Statewide County HI Archives News.....Historical Background of Military in Hawai'i -- Part 2. June 23, 2008 ************************************************ 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: Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 July 10, 2008, 8:36 pm Keepers Of The Culture, A Study In Time Of The Hawaiian Islands June 23, 2008 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 June 23, 2008. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Hawai'i Keepers of the Culture A Study in Time of the Hawai'ian Islands by Darlene E. Kelley Historical Background of Military in Hawai'i -- Part 2. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 2 -- Historical Backbround of Military in Hawai'i The King's Guards -- 1820 In 1820, the original guards were called the Royal House Old Guards. They were an elite group of soldiers who were stationed at the Royal Palace in Honolulu with the responsibility to guard the King's of Hawai'i. Each guard was selected by King Kalakua, for their loyalty. They were taught drill and cermonies by European standards and the uniforms reflected a Prussian influence. The King of Hawai'i enjoyed military displays of drill and the Palace ground held numerous drill events which helped to enforce order and discipline within the ranks. These 50 guards faithfully fulfilled their duties until the Hawai'ian Monarchy ended.at which they were decommissioned by Mr. Soper, representing the Provisional Government with Captain Nowlein in Command of the Guard. ++++++++++++++++++++ Halikoa -- " Iolani Barracks " was originally built on Palace Walk in 1871, sort of a Teutonic candybox built by a German Imigrant, Theodore Heuck. Palace Walk was later renamed Hotel Street, and later, when the building stood in the way of the new State Capital building it was moved, Coral block by Coral block, hundreds of feet to its current location at the Ewa Grounds of the Palace. Heuck's design included archery parapets on the upper walkways, firing loops in the lower walls and towers, and a inner courtyard for roll call. Even when it was constructed, many of the Coral blocks were recycled from other structures. New blocks were cut by prisoners working off their sentences. The reconstruction ran over budget ad behind schedule and wound up costing the Kingdom of Hawai'i more than $25,103.78. The Barracks was a home for the 60 or so Hawai'ian soldier's who made up the Kingdom's Army. Only two years after they moved in, the troops staged a military mutiny and seized the Barracks. This event was an embarrassment to King Lunalilo, and he disbanded the Army. But when King Lunalilo died a year later, Kalakaua restored the Army into the Household Guards. In the "overthrow" of1893, the Guards surrendered to a much smaller group of Provisional rebels and again disbanded. The Republic of Hawai'i used the structure for military purposes as well and deeded te bulding to the U.S. Government during Annexation. The Army's Quartermaster Corps used it for a time, and then it received an extreme makeover in 1920 -- Coral blocks plastered over, roofing over Courtyard, hardwood flooring, a coat of white paint and it became a service club. In 1931, the Federal Government deeded the building back to the territory to act as headquarters for the Hawai'i National Guard, but instead it was used as a centralized office space for school Principals. Eventually the Guard moved in, and during World War II the barracks were set aside as a military museum. In 1965, it was restored to its 1871 persona and today serves as an adjunet to 'Iolani Palace. ++++++++++++++++++++ Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor, known to Hawai'ians as Wai Momi ( Pearl Waters ) was once abundant with oysters. It was a naural harbor with a narrow entrance on O'ahu's leeward side. Development of the harbor began in 1898, at the time of the Spanish American war and the annexation of the islands to the United States in 1909. Work to build a drydock began over caves that the Hawai'ian's believed was home to the shark goddess. The drydock was nearly finished when it collapsed. Workmen clearing debris found the skeleton of a large shark in the foundation, after which the Hawai'ians advised that a Kahuna Priest cleanse the area with prayers and rital offerings. After this was done, there were no further problems with the project. The Pearl Harbor drydock was formally opened in August 1918, by the Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Jasephus Daniels. ++++++++++++++++++++ Pearl Habor Surveys and Cession. In 1840, Commodore Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, under orders to chart the islands of the Pacific for the U.S. Government, called at O'ahu. During his visit, King Kamehameha III requested