Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Queen Kaahumanu (Part 6) 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. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands " Keepers of the Culture " A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands As told by the ancients-- Queen Kaahumanu -- Part 6 Lord Byron Missionaries by Darlene E. Kelley November 25, 2000 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ as told by the ancients Queen Kaahumanu -- part 6 In March 1823, after receiving the news of the deaths of the young monarchs in England the Hawaian Nation was thrown into mourning. When the English ship Blonde arriving with the lead coffins of the young King and Queen, was sent by order of the King of England, Lord Byron. Like Captain Vancouver, Lord Byron soon won the friendship of Kaahumanu and the chiefs. Following the funeral, the chiefs asked Lord Byron to meet with them in conference. Present at this conference were Kaahumanu, Kalanimoku, Boki, Naihe, Kapiolani and others, including the newly appointed English Consul, Mr. Richard Charlton, and representatives from the missionary group. Naihe, the orator, was the chairman of the meeting. Chief Naihe explained that Kaahumanu, as Regent, had been introducing some important changes in governmental matters-- the restricting of crime, the re-establishment of hereditary claims, and the teaching of Christian principals, in which, Naihe emphasized, she was sustained by the higher chiefs. He explained the necessity of confirming the succession to the throne as had been planned by Liholiho. As previously stated it was unanimously agreed that the young prince Kauikeaouli should be the King [ Kamehameha lll ] It was also decided that, since the Prince was still a minor, the Regency of Kaahumanu should be continued, and that the King should be placed under the guardianship of Kalanimoku and under the instruction of the missionaries. Lord Byron was asked his opinion regarding the continuance of the American mission in the islands. He at once said he claimed no right to make any dicision regarding this, but he would like to be informed about the object and relation to government of the missionary cause in the Islands. Mr. Bingham spoke regarding this matter. In his Journel appears the following statement; " I stated on behalf of the mission that we were not employed by the United States government, and that the instruction of the American Board of Commissioners, to us as Christian missionaries, forbade our interfering with the civil and politcal affairs of the nation." Eventual history proved some members of the missionary group to be slightly wayward in this respect. ***************************************************** Lord Byron-- George Anson Bryon [ 1789 - 1858 ] Captain the Right Honourable George Anson, R. N., who entered the Royal Navy in 1800. commanded the forty-six gun frigate Blonde, which the London Government sent to Hawaii in 1824 to carry back the bodies of Kamehameha ll [ Liholiho ] and his wife Kamamalu. This Lord Byron, a cousin of the poet, visited Hilo, later often called " Byron's Bay," and the volcano at Kilauea, where " Byron's Ledge" lies below the Volcano House Hotel. In 1825 Byron and his men were the first to study the regin scientifically. He held instuctions to be friendly with the Hawaiian Chiefs but not to interfere with their independence. However, at a meeting of chiefs on June 6. Lord Byron offered instructions, one of which -- trial by jury -- was adopted. During his visit he presented the first magic-lantern show in the history of the Islands, using a projector and slides brought on the ship for this purpose. ***************************************************** Lord Byron at the council followed his talk by stating that they needed better laws, and that the making of these laws was a matter for the chiefs to settle. However, before returning to England, he left with the chiefs a few suggestions, written in English, for their consideration. Th adoption of the principle trial by jury in Hawaii is credited to his suggestion, that no man's life be taken away except by the consent of the King, or the regent for the time being, and twelve chiefs. This suggestion, when adopted by the chiefs. was a great relief to Kaahumanu, who many times had been obliged to accept the responsibility for taking of human life. While in the islands, Lord Byron instituted the first survey's of importance: those of Waikiki Bay and the bay of Hilo. Kaahumanu named the Hilo bay " Byron's Bay" in his honor, and that was what it was called for many years. The Regent was appreciative of what had been accomplished and turned over to the surveyors a two-story house which Kaahumanu had recently purchased in Honolulu from an American prospector. This house with its balcony overloking the sea, was to be used as headquarters for the surveying party. When Lord Byron wanted to visit the vocano on Hawaii, Kaahumanu sent two hundred native people to prepare the way for the expedition. A careful survey was made of the district surrounding the volcano. Mr. Dampier, an arist of the expedition, painted many pictures of varoius subjects of the survey, as well as portraits of Kaahumanu. However he seemed to pick up a frown on Kaahumanu's face, that did not please her. She was. however, very kind and couteous. Lord Byron's coming to the islands gave a definate uplift to civilization in Hawaii. The chiefs listened to him with interest and accepted and followed his advise for many matters, the results of which were plainly marked in the history of the development of government in the islands. The years were filled with important experiences, but were not easy for Kaahumanu. She had many enemies amoung the foreigners who were seeking to expand their own interests. She was called a " unsurping old woman." One trouble was the unexpected arrival of Catholic priests with equipment to set up their own worship and instruction on the islands. This movement had come about through the efforts of the Frenchman, Rives, who had acted as a sort of secretary and valet to Liholiho on his voyage to England. He soon proved himself unsavory and was dismissed from the King's service when they had reached England, Leaving the King's party. he went onto France where he passed himself off as a rich and important man to the government of the Sandwich Islands. He succeeded to send priests to open a mission in the Islands. Rives pomised that the priests would be met and that all financial matters would be taken care of when their ship should reach Honolulu. He then left for California and was never heard from again. The little group of priests was stranded without money and a few friends, other than a Spanard called Don Marin. **************************************************** American Missionaries and the 12 ships that came from Boston. --- The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions [ an interdonominational body composed mostly of Presbyterians and Congregationalists ]. The first ship departed from Boston on October 23,1819, the missionaries started their long voyage around Cape Horn and across the Pacific to Hawaii. After five months of seasickness and cramped quarters, they sighted the snow-capped peaks of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii on March 30, 1820. !st ship--; " Thaddeus " -- Capt Andrew Blanchard. 1st Officer -- James Hunwell arrived March 30,1820. 2nd ship--: " Thames " -- Capt Reuben Clasby arrived April 27, 1823. 3rd ship--: " Parthian " -- Capt Richard D. Blinn arrived March 30, 1828. 4th ship--: " New England " -- Capt Avery F. Parker. Arrived June 7, 1831. 5th ship--" Averick " [Whale ship] --Capt Swain Arrived June 5, 1832. 6th ship-- " Mentor " Capt Rice Arrived May 1, 1833. 7th ship-- " Hellspont " Capt.Henry Arrived December 5, 1833. 8th ship-- " Mary Frazier " [ Barque] Capt Charles Sumner. Arrived April 17, 1837. 9th ship-- " Glouchester " Capt Easterbrook. Arrived May 21, 1841. 10th ship-- " Sarah Abigail " Capt Doane Arrived September 21, 1842. 11th ship-- " Globe " Capt Doane Arrived July 15, 1844. 12th ship--" Samoset " Capt. Hollis Arrived Feb 26, 1848.