Kamehameha now completed the Heiau at Pu`ukohola. Now partially restored, it remains a major historical site in Hawai`i.
Four years later, in 1795, Kamehameha invaded O`ahu, and finally defeated the forces of the other islands. His huge invasion fleet landed where Honolulu now stands, and his enemies were driven back into the mountains behind. There, at a place called Nu`uanu Pali, or the cliffs of Nu`uanu, the last major battle was fought. The enemy were driven back until they were killed, thrown over the mighty cliff, or jumped off the cliff to their death to avoid capture and slavery.
O`ahu was now added to Kamehameha’s domain, with John Young left in place as governor on Kamehameha’s behalf. Within a few years the other islands in the chain had also ceded to Kamehameha.
George Vancouver
I now need to mention another of Cook’s men—a man who had been one of his young midshipmen. This boy had been attacked by Hawaiians at Kealakekua Bay the day before Cook’s death, and later played a part in trying to recover Cook’s body. He was promoted to lieutenant on return to England. In 1792, aged 33, he was made captain, and given two ships to make a voyage to present day British Columbia. His name will be known to all of you from the city and island named after him—George Vancouver.4
Vancouver’s order was to negotiate with the Spanish the rival claims that the two nations had over Nootka Sound, and then to continue the exploration of the coastline begun by Cook over 13 years before. The exploration would take three years, and each winter was spent in the Hawaiian Islands, which Vancouver also charted.
It is clear from Vancouver’s journal, and other accounts of events in Hawai`i in 1792, that neither Vancouver nor the Hawaiians were completely confident of the good will of each other. This was not surprising, given that the last time Vancouver was there, his commander had been killed. On Hawai`i, he found that the people refused to trade, except for arms and ammunition, to which Vancouver would not agree. But, from a meeting he had with Kamehameha, he noted in his journal, that he was agreeably surprised in finding that his riper years had softened that stern ferocity, which his younger days had exhibited, and had changed his general deportment to an address characteristic of an open, cheerful, and sensible mind; combined with great generosity, and goodness of disposition.
When Kamehameha came aboard the ship, he took Vancouver’s hand, and “demanded, if we were sincerely his friends”, to which Vancouver answered in the affirmative. Kamehameha then said
He understood we belonged to King George, and asked if he was likewise his friend. On receiving a satisfactory answer to this question, he declared the he was our firm good friend; and according to the custom of the country, in testimony of the sincerity of our declarations we saluted by touching noses.
Vancouver also met Isaac Young and John Davis, and gave them a letter testifying that
Tamaah Maah [Kamehameha], with the generality of the Chiefs, and the whole of the lower order of People, have conducted themselves toward us with the strictest honest, civility and friendly attention.
When Vancouver returned to Hawai`i for the last time, Kamehameha assembled the principal chiefs from all over the island for a meeting at Kealakekua. There they discussed a treaty to give British protection to Hawaiians from unscrupulous traders, and predatory foreign powers. It would be achieved through the cession of the Island of Hawai`i to Great Britain.
Tamaahmaah opened the business in a speech, which he delivered with great moderation and equal firmness. He explained the reasons that had induced him to offer the island to the protection of Great Britain; and recounted the numerous advantages that himself, the chiefs, and the people, were likely to derive by the surrender they were about to make.
The chiefs stated clearly that this cession was not to alter their religion, economy, or government, and that Kamehameha, the chiefs and priests
[The] king repeated his former proposition, which was now unanimously approved of, and the whole party declared their consent by saying, that they were no longer “Tanata no Owhyhee”, the people of Owhyhee; but “Tananta no Britannee”, the people of Britain. were to continue as usual to officiate with the same authority…
To commemorate the event, an inscription on copper was made stating
in Karakakooa bay, in the presence of George Vancouver, commander of the said sloop and the other officers of the ships; after due consideration, unanimously ceded the said island of Owhyhee to His Britannic Majesty, and acknowledged themselves to be subjects of Great Britain.DiscoveryOn the 25th of February, 1794, Tamaahmaah, king of Owhyhee, in council with the principal chiefs of the island, assembled on board His Britannic Majesty’s sloop
Vancouver then noted in his Journal
Thus concluded the ceremonies of ceding the island of Owhyhee to the British crown; but whether this addition to the empire will ever be of any importance of Great Britain, or whether the surrender of the island will ever be attended with any additional happiness to its people, time alone must determine.
The British government did not receive a copy of the “cession” until after Vancouver’s return to England a year later, and then the British parliament never acted on it. They had a good excuse, however, as Britain was now at war with Revolutionary France. But oh, what might have been!
Flags
Kamehameha reigned as King of Hawai`i until his death in 1819. He had turned from being a local warlord into a good and just ruler. As per the ancient custom, his body was buried in a hidden location, because his mana, or spiritual power, was considered to be sacred. His final resting place remains unknown.
But he had started a dynasty. His eldest son, Liholiho, became Kamehameha II. He and his queen travelled to Great Britain in 1823. Before meeting King George IV in London, he died of measles in 1824. The Kamehameha line ran through to 1872, before the Kingship passed outside the immediate family. The crown then ran through to Queen Lili`uokalani, who was not a descendant of Kamehameha I. She reigned from 1891 until she was ousted by a pro-American contingent of her government two years later.