Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Kamehameha  l  (Part 6)

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Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands
" Keepers of the Culture "
A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands
Kamehameha  l 
and stories told by the ancients -- part 6
Capt George Vancouver
by Darlene E. Kelley
November 9, 2000

http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374

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As told by the ancients -- part 6

The Friendship of Kamehameha and Capt Vancouver continued to grow.
Vancouver's continous gifts of cattle, sheep, and rams increased the
herds and they were let to run wild as food for them were plentiful.
Kamehameha expressed his thanks in many ways of gifts of the islands.

However, Vancouver was greatly alarmed over the depletion of the
population of the islands through continued warfare. He constantly
talked peace to Kamehameha and to the chiefs of all the islands, not
only for the sake of the Hawaiian peoples, but in the interest of trade
between Hawaiian people and foreign countries. To this end, before he
left for England, he urged Kamehameha to declare himself and the people
of Hawai'i as subjects of the British crown. This Kamehameha refused to
do unless Vancouver would agree to leave one of his ships at the island
to help him in defending himself and his people from attacks by their
enemies.

Vancouver did not leave a vessel for the King, but before he went away
he did have the men outfit one of Kamehameha's largest canoes with
canvas sails, and he gave him a Union Jack and a pennant. He arranged
for the building of a vessel named the Britannia, the keel of which was
laid before he sailed. He also promised Kamehameha that a man-o-war,
equpped with brass cannons and filled with European supplies, would be
sent to him by the British government.

It is claimed that Vancouver did, finally, persuade Kamehameha to make a
" cession " of the island of Hawai'i to Great Britain, but the ancients
say there is no record that England at that time took any official
action concerning the matter, and that if any such a plan had been made
it probably amounted only to protectorate. The Hwaiian people declared
that Kamehameha never intended to give the island away. In all of
Vancouver's writings of his experiences in Hawai'i, he tells of the fine
cooperation which was given to him by Kamehameha and his friendship,
while at the same keeping his independance and control.
In his dealings with white men, he was never their servant but always
their master.

Captain Vanvouver was anxious to build an observatory near the temple.
Kamehameha allowed the observatory to be built, but with distinct
understanding that Vancouver's men were in no way to disturb the
observance of the taboo or to enter the sacred precincts of the temple.
He also insisted that no white man should be allowed to wander about the
country.
He said he had enemies and they might make trouble. If anyone should
wish to travel in the district he must first ask permission and that so
he could provide proper guidance and protection. Items around the temple
was sacred and they must be preserved, so he forbade them from taking
any soveniers or stone from around this temple.

Vancouver lost no opportunity to give Kamehameha an understanding of
what civilization would do for the islands. He advised hm regarding the
people who were arriving.he told him not to permit any man wom he could
trust to remain. He once said that only John Young and Isaac Davis
should be llowed to stay and that most of the foreigners who had settled
in the islands were of very bad character, evil hearted, desiring to
acquire the lands but were not the right persons to live thereon, as
they belonged to the people of Hawai'i.

Captain Vancouver died in England not long after his return to the
country. The plans which may have been made for further assistance to
Kamehameha and his people were not carried out. When he left the
islands, Kamehameha, Kaahumanu, John Young and Isaac Davis followed his
ship out to sea, no doubt feelng that their best friend had gone.

Their next few years tells of Kamehameha's advancing power. The old king
Kahekili had died in 1794 at his home in Waikiki. At the time of his
death, he was in control of the islands of Maui, Oahu, Molokai, and
Lnni, and  through his brother, Kaeo, of Kauai ad the small island of
Niihau. His son, Kalanikupele, was the reigning chief of the island of
Oahu.

Kamehameha was looking forward to including all of these islands in the
great empire of which he dreamed. But he had a long road of conquest to
travel before reaching his goal.

Following the death of Kahekili, Kaeo decided to make a visit to his old
home on Kauai. He sailed from Maui by way of Oahu, taking his army with
him. When he reached Oahu he stopped at Waimanalo. Disputes, partly over
inheritance, arose between him and Kalanikupule, which resulted in war.
The Oahu king was in a desperate situation. At this time, three foreign
ships arrived. Two of these vessels, the Jackal and the Prince Lee Boo.
were English ships under the command of Captain William Brown. The third
vessel, the Lady Washington, was an American ship with Captain John
Hendrick in Command. These vessels were not stangers in the islands as
they were trading vessels and had made frequent visits to Hawai'i. [ It
was Captain Brown who was given credit for discovering the harbor of
Honolulu. The tender to one of the ships was the first vessel to enter
Honolulu harbor.]

Kalanikupule appealed to Captain Brown for assistance. The Captain
decided to help him. The two mates of the Jackal and the Prince Lee Boo
also volunteered to fight for the King of Oahu. This was a sucessful
move, and Kaeo was killed. Captain Brown fired a salute to celebrate the
victory. Unfortunately, the guns were loaded with shot which pierced the
side of the American ship, the Lady Washington, killing Captain Hendrick
and several of his crew. The Lady Wasington immediately set sail for
China.

Kalanikupule decided that if he could get contol of the two English
ships, he might be able to attack and conquor Kamehameha on the island
of Hawai'i. So he devised a cunning plot and as a result the Jackal and
the Prince Lee Boo was captured.  Brown and Gordon lost their lives and
the surviving members of the crews were taken prisioners.

Kalanikupule planned an immediate attack on the island of Hawai'i. The
crews of the Jackal anf the Prince Lee Boo were ordered to get the ships
ready for sea. This was done. The King and Queen and their retinue then
went on board and took possession of their new vessels. 

The two mates of the English ships decided that they, with their crews,
would try to retake the vessels. Ths was a daring venture, but they
succeeded.The natives were either killed or driven from the ships, with
the exception of Kalanikupule and his queen and their personal
attendants. Near dawn, the ships were put out to sea. While still
ashore, the king and queen were placed in a canoe and set afloat. The
ships sailed on to the island of Hawai'i, where the two mates secured
supplies. They left a letter for John Young and Isaac Davis, telling
them of the situation on Oahu, and sailed at once for Canton.

Captain William Brown--- [ in harbor 1793 -1794] 

Captain William Brown was an early trading Captain, first arrived in
Command of the ritish ship Butterworth in 1793, in which he entered
Honolulu Harbor-- probably the first foreigner to do so. For a while
this was called " Brown's Harbor." He returned in 1794 as master of the
Jackal, in company with Captain Gordon of the Prince Lee Boo. Brown sold
arms to Kananikapule and eight sailors from the two vessels fought on
the side of this chief against Kaeo. Later both Brown and Gordon were
murdered under the orders of Kalanikapule in an attempt to steal the
ships. Great Britain made an appeal to Kamehamheha about these
atrosities. Ships were retaken by crew members and returned into service
under new commands.