The Fourth of July in Hawaii: 1814

The following story comes from the August, 1856 edition of The Friend. This monthly newspaper was started by the Rev. Samuel C. Damon, a Massachusetts-born missionary associated with the American Seaman's Friend  Society. The story offers a look at how American Independence Day was celebrated in Hawaii in the year 1814.

Forty-two years ago, on the Fourth of July 1814, there were moored in the quiet and newly discovered harbor of Honolulu, three American merchant ships, engaged on the north-west trade, the Isabella, commanded by Capt. Davis, the O. Kane, commanded by Capt. Jna Winship, and the Albatross, commanded by Capt. Nathan Winship, with which the latter vessel our venerable friend, Capt. Adams, of Kalihi, was connected. At the time the only pilot to the new harbor was the King, Kamehameha I, who, in his royal double canoes, each seventy-five feet in length, manned by two hundred brawny arms, always first boarded each vessel, and taking commend, brought her within the harbor. Those were fabulous days when the royal pilot stood up, and with his sword in hand waved the motion of a hundred paddlers.

The brothers Winship were as true patriots as ever sailed under the American flag, and with the consent of that noble King Kamehameha I, they determined to celebrate their nation’s birthday. Each vessel fired a national salute-one in the morning, another at meridian, and the third at sunset. An accident on that day is still to be remembered, that the hand of one of the seamen was blown off in the discharge of a cannon on ship board, and similar incidents recurred on each of the four succeeding celebrations of the 4^th in Honolulu, and one of the natives then injured is still living on the island.

In the afternoon, a royal banquet was prepared, such as the days of Kamehameha I only witnessed, and mats and tables spread on the open plain, just in rear of the Catholic Church lot or near the residence of Louis Anthon, Esq. It should be stated that from where Nuuanu Street now is, towards the Palace, was then an open plain, without a dwelling, the only houses were along the beach and up the valleys. The King’s residence was in an enclosure where the fort now stands and which included the land now occupied by the Hudson Bay Co. His house stood just where the store of the Co. is located. A grove of cocoanut threes, long since cut down, stood on the site of the fort and Robinson’s & Co.’s ship yard.

His Majesty, a warm friend of the foreigner, had ordered his servants to prepare liberally for the feast, and the tables and mats were loaded with all that royal beneficence could provide. It was a grand day. All the foreigners, including those connected with the vessels in port, sat down. There, too, was the noble Kamehameha the first, and his chiefs, and his priests. There was Mr. Marin (or Manini as now called) and John Young, Governor of Hawaii- names venerable in Hawaiian History. There, too, was the young Prince Liholiho, then about nineteen years of age, from whom, at the earnest entreaty of foreigners, the King had removed the sacred tabu so that he might join in the festivities of the day. Tne thousand natives crowded around to witness the feast. Such was the first 4^th of July ever celebrated in the Hawaiian Kingdom. And the only relic of that ancient time, the only link that binds the days of Kamehameha I to those of Kamehameha IV, is now quietly passing the autumn in his checkered life among the groves of Kalihi. May many years of health and happiness still be allotted to the worthy old man. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser).