The King, on his return to Honolulu, expressed to me his high appreciation of
the kindness and attention he had received from Rear Admiral Pennock and all
the officers on board, and that the trip had been a most delightful one to
him.
The rear-admiral informs me that His Majesty, by his refined bearing,
affability, and gentlemanly conduct, endeared himself to all on board.
The rear-admiral intends to visit Hawaii again, and other islands, with the
flag-ship California, to be accompanied by the King.
[Inclosure 1.—From the Hawaiian Gazette, March
5 1873.]
his majesty’s visit to hilo.
Early Sunday morning the United States steamer Benicia, Captain Clary,
with His Majesty’s ensign flying at the main, was seen off the harbor,
having had a short trip of twenty hours from Hilo, which port she left
on Saturday last. At 8 o’clock the battery on Punch-Bowl fired a royal
salute, announcing the King’s return, and at 9.30 he landed under royal
salute from her Britannic Majesty’s steamer Scout and United States
steamer Benicia. As a report of what occurred at Hilo will interest our
readers, we give the particulars as fully as we can gather:
The Benicia arrived off the Bay of Hilo at 7 a.m. on Friday morning,
twenty-two hours from Honolulu, and in charge of Pilot Babeock was soon
at an anchor in the the harbor. Lieutenant-Governor Lyman and Sheriff
Severance immediately went off
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to the ship and invited His Majesty ashore. As may well be imagined, the
little village began to swarm like a beehive, and natives and horsemen
could be seen hurrying into town from every direction.
At 10 o’clock His Majesty left the ship, accompanied by his chamberlain,
Adjutant Judd, and Lieutenant-Governor Lyman; and as he landed the Hilo
band greeted him a welcome, playing “God save the King,” while the crowd
burst out with hurrahs. He immediately repaired to the residence of
Governor Lyman, where crowds of people gathered and cheered him, to
which he responded in a few words, and said that on Monday he would be
pleased to meet all who might wish to visit him.
At 5 p.m. of the same day the scholars of all the schools in Hilo formed
in a procession, headed by the band, and marched to the King’s residence
to greet him. He received them in his usual courteous manner and
addressed a few words to them.
During the evening the glee club of the Hilo boarding-school and the band
serenaded the King; singing and playing several songs, among them “My
country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,” and an original
composition, “Lunalilo forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah!” His Majesty
complimented the musicians very highly on their proficiency, and, in a
neat short speech, returned his thanks.
Saturday noon His Majesty visited the Benicia, and was received by
Captain Clary and officers. A salute was fired in honor of the
day—Washington’s birth-day. He also waited on Admiral Pennock, and saw
him safely mounted for his trip to the crater. The admiral was
accompanied by his aids and two officers from the Benicia, also Generals
Schotield and Alexander and two guides.
The church-going people of Hilo turned out on Sunday in their gayest
attire, it having been noised about that the King would attend church.
As may well be imagined the building was crowded, and it was a sight not
often seen in the pretty tropical village of Byron’s Bay. Rev. T. Coan
preached on the occasion, and the services were novel and interesting,
the choir performing most beautifully the anthem “The earth is the
Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” In the evening His Majesty listened to
a sermon preached by Rev. Mr. Thompson in the foreign church.
Monday, however, was the great day of the feast—hookupu day—when all who
choose, from the poorest to the richest, could go and present themselves
to their King. Long before the hour set to receive the people, crowds
had gathered around and in the court-house yard, and the streets for
blocks in each direction were thronged with people. At 9.15 a.m. His
Majesty appeared at the court-house, accompanied by his chamberlain,
adjutant, Governor Lyman, and Sheriff Severance. Soon after the students
of Mr. Lyman’s school marched before him and sang several beautiful
songs. At 10 o’clock the natives began to file past His Majesty, shaking
hands with him and depositing their gifts. Such a sight had not been
seen there for many a year. Some two thousand persons, men, women, and
children, passed in line before their sovereign, each bearing a gift,
till it would seem as if the yard could not contain what they had
brought. These gifts consisted of turkeys, ducks, chickens, pigs, eggs,
potatoes, bananas, oranges, taro, mats, koa-dishes, and in fact almost
every article of use in housekeeping, not excepting money. After sending
off several boat-loads to the Benicia and distributing to the principal
residents, there were still cart loads on hand. This occupied at least
two hours, after which the foreigners paid their respects to His
Majesty. At the conclusion of this ovation the king addressed the
populace as follows:
To all present I tender my warmest aloha. This day, on which you are
gathered to pay your respects to me, I will remember to the day of my
death. (Cheers.) I am filled with love for you all, fellow-citizens,
(makaainana,) who have come here on this occasion, and for all the
people, because, by your unanimous choice, I have been made your King, a
young sovereign, to reign over you, and to fill the very distinguished
office which I now occupy. (Cheers.) You are parents to me, and I will
be your father. (Tremendous cheering.) Formerly, in the days of our
departed ancestors, you were not permitted to approach them; they and
you were kept apart; but now we meet and associate together. (Cheers.) I
urge you all to persevere in the rights to forsake the ignorant ways of
the olden time. There is but one God, whom it is our duty to obey. Let
us forsake every kind of idolatry.
In the year 1820 Rev. Messrs. Bingham, Thurston, and others came to these
islands and proclaimed the word of God. It is their teachings which have
enabled you to be what you are to-day. Now they have all gone to that
spirit land, and only Mrs. Thurston remains. We are greatly indebted to
them. (Cheers.) There are also among us here (alluding to Revs. Coan and
Lyman) old and gray-haired fathers, whose examples we should endeavor to
imitate, and obey their teachings.
I am very glad to see the young men of the present time so well
instructed in knowledge—perhaps some of them are your children. You must
persevere in jour search of wisdom and in habits of morality. Do not be
indolent. (Cheers.) Those who have striven hard after knowledge and good
character are the ones who deserve and shall receive places of trust
hereafter under the government.
At the present time I have four foreigners as my ministerial advisers.
But if, among these young men now standing before me, and under this
flag, there are any who shall
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qualify themselves to till these positions, then I will select them to
fill their places. (Loud cheers.) Aloha to you all.
The audience was perfectly carried away with delight at the kind words of
their sovereign, and all, old and young, seemed proud of the son of the
good Kekanlaohi. For days after the speech was made the old men and
women could be heard repeating it word for word.
On Tuesday, February 25th, Mr. Severance gave a social party in the
evening, which the King honored with his presence, and joined in the
juvenile amusements, much to the delight of the young ladies and
gentlemen assembled there.
On Wednesday he dined with Captain Spencer and the admiral and officers
of the Benicia. The same day he visited the various schools of the
village, and on Thursday Mr. Lyman’s school, with all of which he
expressed himself very much pleased.
On Friday evening Lieutenant Governor Lyman gave a ball, which His
Majesty attended, and, with dancing and music, the hours passed very
pleasantly.
The week spent at Hilo was very much enjoyed by His Majesty, who returns
in improved health, and evidently refreshed by the visit. It is eight
years since he was last there, and during the interval many changes and
improvements have taken place in the village.
It was a gala week for Hilo, and her people have done themselves great
credit in the manner they received and entertained their distinguished
visitors. The King everywhere won golden opinions by his modest and
unassuming bearing toward all his subjects. Hilo has been honored with
the first visit from him since his election; and we doubt not he will
soon be able to honor other portions of his kingdom with his
presence.
