Select Fact About Hawaii
State of Hawaii Data and
Statistics
State Symbols and Monuments
Hawaii
Geology and Creation
Hawaii
Discovery and Settlement
European
Discovery of Hawaii
Surfing
In Hawaii Observed
Captain
Cooke Killed
King
Kamehameha I Unifies Hawaii
The
Great Mahele
Kamehameha
III
Immigrant
Arrivals
Annexation of
Hawaii
Modernization
of Hawaii
References
and Links
|
EUROPEAN
DISCOVERY OF HAWAII
Captain Cook, aboard the Resolution, departed
the English Channel on the 14th of July, 1776, on his third
voyage to the Pacific. He was joined by Captain Clerke aboard
the Discovery. The purpose of the voyage was to find a northwest
passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans above the
North American continent. After provisioning in Cape Town,
they ventured through New Zealand and the South Pacific,
visited Christmas Island to the south of Hawaii, then spent
time in Hawai`i before sailing north to the Northwest of
America and up to Alaska in search of a Northern passage
to the Atlantic. Upon the onset of winter he returned to
Hawai`i to supply and repair the ships and to await summer
weather that would allow him to continue his search for
a northwest passage. Upon their arrival at Kealakekua Bay
on the Big Island of Hawaii, the ships were greeted by surrounded
by reportedly thousand of canoes, double and single hulled.
SURFING
IN HAWAII OBSERVED
During this visit one of the Europeans made
note of observing Hawaiian’s surfing.
"As two or three of us were walking along
shore to day we saw a number of boys & young Girls playing
in the Surf, which broke very high on the Beach as there
was a great swell rolling into the Bay. In the first place
they provide themselves with a thin board about six or seven
foot long & about 2 broad, on these they swim off shore
to meet the Surf, as soon as they see one coming they get
them- selves in readiness & turn their sides to it,
they suffer themselves to be involved in it & then manage
so as to get just before it or rather on the Slant or declivity
of the Surf, & thus they lie with their Hands lower
than their Heels laying hold of the fore part of the board
which receives the force of the water on its under side,
& by that means keeps before the wave which drives it
along with an incredible Swiftness to the shore. The Motion
is so rapid for near the Space of a stones throw that they
seem to fly on the water, the flight of a bird being hardly
quicker than theirs. On their putting off shore if they
meet with the Surf too near in to afford them a tolerable
long Space to run before it they dive under it with the
greatest Ease & proceed further out to sea. Sometimes
they fail in trying to get before the surf, as it requires
great dexterity & address, and after struggling awhile
in such a tremendous wave that we should have judged it
impossible for any human being to live in it, they rise
on the other side laughing and shaking their Locks &
push on to meet the next Surf when they generally succeed,
hardly ever being foiled in more than one attempt. Thus
these People find one of their Chief amusements in that
which to us presented nothing but Horror & Destruction,
and we saw with astonishment young boys & Girls about
9 or ten years of age playing amid such tempestuous Waves
that the hardiest of our seamen would have trembled to face,
as to be involved in them among the Rocks, on which they
broke with a tremendous Noise, they could look upon as no
other than certain death. So true it is that many seeming
difficulties are easily overcome by dexterity & Perseverance."
From: Journal
entry - Captain Cook Society Webpage http://www.captaincooksociety.com/ccsu8041.htm
CAPTAIN
COOKE KILLED
Captain Cooke was killed in an apparent confrontation
with the “natives” over the theft of one of
their launches at Kealakekua Bay on February 13th 1779.
Details are sketchy but can be further explored on the above
referenced page.
NEXT
PAGE - Fact About Hawaii King Kamehameha The Great
|
