Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands -  Part 6 - The Ancients

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Historical Collections of Hawaii
Keepersof the Culture
Influence of Foreigners on the Ancients
Part 6 - The Ancients
Influence of Capt. George Vancouver
and Great Britain.

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Part 6. 

Influence of Capt. George Vancouver and Great Britain.


Vancouver was in command of a official expedition sent out to the
Pacific by the British Governmant, having two main objects. (1) to
receive from the Spanish authorities certain lands at Nootka Sound on
the Northwest Coast of America allegedly siezed from British subjects by
a Spanish navel officer; (2) to complete the exploration of theNorthwest
Coast which had begun by Captain Cook. Vancouver had been instructed to
winter at the Sandwich Islands on his way to the coast and make a survey
of this group and if he had any other additional secret instructions
respecting these islands, they have not been dsclosed. He had two
vessels under his command, the Discovery and the Chatham, while a third
ship, the Daedalus, joined the squadron twice with cargoes of supplies.
Vancouver had been to the islands with Capt. Cook; in the present
period, he made three visits. ( March, 1792; February-March, 1793;
January-March, 1794.)

His first visit was so short that it amounted to a little more than a
reconnaissance; he saw neither Kamehameha or Kahekili; but at Kauai
he met the future king of that island, Kaumualii, son of Kaeo and
Kamakahelei, and gives a very pleasing account of him. During the second
and third visits, Vancouver met all the important chiefs on all the
islands and formed a fairly accurate estimates of their character --
favorable in most cases; but he conceived a deep distrust of Kaiana and
Kameeiamoku. In all hs relations with the chiefs and their people, he
tried to win their confidence, to keep all temptation out of their way,
and to prevent any possibility of altercations or misunderstandings. He
recognized the superior position of Kamehameha and was most assiduous in
cultivating his friendship, a policy that was fully and heartily
reciprocated by Kamehameha. On seeing the latter for the first time
after the fourteen years since his previous visit to the islands,
Vancouver wrote: " I was agreeably surprized in finding the riper years
had softened that stern ferocity which his younger days had exhibited,
and had changed his general deportment to an address characteristic of
an open, cheerful, and sensible mind; combined with a great generosity,
and goodness of disposition. " In his subsequent relations with the
Hawaiian King, Vancouver ha no cause to revise this judgement; his final
comment was that Kamehameha's conduct had been " of the most princely
nature."

Vancouver gives us a glimpse of Kaahumanu, the young and favorite wife
of Kamehameha, who afterward played a role second only to his
importance. She was the daughter of Keeaumoku. In 1793 she appeared to
the British commander 
" to be about sixteen, and undoubtedly did credit to the choice and
taste of Tamaahmaah, being one of the finest women we had yet seen on
any of the islands. It was pleasing to observe the kindness and fond
attention, with which on all occasions they seemed to regard each other
...." On his return the next year, Vancouver was pained to learn that
Kaahumanu had gone back to her parents; Kamehameha had suspected her of
a flirtation with Kaiana -- which would not have been strange, since
Kaiana was a handsomer man than the king. Vancouver could easily see
that Kamehameha longed to have his beautiful queen back again but was to
proud to make the first advance, and he descibes with much satisfaction
the stratagem devised ad carried out by himself and the king, by which
the royal pair was happily reunited.

Vancouver had a genuine and philanthropic interest in the Hawaiian
people and studied to find means of promoting their happiness and
prosperity.
He was especially anxious that they should live in peace with each other
and with the foreigners who visited them. His resolute opposition to the
traffic in firearms and ammunition was mentioned as before in previous
writing. As he visited the different islands he was shocked by visable
evidence of devastation caused by recent wars, and he spent many hours
talking to governing chiefs about the advantages of peace. At one time
when the subject was under discussion, Kamehameha said he would be
willing to make peace with Kahekili if the latter would cede to him
Maui, Moloki, Laai, and Kahoolawe -- terms wich Vancouver considered
exhorbitant and wholly impractical. After much further arguement, the
Hawaiian king and his counsellors professed their readiness to make
peace on the basis mentioned, but they had an unconquerable distrust in
Kamehameha and his advisors. In spite of their skepticism, however they
agreed to send an ambassador to Hawaii, who was to go armed with a
letter from Vancouver to John Young. They acted in good faith, but some
untoward circumstance defeated the movement for peace. Vancouver's
vision could not penetrate the future; it was, no doubt, fortunate in
the long run that his benevolent effort failed.

