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Captain Cook in Hawaii

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Captain Cook's primary goal was to determine whether there was a northwest passage above the North American continent.

Endeavour, Captain Cook's First Voyage. Illustrated Edition.

In 1768, Cook, a surveyor in the Royal Navy, was commissioned a lieutenant in command of the HMS Endeavor and led an expedition that took scientists to Tahiti to chart the course of the planet Venus. In 1771, he returned to England, having explored the coast of New Zealand and Australia and circumnavigated the globe.

Beginning in 1772, he commanded a major mission to the South Pacific and during the next three years explored the Antarctic region, charted the New Hebrides, and discovered New Caledonia.

Captain James Cook by Nathaniel Dance-Holland.

In 1776, Cook sailed from England again as commander of the HMS Resolution and Discovery, and in January 1778 he made his first visit to the Hawaiian Islands. He may have been the first European to ever visit the island group, which he named the Sandwich Islands in honor of one of his patrons, John Montague, the Earl of Sandwich.

Cook returned to the Hawaiian islands to replenish and repair his ships. Searching for a safe harbor, Cook eventually moored in Kealakekua Bay on the Kona coast of the Big Island (now Hawaii). Cook's arrival happened to coincide with a period when wars ceased and games were held to honor Lono.

Oatehite. From the Voyages of Captain Cook.
Robert Isaak Cruikkshank

Oatehite. From the Voyages of Captain Cook. Robert Isaak Cruikkshank.

Robert Isaak Cruikkshank first studied art under his father, Isaac Cruikshank. During the Napoleonic wars, he served in the merchant navy after which he returned to his artistic career. Among his illustrations are some notable ones for Miguel de Cervantes' classic novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha. In 1835, the London publisher, Thomas McLean, acquired a number of the most popular plates and reprinted them for an edition entitled Cruikshankiana.

Thus, Cook was treated like a god, with natives lavishing him with gifts and holding ceremonies in his honor.

Oheitepha Bay on the Island of Otaheite,
from "Captain Cook's Last Voyage," 1809

After Cook and his crew departed, a storm damaged the Resolution, forcing a return to Kealakekua. Suddenly wary, the natives could not understand how a god could have allowed this to happen. Their respect for Cook waned, and relations between the Hawaiians and the foreigners grew tense. A misunderstanding led to a fierce battle, and Cook was killed by angry natives.

Captain Cook Killed in Hawaii
(Sandwich Islands

Captain Cook killed in Hawaii.

Captain Cook and the crews of the Discovery and Resolution arrived at Kealakekua Bay in late 1778 at the start of the Hawaiian harvest and tax paying season known as the Makahiki.

Greeted ritually as gods and presented with gifts and offerings, Cook and his men drew heavily from the resources of the area to provision their ships and left February 4, 1779, amidst increasing tension between natives and crew members. While proceeding along the Kohala coast, the ships encountered a gale. A damaged mast on the Resolution forced the ships to return immediately to Kealakekua to make repairs. After armorer's tongs and later a cutter was stolen from the Discovery, Cook went ashore February 14 with nine marines and attempted to take Kalani`opu`u, a powerful Hawai'i island chief, as hostage.

The Voyages of Captain James Cook.

A scuffle ensued between the Hawaiians and Cook's shore party in which Cook and four marines lost their lives. Cook, Britain's greatest navigator, was 51 years old at his death. After the skirmish, a truce was declared, communication was resumed and the damaged mast was repaired. After the British requested the return of Cook's remains, the Hawaiians returned personal effects and part of Cook's body. The Resolution and Discovery left Hawai'i February 22, 1779 under the command of Captain Charles Clerke and Captain James King.

September 3, 1895, San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

SUCCESSFUL LOCAL OPERA
"Captain Cook" Makes a Distinct Hit at the Bush Street Theater.
The Work, Which Is Based on Hawaiian Themes, Is Enthusiastically Received.

Portrait of Captain James Cook.

People who went to see "Captain Cook" at the Bush-street Theater last night in the patronizing spirit which theater-goers generally cherish toward amateur performances were so agreeably surprised at the entertainment that before the end of the first act they found themselves applauding with the most enthusiastic of the composer's friends.

