Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Kalakaua -- Part 15 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 and stories told by the ancients Kalakaua -- The King -- Part 15 Education -- Gibson-- Around the World. Coronation -- Palace -- Statue of Kamehameha the Great.--National Anthem. by Darlene E. Kelley August 21, 2001 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kalakaua -- The King -- Part 15 Education -- Gibson-- Around the World. Coronation -- Palace -- Statue of Kamehameha the Great.--National Anthem. ********************************************** Kalakaua -- The King -- Part 15. It is amazing that in the midst of animosity Kalakaua had not foregone his many plans. He began to choose and educate young men to go abroad and study as potential leaders in Hawaii. Among these he chose three -- Robert Napu'uako Boyd. James Kaneholo Booth, and Robert W. Wilcox -- to go to Italy with Moreno. He, in the face of opposition, appointed Moreno ambassador to Italy and sent the young men with him. Kalakaua believed the best way to accord diplomatic relations with foreign countries was to understand their customs and speak their language. He was only too aware of the problems the language barrier was causing in Hawaii. Although nearly all governmental procedures were conducted in English, Kalakaua often translated these programs into Hawaiian for better understanding of his native subjects. Over the next few years he became engaged in an extensive educational program for numerous young men and women, which continued until 1886. Besides his nephews, the young princes David Kawananakoa, Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, and Edward Keliiahonui, who were sent to St. Matthews School in San Mateo, California, there were August Hering and Maile Nowlein, who were to attend schools in Italy. Henry Kapena, Hugo Kawelo, and John Lovell studied in Glasgow, Scotland. Joseph A Kamau'oha, Mathew Makalua, and Abraham Pi'ianai'a were educated in England. Thomas Puali'i Cummins, Henry Grube Marchant, and Thomas Spencer entered schools in the United States. James Kapa'a was tutored in Canton, China. The program's two younger students, James Haku'ole and Isaac Harbottle, 10 and 11 years old respectively, traveled to Tokyo where they were immersed in the Japanese culture. " These young people were sent abroad between 1880 and 1886, supported by a reluctant government to spend money. In the face of enormous opposition of the haole, but with the help of Gibsn and, to a degree Moreno, Kalakaua carried out his plans. He 'personally' selected the participants in his education program and probably planned to groom these young Hawaiians to become future leaders in his monarchy. Several of the youths were descended from Hawaiian alii ( nobility ). Several were the offspring of leaders in Kalakaua's government. As members of Hawaii's leading and social families, some of the students had mingled with visiting dignitaries and literati. Most of Kalakaua's proteges had attended Honolulu's best private schools where they studied Latin and the Classics. They were young Hawaiians with a heritage and background to indicate that they would benefit from an education abroad." The students could pursue medicine, law, engineering, surveying, stenographic work, teaching, carpentry, or drawing. Amid the treatening, grumbling roar of the haole population, Kalakaua also continued to plan for his palace and his trip around the world. He spent also many hours in helping his wife, Queen Kapiolani, with her plans for the maternity home which was later to bear her name. The idea for the maternity home -- an attempt to save infants and increase the race -- was begun after Kapiolani's visit, representing the King, to Kauai. Kapiolani, often traveling alone with an entourage or with her sister-in-law Princess Liliuokalani, met with and counselled mothers on the care of children. Schemers and adventurers. by playing on Kalakaua's vanity or naivete, could push the King into actions that invited political trouble. One such person was Walter Murray Gibson-- an adventurer of dubious character, who ran afoul with the founding elders of a Mormon settlement on Lanai. Having acquired a remarkable command of the Hawaiian language, Gibson started a bilingual newspaper which he published in Honolulu. Later, he ran successfully for the legislature. Gradually, he became a power to be reckoned with, and during the power struggle of 1882, the smooth talking Gibson, attained his goal of becoming administering head of the government. He was now premier and minister of foreign affairs. Between 1882 and 1887, when Kalakaua kept changing his cabinet, Gibson somehow remained. For some time, Kalakaua had the desire to make a trip around the world-- something that no other King had dared. Kalakaua and his party departed Honolulu on January 20, 1881 for San Francisco, prior to going first to the Orient and then to Europe. In Italy. the King had an audience with Pope Leo XIII, and in England, he was entertained by Queen Victoria. Kalaaua's uropean tour afforded him the opportunity to pursue two of his favorite passions-- music and military affairs. In the United States, Kalakaua had an interview with President Chester A. Arthur. Traveling across America, the Royal party made a number of stops before arriving in San Francisco. The King and his party finally arrived back in Honolulu on October 29, 1881. Nine months and and nine days after his departure. Ever since Kalakaua had ascended the throne, he let it be known that he wanted a new palace to match his lofty position as King. He considered the present palace as filthy and in poor condition and he felt humiliated living in it. The legislative session of 1878 finally authorized the funds for a new palace, and the design was approved in July the following year. The old palace was razed and the cornerstone for the new palace was laid on December 31, on Queen Kapi'olani's birthday. It was completed in the latter part of 1882. One of the grandest events of the 1880's ws the Coronation of King Kalakaua and Queen Kapi'olani on February 12, 1883-- the ninth anniversary of the KIng's inauguration. Preparaions had taken months, and much of the clothing, jewlery, and royal insigna ( including two crowns ) had been ordered from England and France. A large pavilion was built in front of the palace, and a bridge connected it to the palace's first floor veranda. A covered amphitheater surrounded the pavilion on three sides and provided seating for several thousand spectators. The formal investiture presented a mix of ancient Hawaiian and modern European pageantry. After receiving his crown from the chancellor of the KIngdom, Kalakaua placed it upon his own head and then crowned his Queen. The ceremonies included a State dinner and coronation ball at the palace, a regatta, horse races, hula dances, a lu'au, and other entertainment spread over a number of days. The celebration aso included te unveiling of a statue of Kamahameha the Great in front of Ali'iolani Hale on February 14. The Statue portrayed Kamehameha as the warrior who united the islands and usered in a new era of law and peace. Following the coronation, the pavilion was moved to another spot on the palace grounds where it remains today. The original statue of Kamehameha was lost at sea in 1880 near the Falkland Islands.The government ordered a replica and unveiled it in 1883. The original statue was recovered and it stands in Kolala on the Island of Hawaii. Kamahameha's birthplace. A third Statue is in the Native Statuary Hall in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. It was unveiled on April 15,1969. During Kalakaua's reign, the Royal Hawaiian Band was formed in 1870 and become a cultural institution. Kalakaua encouraged nearly everything musical and dramatic in order to bring gaiety and brightness to Honolulu. Captain Heinrich (Henry ) Berger, who led the band since 1872, mastered the Hawaiian language and transcribed countless melodies, chants, and meles (songs). Around 1880 Berger added music to Kalakaua's own composition of " Hawaii Pono'i " ( " Hawaii's Own" ) which became the national anthem. ******************************************** to be continued in part 16 --