In keeping with the general policy, vancouver introduced horned cattle
into the islands, thereby laying the foundation
of the Hawaiian cattle industry-- and incidently, through unwittingly,
contributing to the upset of nature's balance in Hawaii. Vancouver put
himself
to considerable trouble to effect this introduction, which he felt sure
would not only be of advantage to the native people but would also
enhance the value of the islands as a commercial depot and rendevous.
the cattle. together with some sheep were brought from California and
most of them were given to Kamehameha, who, at demand of Vancouver, put
a kapu upon them for a period of ten years. They were taken to the
upland plain of Waimea, to the eastward of Kawaihae, which was stated to
be very rich and productive, occupying a space of several miles
inextent, and winding at the foot of --- lofty mountains far into the
country. In this valley is a great tract of luxuriant, natural
pasturage, whither all the cattle and sheep ... were to be driven, there
to roam unrestrained, to " increase and multiply "
far from the sight of strangers.

Vancouver likewise imported goats and geese, to supplement those
introduced by earlier navigators, and he distributed among the chiefs on
the different islands grapevines, orange and almond trees, and a variety
of garden seeds.

Vancouver told Kamehameha of Great Britain's Government and religion,
and offered to send teachers. Kamehameha held a council of chiefs aboard
Vancouver's ship Discovery on Febuary 21, 1794. The ali'i decided to
place Hawaii under the protection of Great Britain, while retaining the
right to rule Hawaii independently. The British flag was hoisted on
shore four days later and Lt. Pugent took possession of all Hawaii in
the name of King George III of Great Britain. George III was the same
British king who led the British againt the American Colonies during the
Revolutionary War. Vancouver's journals recorded that a salute was fired
and the Hawaiians exclaimed that they were men of Britain. Though the
sucession was never ratified by the Rulers of Great Britain, this event
began a long and friendly relationship between the Hawaiian Islands and
Great Britain. This was while Vancouver was at Kealakekua Bay.
Kamehameha wanted Vancouver to leave one of his vessels behind at the
island to assist in defeding him and his people from the inroads of
their enemies, which was a strong and reasonable argument. Native
Hawaiian accounts relate the matter somewhat differently; they say that
Kamehameha did not mean
to give away the land but only to ask aid for Hawaii. The native
histories were written long after the event under the influenece of
American missionaries and may for that reason be somewhat biased. But
the discussion in 1793 and the contemporary accounts of the cession by
Vancouver and others leave no doubt as to what was in the minds of the
Hawaiian chiefs. They wanted protection from their enemies. from their
standpoint, the transaction was in a nature of a defensive alliance or
it amounted to the establishment of a protectorate by Great Britain over
the dominions of Kamehameha.  Vancouver states that in all the speeches
" their religion, government, domestic economy was noticed; and it was
clearly understood, that no interference was to take place in either;
that Tamaahmaah, the chiefs and priests, were to continue as usual to
officiate with the same authority as before
....... and that no alteration in those paticulars was in any degree
thought of or intended. "

Nothing has ever come to light to show that the British government
accepted the cession or even took any official cognizance of it until
many years later when its legal force as a cession must have long
lapsed.

While Vancouver consistantly refused to give firearms and ammunation to
the Hawaiian chiefs or to use such commodities in bartering for
supplies, he nevertheless aided Kamehameha in some ways which could be
turned to warlike advantage. While at Kealakekua in 1793 he rigged on of
Kamehameha's largest and double canoes with a full suit of canvas sails,
sloop fashion, and gave him a union jack and a pennant. He left in
charge of John Young a dozen skyrockets and a half dozen hand grenades
with the injunction that they were to be used only for the protection of
Kamehameha. In 1794, Vancouver ordered his carpenters to assist in the
construction of a foreign style vessel for the king and furnished the
ironwork, masts, and sails needed to complete and equip the vessel,
which was named the Brittannia. And there is good evidence to show that
Vancouver promised Kamehameha that a man-of-war armed with brass guns
and loaded with European articles would be sent to him by the British
government, a promise that was redeemed many years later in the reign of
Kamehameha II. This promise is not mentioned by Vancouver, but it may
very well have been one of the arguements used by him to induce
Kaehameha to make the cession of his kingdom to Great Britain.

