Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Part 16 - The Ancients ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/hi/hifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: by Darlen6 E. Kelley November 23, 2006 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Hawaii Keepers of the Culture Influence of Foreigners on Hawaii Part 16 -- Whaling Whalers influence Lord Byron and New laws ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 16 -- Whaling -- Influence on Hawaii. The North Pacific whaling trade began to boom in 1819, when the first whaling ships from New England stopped in Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii. Ships continued to call in the spring and fall from the whaling grounds, to take on fresh water, food and firewood. Lahaina and Honolulu became the busiest ports for the whalers because of their sheltered anchorages Because of the demand for whale oil to be used in the oil lamps for illumination and lubrication for machines, as well as whale bone used for corset stays and other uses, including food ,the whaling industry flourished for over 40 years. After the exhaustion of sandlewood forests the extensive whaling industry followed, which brought many more ships and foreigners to Hawaii than had ever been there before. This industry became the basis for the money economy of Hawaii and established town life on the islands, with intensive commercial exchange. " For the first time the Hawaiian masses were drawn into the cash economy as workers and producers on a regular basis. These developments would provide the foundations for what later would provide the foundations for what would become the metropolitan center of Honolulu. Twice a year, Hawaii provided a place for the whaling ships to come and restock their provisions, transship their oil and whalebone, and provide respite for their weary crews. Both Lahaina and Honolulu prospered tremedously as millions of dollars were thrust freely into the island economy. The whaling industry created economic growth and jobs in Hawaii as never experienced before. By 1840's six hundred whalers were appearing each year. Vast quanities of food and wood were required by the whaling ships. New lands were developed for the planting of taro, sweet potato, irish potato, and the raising of pigs to supply the vessels with food. The forest lands were chopped down for wood to power the boilers to render the whale blubber to oil. On Kauai, the slopes above Koloa were stripped of trees to meet the demand. The ships sometimes anchored for four or five months and their demand on food and supplies affected the whole. This economic boom brought an array of social and health problem to the islands, particularly prostitution and drunkenness. The missionaries did much complaining of their behavior and wickedness, yet were happy to reap the rewards of the sailors who would repeatedly, slip a few dollars into the mission schools. "After all it was for the children's education." In 1826 to about 1838, this "sinful behavior" was forbidden by Maui Governor Hoapili, and the number of ships arriving dropped. The ships and problems returned to Lahaina after Hoapili died. Numbers of Hawaiian men either volunteered or were forced to join the ships as crew members. Due to the scarcity of whales and the diversion of American ships to the Civil war effort, the whaling industry began to decline in the 1850's The death knell to the industry, however, was the drilling of the first commercially successful oil well in Pennsyvania in 1859. Petoleum was better and cheaper than whale oil. Today, whale's are the foundation of a new industry, whale research and and conservation are initiated by people based on Maui. North Pacific whales, particularly humpbacks, who migrate in the fall from Southeast Alaska waters to the Hawaiian islands, where they mate, give birth and raise their their calves. +++++++++++++++ Visit of Lord Byron and proposal of New Laws Very soon after the affairs of Kauai had been reduced to order, news arrived on March 9, 1825, of the death of the king and queen in London. the changing circumstances of the country are illustrated by almost total absence of the violence and disorder which formally marked such occasions, though the air was filled with wailing of the chiefs and the people, " desiring them to mourn the death of the king with sorrow in their heart and to observe two weeks of prayer." In the middle of April, Captain Richard Charlton, recently appointed British consul, arrived with the word of the near approach of the frigate Blonde, bearing the bodies of the king and queen. The visit of Lord Byron to the islands was an interesting and important episode. The conduct of the British officers was friendly, courteous, and helpful, well calculated to fix the minds of the Hawaiians, a sense of greatful resect for the British government and people. The Blonde arrived at Honolulu on May 6, 1825. Boki and his companions landed immediately and the story of their journey was soon circulating by word of mouth through the village. On May 11, the bodies of the king and queen, in their magnificent coffins, were brought on shore and carried to a temporary resting place with funeral ceremonies conducted as far as possible in the foreign manner. Aside from the funeral of the king and queen, the outstanding incident of the visit of Lord Byron was the national council held on June 6, 1825, attended by the higher chiefs and by Lord Byron, Council Charlton, two of the missionaries, and several American merchants. The first business brought before the council, by Naihe, the national orator, was the succession to the thrrone. It was unanimonously agreed that Kauikeaouli should be king, and later in the meeting it was decided " that the young king should be placed under the special guardianship of Karaimoku, and that he should be instructed by the missionaries in ........ religion, and reading and writing." Karaimoku then addressed the chiefs. And after setting forth the defects of the laws and customs among them, he especially referred to the inconveniences arising from the reversion of lands to the king on the death of their occupants, a custom revived under Tamehameha II [ Kamehameha II ], but which it had been the object of Tamehameha I to exchange for that hereditary succesion. This project of their great king, he proposed to adopt as the law, excepting in such cases as when a chief or landholder should be forfeited. " This proposal of Kalanimoku met the approval of the chiefs. Boki than gave an account of his interview with King George of England. The subject of laws was brought forward. Kapiolani stated that upon the lands belonging to herself and Naihe, on the island of Hawaii, " she had endeavoured to establish laws prohibitig robbery, murder, drunkeness, adultery.and child-murder, and that, upon the whole, she had been tolerably successful." Kaahumanu said " that she approved highly of such measures, and that she proposed that all chiefs should adopt the same throughout the islands, as fast as instruction should advance among the people. Lord Byron was called upon to speak and presented to the chiefs " a paper containing a few hints concerning their affairs, which he wished them to look over at their leisure, and if they approved of them, to adopt them as their own, but not as the dictates of the British government, which had no wish whatever to interfere with the regulations of the chiefs, who must be the best judges of what suited the people. His suggetions were: 1. That the king be the head of the people. 2. That all the chiefs swear allegiance to the king. 3. That the lands which are now held by the chiefs shall not be taken from them, but shall descend to their legitimate children, except in cases of rebellion, and then shall their property be forfeited to the king. 4. That a tax be regularly be paid to the king to keep his dignity and establishment. 5. That no man's life be taken away except by the consent of the king, or regent, for the time being, and of twelve chiefs. 6. That the king, or regent, can grant pardons at all times. 7. That all the people shall be free, and not bound to any one chief. 8. That a port duty be laid on all foreign vesels." Among these suggestions there was nothing really new except that trial by jury in capital cases. The adoption, in Hawaiian practice, of the principle of trial by jury is generally traced to Lord Byron's suggestion. No formal action was tken on the measures proposed by Kapiolani and Kaahumanu or upon those suggested by Lord Byron. After the main business was concluded, a conversation ensued about the missionaries and their work, and Lord Byron was questioned on that subject. he stated " that he had heard that the missionaries had an intention of drawing up a code of laws for the people, and to this he decidedly objected ; but. so long as these gentlemen did not interfere with the laws or commerce of the country, he could not object to their instructing the natives in reading, and in the Christian religion." Rev. Hiram Bingham assured his lordship that the missinaries had neither the design nor the wish to interfere with the political or commercial concerns of the nation. During the course of Lord Byron's visit no occasion arose for him to act upon his secret instructions touching Great Britain's claim to the sovereignty of the country; hence the British official views on that subject were not revealed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Continued in part 17