"Captain Cook" is the work of a couple of local men, Sands W. Forman being the librettist and Noah Brandt the composer. The opera was produced by a company of local concert singers and amateurs, who had been drilled into an ease and assurance which in the majority of cases were thoroughly professional. The plot of the opera deals with the adventures of Captain Cook and his men on the Hawaiian Islands.

There is enough love-making to satisfy a society novelist, the tender passages being sandwiched with the schemings of a comic priest to the Goddess Pele and the amorous designs of a dusky old maid. Several of the situations are telling, particularly the one when the lovers' combat is interrupted by the eruption of Mauna Loa. As a whole the story is effective and its setting is pretty and original.

The Hawaiian background has also been of use to Noah Brandt in writing the vary charming music of "Captain Cook." He has used imitations of the native themes just enough to stamp the opera with the original and haunting charm. The chant for instance that the natives sing in the distance, as Cook first becomes aware of their presence, is so weird and fascinating that, like Oliver Twist, one feels inclined to ask for more. Much of the music in the ballets d'action is also as charming as it is characteristic of the islands, and the dancing and staging of these ballets were of an excellence not often seen in San Francisco.

It is only here and there, however, that the character of the themes savors of the South Seas, just as though to give original coloring to the work. On the other hand "Captain Cook" is as full of bright, tuneful waltzes as a Strauss opera. The choruses, which are more ambitious in scope than most of the solos, are all effective and beautiful, some of them being quite grandiose. The trio and chorus, "The King Am I," was one of those that received the most enthusiastic encores.

1783 Map Showing Cook's Voyages.

World map showing Captain Cook's Voyages.

As there is not one dull bar in the whole of the opera, it would be necessary to give a complete list of all the solos to name those that pleased. Most of Princess Ia Ia's songs were redemanded, particularly the "Fern Leaf" waltz. Captain Cook's "In Me You Behold Captain Bold,'' was another good solo, and Koko Bola's thunder maker song was very effective. At the conclusion of the second act the composer was literally showered with flowers and the applause was continued till he had made a brief speech expressing gratification at the reception given the work.

Captain Cooks Voyages by James Cook. The Journals.All the parts were well rendered, the principals being: Mrs. Eva Tenny, Mrs. J. W. Madden, Miss Irene Cook, Miss L. Hester, Miss Marion Chase. J. F. Fleming, Charles Phrent, Frank Coffin, W. J. Hynes, Robert Duncan, Algernon Aspland, A. E. J. Nye, Miss F. Grunagle, Harry E. Medley, Andrew Wood, A. D. Pariser, Alfred P. David.


1899. World's Fleet. Boston Daily Globe

Lloyds Register of Shipping gives the entire fleet of the world as 28,180 steamers and sailing vessels, with a total tonnage of 27,673,628, of which 39 perent are British.

Great Britain10,990 vessels, total tonnage of 10,792,714
United States 3,010 vessels, total tonnage of 2,405,887
Norway 2,528 vessels, tonnage of 1,604,230
Germany 1,676 vessels, with a tonnage of 2,453,334, in which are included her particularly large ships.
Sweden 1,408 vessels with a tonnage of 643, 527
Italy1,150 vessels
France 1,182 vessels
   

For Historical Comparison
Top 10 Maritime Nations Ranked by Value (2017)

  Country # of Vessels

Gross

Tonnage

(m)

Total

Value

(USDbn)

1 Greece 4,453 206.47 $88.0
2 Japan 4,317 150.26 $79.8
3 China 4,938 159.71 $71.7
4 USA 2,399 55.92 $46.5
5 Singapore 2,662 64.03 $41.7
6 Norway 1,668 39.68 $41.1
7 Germany 2,923 81.17 $30.3
8 UK 883 28.78 $24.3
9 Denmark 1,040 36.17 $23.4
10 South Korea 1,484 49.88 $20.1
Total 26,767 87.21 $466.9

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Sources: As noted on entries and through research centers including National Archives, San Bruno, California; CDNC: California Digital Newspaper Collection; San Francisco Main Library History Collection; and Maritime Museums and Collections in Australia, China, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Wales, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, etc.

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