Hawaiian tradition affirms that Vancouver talked with Kamehameha about
the Christian God and told him if he wished to worship that true God, he
( Vancouver ) would try to have a clergyman sent from England to Hawaii.
Vancouver says nothing on this subject and we hve no present means of
discovering the historical basis of the story. In 1827, Piia, one of the
widows of Kamehameha, made a statement which is, probably, nearer the
truth than later forms of the tradition. In conversation with Levi
Chamberlain, one of the American missionaries, she said that Vancouver
had spoken to Kamehameha concerning the true God whose dwelling was
above and had told him to receive missionaries and listen to their
instruction if any should come. Another Englishman, John Howel, who is
said to have been a ordained clergyman and who was in Hawaii about the
same time as Vancouver, is reported to have talked with Kamehameha about
the Christain God.

Of the time that Vancouver spent at the islands, far the greater part
was passed in the dominions of Kamehameha and under the watchful eye and
protection of that chieftain. A strong friendship sprang up between the
two. Gifts were exchanged and entertainments provided. The native
history, Ka Moooleo Hawaii ( 1838), in its account of Vancouver's
visits, includes the following details:

" Vancouver taught Kamehameha's men how to drill as a body of soldiers.
Vancouver also said to Kamehameha
" Do not permit foreigners to settle in Hawaii, two only should stay,
Olohana 
[John Young] and Aikake [ Isaac Davis].
Most of the foreigners are men of very bad character, evil-hearted,
desiring to secure lands. but not the right people to dwell thereon.
They will lead you astray."

Vancouver's relations with Young and Davis had historical significance.
In his book he repeatedly speaks of high praise of those humble British
seamen who in a short space of time had become Hawaiian chiefs. He
offered them the opportunity of returning to their native land, but
heartily approved their decision to stay where they were. He believed
they could be of essential service in strengthening the alliance between
Hawaii and Great Britain and in helping to make the islands a safe and
convenient resort for commerce of all nations. His own conduct towards
them was such as to raise them in the estimation of the natives. He
strongly advised them to continue in the good course they had marked out
for themselves, and he obtained a pledge from Kamehameha and the other
principal chiefs to accord them protection for their persons and
property. Vancouver's confidence was not replaced. One of the
interesting questions in Hawaiian histroy relates to these three
Britishers; it is difficult to tell whether Vancouver or Young and Davis
had the greater influence in pointing Kamehameha in the right direction.
But it is said that none of these foreigners could have had much weight
in the long run if Kamehameha's character had not been basically sound.

Vancouver's intercourse with the chiefs of the leeward islands was
friendly but lacked the confidential quality that characterized his
realtions with Kamehameha. With Kahekili Vancouver had an account to
settle, for it was in is domain, at Waimea, Oahu, that two officers and
a seaman of the storeship Daedalus had been killed, and Vancouver was
determined that that foul deed should be atoned for. He was told that
three of the natives implicated in the affair had been executed by order
of Kahekili but three or four were said to be at large and Vancouver
insisted that justice required punishment as well. Kehekili readily
agreed and appointed his younger brother to go to Oahu with Vancouver
and see the business was attended to. The Discovery anchored off
Waikiki, and in or near that place three natives were arrested and
charged with having part in the killing of the English officers. After
an extended inquiry, the three accused men were pronounced guilty and
were shot to death with a pistol in the hands of a native executioner in
a canoe alongside the Discovery. Vancouver was fully satisfied of their
guilt, but there is much testimony indicating rather conclusively that
they were innocent and that the guiltiest person of all, a minor chief,
wholly escaped punishment. vancouver intended this episode to be a
useful lesson to native chiefs and people; but occurrences at Oahu
within the next year strongly suggest that it did not have the desired
effect. In the spring or summer of 1794, sometime after Vancouver's
final departure from the islands, the aged King Kahekili died at
Waikiki, Oahu.

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To be continued in part 7.