The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-04-20
An Article By 7. 6. Thrum On
Their Possible Origin.
A FLAG BEFORE CAPT. ADAMS TIME
An Ensign That Greatly Resembles the
East Indian Flag-Descriptions OF the
Old FIag-ENtracts From the Poly
nesian That Refer to the subject.

There is a general idea and belief
among many of our old residents that
the present Hawaiian flag was made
by the late Capt. Alexander Adams
before his voyage to China in the
brig "kaahumauun in 1877, and was
by him first flown, not only in the
Chinese waters, but also on the coast
of California. Others again have the
impression that a flag was brought
from China by him: but We can gather
no information cOrrobOrative as to
who was authorized in Chinese waters
TO design flag for this, even small
kingdom, though the description given
viz: a ST. George and St. Andrews
cross in the corner filled in with blue,
with field consisting of red and white
stripes. shows almost virtually the
East India flag.
Referri Q to Capt. Adams journal
we find the following mention only,
that touches upon the points in ques-
ton: april. 1916, the King of these
Islands having a strong passion to
purchase the brig, (Forrester, of Lon
dom and expressing the same, myself
and Capt Ebbetts were accordingly
deputed to treat with him, but he
would not purchase her without l
would enter his service as her COM
mandar. / resultingly acquiesced, the
brig being given up TO him at heala-
kekua, and called by him kaahuma-
nu. was accordingly honOred
on taking command with the flag OF
His Majesty and a salute OF eleven
guns.n
This certainly refutes the general
belief that the flag was made by Capt.
Adams, as his own narrative shows a
flag to have been here before him; but
whether the present one or some other
we cannot gather, for ii is evident
that there has been more than one.
In another portion OF his journal Is an
allusion TO a fiag-but also without
description-that has no doubt given
rise TO the idea of his making the flag;
where at Waimea, Kauai, at which
port he had touched from Honolulu,
for supplies, en- route Tor China, he
notes: march Il, 1917, Gave
the King our ensign to hoist in lieu of
the Russian, who said it was Oh at-
count of his having no other
1t is to be borne in mind that The
allusion here is to the King of Kauai,
and not Kamehameha, as Kauai was
under its own King till 1921, and his
possession of Russian flag while the
principal town was occupied by a
Russian colony was not strange.
Finding these theories of Capt.
Adams authorship exploded by his
own writings, search was made in
other directions with the following
result. Vancouver, in his last visit,
1793) when he assured Kamehameha
of England's friendship and protec-
ton, gave him an English flag.
Archibald Campbell, in his Voyage
round the World, lS06-1S12," arriving
at these Islands December, 1905, shows
that the English colors were used, for
he says: "The Kings residence, built
close upon the shore, and surrounded
by palisade upon the land side was
distinguished by the British colors."
Jarvis History page So, describing
the period of about 1916, speaks of the
flag as somewhat similar TO the pres
emf, viz, English Union, with seven
alternated, white and blue stripes"
This, however, is not corroborated by
Lord Byron in his "Voyage of the
Blonden in 1925, in which he describes
the flag as follows: "On all days of
ceremony, the Sandwich flag is hoisted
on the forts; it has seven white and
red stripes with Union Jack in the
corner" page 12L)
This is almost the East India flag
before referred to, and confuses the
searchers after truth as to when the
several changes took place. If Jarvis
is correct in the flag he describes, and
he certainly was in a position to
know whereof he wrote, II is a grave
error in the recorder of the "Voyage
of the Blonde" TO give so different
one nine years later.
The present flag has eight stripes
representing the islands of the group
white, red and blue, with the Union
Jack in the corner. Captain Hunt,
who was here in the Basilisk in 1915,
is said to have changed the relative
positions of the colors of the stripes by
placing the white on top instead of at
the bottom, though there is a posi-
bility of this being the time of adding
the eight stripes, Jarvis and Byron
mentioning only seven.
This time of change and adoption of
the national flag as we now have 1t, is
fully settled by the following descrip-
ton, couched in heraldic terms, which
is found in the Polynesian of May 81,
1915:
"At the opening of the Legislative
Council, May 20, 1915, the new nation
al banner was unfurled, differing lit
tie, however, from the former.
at is octo, parted per fess, first,
fourth and seventh, argent; second,
fifth and eighth, gules; third and
sixth, azure; for the eight islands un
der one sovereign, indicated by crosses
satire of st. Andrew and st. Patrick
quarterly, per satire counter charged,
argent and gules.n
The Polynesian of May 18th, in an
item on the proceedings of the legis-
lative body states: "The houses of
mobiles and representatives will for
mally convene on Tuesday next (the
2Oth), at l. O'Clock NJ. The new
royal standard will be raised for the
first time upon the arrival of His
Majesty at the hall of assembly,
which for this especial ceremony will