehovah" said they, "is Kane,
the Holy Spirit is Kanaloa, and Jesus Christ, is Maui." Thus dark were their
understandings. When the missionaries implored a blessing on their food, the men and
women observing that they closed their eyes and prayed, exclaimed, " Why do the
foreigners close their eyes?" "It is," replied some of them, "because they are
sorcerers praying us to death." In regard to other things they fell into similar
errors. 
The first reinforcement of missionaries arrived April 27, 1823. Two of these,
Messrs. Richards and Stewart, commenced a station at Lahaina on the island of Maui,
accompanied by Keopuolani. She was not long after taken sick and Liholiho from Oahu
to visit her. She died in September. After this the king
dwelt at Wailuku and Lahaina, and while at Kaluaokiha in Lahaina he declared to the
chiefs his intention to visit a foreign land...
[History of Hawaii, written by Scholars at the High School, and corrected by one of
the instructors, Lahainaluna, Press of the High School. 1838.] 

Additional Comments:
Source: The Polynesian. (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841: July 28 & Aug 08, 1840

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