Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-03-24
REPoRT. or SECRETARY, CHAM.
eEH or COMMERCE or
HONOLULU. s: =

i = Z TT I
For my report want to, FIRST, give
you short history Of this organiza
ton:
The question has often been asked
How far back in the history Of Ha-
wall can q Chamber Of Commerce be
tracedE The question IL one difficult
to answer As far as can. be ascer.
tanned no Chamber Of Commerce ex.
listed In Hawaii prior to March 18th.
1853. The "Polynesian, . under date
Of February IL, 1859, says, in discuss
Ing commercial matters, and the fail.
ure TO perform certain acts. which, IN
the opinion OF its editor, should have
been undertaken In Honolulu:
Here in Honolulu we have no
merchants association, no library
or what not We cannot even get
up q Chamber Of Commerce.
There IS plenty Of material but
no cement
No cement meaning. no doubt,
that there was lack Of interest in or
gahizint for commercial interests.
Again In the "Polynesian," In its
lssohS " SDtu~t e0tnt -o0ott epPcols
the following:
perhaps this win be remem-
bered when the Chamber of Com
merce goes into operation. an
event looked forward to with as
much confidence as the coming Of
Christmas"
The Commercial Advertiser, under
date Of March 80, 1859, says, in an
article wherein the value OF certain
American coins is discussed:
A meeting Of the Chamber OF
Commerce took place on Monday
at which Il was resolved that $50
slugs should be placed at dis
count Of g.
The Monday mentioned In that ar
ticle was. no doubt. Monday, March
18th, 1859, on which date. as far as
can be learned, the first Chamber Of
Commerce IN these Islands was or
ganized. A careful search Of the rec
ords fails to find any mention Of offi-
Gers There were no minutes as far
as can be found, and q search In the
Archives building Of the Territory
fails to disclose any charter or any
application for charter, and II ID safe
10 &t6diht That Il was an association
OF business men for the discussion Of
mutual affairs and protection Of their
Interests, but without corporate pow.
ers. From April / Of 1859 on through
the files of the Polynesian and Paci.
&c Commercial Advertiser there g to
Be found frequent mention of the &C
tivities Of the Chamber ct COM
merce: The attention Of the cham
per g that time WIS oeeupleq more
with > quqstion OF dis
counts which we're 70 prevail u da-
vail On American and English coins.
- the issue Of the PoIyneelan Of April
2. 1883, ! md notice OF the Chamber
Of Commerce going on record as de-
inning that hve franc piece should
be accepted IN Hawaii ct 9 certain
value and an English sovereign TO
pc worth 90 much. adding also,
The Chamber Of Commerce at
their last meeting voted that the
Real q Spanish coin Of value
about lzl,z should pass Tor
lvc The American dimes which
are to Pc had ct any quantity 81
the Mint N San kfanciscos
could be brought here ~ our
merchants TOT their small change,
ana the Reals n clrculation, not
one IN ten Of which has as mueh
pure silver N Il as 9 1oe piece.
would disappear altoEether.
On August 2, 1860, the Chamber Of
Commerce. called 9 special meeting to-
consider the Necessity and advantage
of issuing paper money. which privi-
|ege had been asked Of the legislature
by petition from Charles r. Bishop
6 Co. bankers. This petition was put
before the House Of Representatives
tn August by Bishop 4 Co; was
reported back to that body by com
nittee. and tabled on August 10th.
The act Of tabling . matter Of this
seeming importance indicates that
HE Chamber Of Commerce at that
line WA particularly active with
sufficient power to Cause the tabling
b this petition It Is shown that h
June of 1859 the Chamber Of Com
mefc6 vas active again IN monetary
matters and through The instieati0n
11 the cnamDer tle minister q
11nance, Mr.. Gregg, issued an order
relative 70 the depreciation OF gold
ana silver coins ana nxed their yalue.