The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-19
HAWAIIAN MARITIME HISTORY.
Brief Sketch of Noted Vessels and Commander,
In Development of the Coasting Service
OF the Hawaiian Islands.

of the schooner Manuokawai there nass-
ed away the last of the 'old register,
vessels of these islands-the connecting
INK with the past-the record of which
fact recalls "reminiscences of not q few
celebrated vessels and their notable can
tains, or owners, in the Annals of Ha
wall Apart from the connection of
many OF them with the historic events in
the growth of Hawaiian civilization and
commerce, the facts gathered furnish an
interesting companion chapter to our ar
ticle in the last Annual on the History
OF the Steam Coasting Service of the
Islands,"
1t is not proposed to give as full an
account of the sailing vessels as was
done. with the steamers in the article
referred to. Nor can it be so concise;
as, from the longer period and discon-
nected character of much of the in
formation obtainable at this date relative
to the service, many breaks occur to mar
its completeness; hence. we confine our
selves at present to those vessels and
captains of the coasting fleet that have
earned for themselves name, trusting
1t may lead to more complete history
of the service at some future time
We are indebted to history and early
voyagers for facts obtained relative to
the early efforts of this people in marine
ventures, since the newspaper was un-
known here till 1886 This will account
for the meager points obtained in the
dawning period of our maritime history.
In early days all vessels belonged to
the King and the principal chiefs; and
such was their ambition and anxiety to
possess foreign vessels that fabulous
prices, in several instances, were paid by
them for vessels suited to their purpose
for inter-island traffic. Until the Bill of
Rights, granted by Kamehameha Ill, in
1910, His Majesty's common subjects
dare not presume to own anything so
coveted by their superiors.
INITIAL EFFORTS.
The first vessel for inter-island service,
according to tradition and history, was
first instance was decidedly warlike,
since the Beretane, the first vessel built
at these islands, ON Hawaii in 1898,
through the aid of Vancouver's mechan-
les, was, shortly after launching en-
ployed in the naval combat with Kahe-
kills war canoes off the Kohala coast.
Encouraged by the success attending this
vessel doubtless others were built be-
tween this period and the opening of the
present century, for we find in Cleve-
lands Voyages that Mr.. Shaler exchang-
ed the damaged and leaking Leila Byrd,
in 1904, for a small schooner of Kameha-
(r,r he
humanu), of thirty or forty tons. in
which to convey so much as it would
carry of his cargo of trade to the mis-
sions along the coast of California. the
Leila ENTHUSIASTICALLY known as Lilly
Bird''-was repaired for the King by a
Mr.. George McClay, who hove her down
and repaired her in Honolulu harbor,
putting in a new keel, replanking her,
etc. She was then put in the sandal
wood trade to China, under command OF
John Harbottle. making two or three
voyages and finally ending her days. by
sinking at Whampoa. The Tamana (Ka-
ahumanD subsequently returned to the
islands and was resold, but shortly after
wards was wrecked.
CAPTAINS SUMNER AND ADAMS.
The vigorous prosecution of the sandal
wood trade doubtless had the effect Oh
encouraging the Mig anu SiliSiS ~ -
eign ventures with several of the vessels
at their command as is instanced in the
records of the late Capt. Alexander
Adams, and Capt. William Sumner. In
the Annual for 1880 an account is given
of the voyage of the brig Forester TO
China, under command of Alex. Adams
claiming to be the first time the Hawan-
an flag was seen in foreign waters. w
find that VIM. Sumner was mate OF the
vessel on that voyage, though previously
he was in command of the schooner Al
batross, sailing between the ISLANDS, anu
a small schooner of kalaimoKuS preVi-
Gus to that Returning from China In the
Forester he was in charge of various
government vessels in the coasting SER
vice till 1921, when, in July, he TOOK
charge of the brig Thaddeus for Kan
sebatka with a load of salt, returning ~
October Up to 1924 he was again con-
stantly employed in the coasting service
of the government. March 2, 1874, by or
der of Kalaimoku, sanctioned by the
King, he was given charge or the pris
Ainoa for a sealing voltage, returning IN
October with 5,S45 fur skins, a quanily
of elephant oil and fish. On this ana
similar voyage in the brig IaHioraiaiia
KamahalolanDin 1926, in which ne %
tanned $3.50 seal skins, he reported Ina,
had they been properly provisloheu'
Sumner returned from this cruise Janu-
airy "a. 1927, and up to 1929 was again com
manding government vessels voyagins
between the islands. May "a 1879, Gov
ernor Boki gave Sumner charge OF tne
brig Niu for Tahiti, to endeavor TO re-
cover a cargo of goods sent there by
chief named Kamonohu, which cargo al
that time, was supposed to be lost. AR,
irving at Tahiti he found the cargo iau
been sold and the proceeds were pelne
souandered. After much remonstrance
and persuasion he was enabled to puy q
cargo of cocoanut oil and wood Tor Iur'
niture with the money saved from ha-
monohu's drunkenness and pronlgacy
This oil was brought to Oahu In pam
boos, having neither casks, or cooper
reaching port September %. 1929. He was
again in the inter-island service up &c
December 25, 1881, then took charge o.
the brig WaverIy for California, return
ing again in May of 1882.
THE FLEET OF 1s2o-A.
We retrace our narrative at TINS pom
to note several vessels referred 10 ~
T.,.,....,n 4;X,,a 1eoa-o4 the most prom