him to make a survey of Pearl Harbor. The chart resulting from his work represents the first technical work by the Navy in Pearl Harbor. It is interesting to note that this survey was limited to sounding across the bar and through the channel only as far as Bishop's Point or just within the land-locked area. Some of the landmarks noted on this chart still stand, but the Hawai'ian Dredging Company's camp at Watertown occupies the location marked as as Poi Village. [ Old Chinatown.] In referring to Pearl Harbor, Commodore Wilkes stated that " the inlet has somewhat the appearance of a lagoon that has been partly filled up by alluvial deposits," and expressed the opinion that " if the water upon the bar should be deepened, it would afford the best and most capacious harbor in the Pacific." In 1843, Dr. C.P. Judd, the Hawai'ian Minister of Foreign Affairs, took advantage of the presence of the U.S. Frigate Constitution, which was in the Hawai'ian waters, and requested Lieutenant F.W. Curtis, a young American Marine Officer, to survey the situation and make some recommendations as to the best practical method of fortifying Honolulu against further foreign aggression. This investigation was done secretly and Lieutenant Curtis communicated his conclusions to Dr. Judd after the departure of the Constitution, in the form of a letter written from Matzatlon, Mexico on February 21, 1846. His report makes the first reference to military potentiality of Pearl Harbor as offering " Perfect Security." In 1873, the U.S.S. California, with Rear Admiral A.M. Pennock, brought to the islands a military commission consisting of Major General J.M. Schofield and Brevet Brigadier General B.S. Alexander. This commission proceeded, under secret instructions from the Secretary of War, William W. Belknap, to examine the different ports of the Hawai'ian Islands with reference to their defensive capabilities and their commercial facilities. To this they made this official report; " Its shores are suitable for building proper establisments for sheltering the necessary supplies for a naval establishment such as magazines for annunition, provisions, coal, spars, rigging and etc., while the island of O'ahu upon which it is situated could furnish fresh provisions, meats, fruits, vegetables, and water in large quanities." +++++++++++++++ In the meanwhile, in Hawai'i, on February 1873 King Lunililo was petitioned within the Hawai'ian Governement to negotiate a reciprocal treaty with the United States and in this resolution, was the suggestion that the Pearl River lagoon be offered to to the United States as an inducement. After due consideration, the King conveyed to the United States Minister resident in Honolulu, through his Minister of Foreign Affairs, the original treaty proposal in which included the cession of the Pearl River lagoon, and on July 7, 1873 the American Minister notified the U.S. that the King had offered to negotiate a treaty. Four months later, the Hawai'ian Gazette of November 14, 1873 printed a " By Authority " notice to the effect that the King was satisfied that a treaty, carrying with it the cession of Pearl Harbor woould not receive the Legislative approval required by the Constitution of the Kingdom and had hence, withdrew that feature of his offer. This editorial endeavors to explain that the original Pearl Harbor proposal had been for a lease and not a cession of territory. Much capital was made of the proposal to excite the Hawai'ians to opposition. After the death of Lunalilo and the election of Kalakaua as King, he proceeded to Washington and negotiated the final consummation of the original reciprocity treaty in 1875. The financial benefits of this treaty to the agricultural interests of the islands was so great that the best interests in Hawai'i were keenly alive, that the importance of securing an extention was not secured for a number of years; but finally, on January 20, 1887, the U/S. Senate in secret session, approved the extention by adding an admendment to clause II, providing " His majesty, the King of the Hawai'ian Islands, grants the Governement of the United States the exclusive right to enter the Harbor of Pearl River, in the Island of O'ahu. and to establish and maintain there a coaling and repair station for the use of vessels of the United States and that end the United States may improve the entrance of said harbor and do all things useful to the purpose of aforesaid." This treaty was ratified by the Hawai'ian Senate and signed by the King on October 29, 1887. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To be continued in part 3. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/statewide/newspapers/historic15nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/hifiles/ File size: 9.8 Kb