November 7, 1808: John Young’s Journal
Credits: Lithograph by artist Jacques Arago, Hawaiʻi State Archives (PP-82-5-017).
John Young was an important military advisor to King Kamehameha I. Young originally served as boatswain on the Eleanora, an American ship that anchored in Kealakekua Bay in February 1790. Ka Mooolelo Hawaii (photo. reprint 2005) (Honolulu, 1838) (available online). Young was sent ashore by his captain to investigate the disappearance of The Fair American. Young was detained by Kamehameha as he did not want Young to discover the fate of this ship. The Eleanora, after waiting for two days, departed leaving Young behind.
This fascinating story was captured in Ka Mooolelo Hawaii, the first history of the islands published in the Hawaiian language. It represents the first concerted effort to document Hawaiian oral traditions and accounts written by Native Hawaiians. Ka Mooolelo Hawaii contains a native account of Vancouver’s visit to the Hawaiian Islands while traveling to the northwest coast of America. In that account, it details Vancouver’s suggested counsel to King Kamehameha regarding John Young (Olohana) and Isaac Davis (Aikake):
A i hou mai la o Vanekouva ia Kamehameha, Mai hoonoho oe i ka haole i Hawaii nei, i elua wale no haole e noho ma Hawaii nei, Olohana ma laua o Aikake, aka, o ka nui o ka haole, he mea opuinoino loa, he kanaka huhu wale, he poe hoomakaulii aina, aole loa e pono ka haole ke noho mai ma ko oukou pae aina, o hihia oukou.
An approximate translation of this passage reads as follows:
Vancouver also stated to Kamehameha, ʻDo not permit foreigners to settle in Hawaiʻi. Only two should settle in Hawaiʻi: Olohana and Aikake. This is because the majority of foreigners are men of bad character, angry for no reason, and greedy for land–it is not at all advisable for foreigners to dwell in your archipelago, lest you become entangled.’
This week for our blog, we feature an excerpt from John Young’s journal. As indicated on the back inside cover, the journal was presented to him by Charles Francis Barton on February 29, 1804. The writing is difficult to discern at times, and there are odd spellings of certain words (e.g.”Lord” is spelled “loard”). The November entry appears to say: “Novembr the 7 1808. From Yoapoocka 40 tapas for Oliver Holms 5 hogs Sept 1 Dog on the pleace.”
Young’s journal is difficult to read, but provides rare insight to early trade and foreign relations here in Hawaiʻi. We hope you enjoy reading this small excerpt!
