“A Change of Belief”

Missionaries in Hawaii

Vocabulary• Missionary: a person sent to promote

Christianity in a foreign country.• Heathen: Not a member of an established

religion.• Protestant: Western Christian churches that

are separate from the Roman Catholic Church• Temperaments: Personalities,

Characteristics.• Influence: Power, Control.

“Thanks” to Cook• Captain James Cook(Britain), arrived in

Hawaii in 1778. Besides foreign contact and its positives and many negatives effects, Cook created maps of the Pacific and Hawaii for the world to see.

• There were some accounts that at the 1778 arrival of Cook, there were 1,000,000 Hawaiians.

• By the mid-1800’s, there were 60,000.

Henry Opukaha’ia

• Henry Opukaha'ia, moved to America in 1808.• He was the first Hawaiian to convert to

Christianity.• He told his classmates in Cornwall, Connecticut

about his fellow Hawaiians and how they were a part of a heathen and superstitious society.

• His goal to spread Christianity in Hawaii did not happen as Opukaha’ia died.

• His dream would continue as New Englanders paved the way.

Missionaries Prepare

• In 1819, 14 Protestant Missionaries and 3 Hawaiians sailed on the Thaddeus from Boston (Massachusetts) to Hawaii. • Many of the missionaries had different

temperaments.• The mission was paid for by the

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

Missionaries Sail

• During their voyage, –Kamehameha I had died. –Liholiho was the new king. –The kapu was abolished.–No belief system replaced.

• The voyage would take 164 days.

What would the Missionaries Do?

• Task 1: Wanted to influence the Hawaiians to read the Bible.–Needed to teach them how to read first.–1820-1831: Missionaries created a “written

Hawaiian language.” Created textbooks..–1831-1840: Missionary teachers were trained

and schools for children started.–1840-1863: Government started to create

“public schools.”

Missionary Schools in Hawaii

• The first missionary school was opened in Kailua, Kona (Eastern Big Island).–Students: Kamehameha II, Kauikeaouli.

• Another missionary school opened in Kawaihae(North Eastern Big Island).–Students: Kalanimoku

• On Oahu, Hiram Bingham and his wife held the first school exam.

Missionary Schools in Hawaii

• At Waimea(Kauai).– Student: King Kaumuali’i.

Task 1 Not Accomplished. What now?

• Missionaries could not wait for the Hawaiians to learn English – the Bible had to be written in Hawaiian.• Reverend William Ellis created a

Hawaiian alphabet containing 12 letters.

Task 1 Not Accomplished. What now?

• In 1822, the first Hawaiian language publication came off the printing press.

• It was an 8-page pamphlet containing the Hawaiian alphabet, spelling exercises, and simple sentences and verses.

• By 1838, the “Hawaiian Spectator” was produced. The first “news-like paper for the Pacific.

• As a result, chiefs started teaching the palapala (printed material) to the common people.

What would the Missionaries Do?

• Task 2: Setting up Missionary Schools.• Due to the popularity of the palapala of

the high chiefs, many adults started to learn to read in “school.” • Children were too “wild” to be brought

to school.• The first Superintendent of schools in the

islands was David Malo.

Missionary Schools• Lahainaluna Seminary(Maui) was the first high

school or seminary(school to be a priest) in 1831.

• In 1832, 40% of the people in Hawaii were enrolled in 900 schools across the islands.

• In 1836, Hilo Boarding School (Big Island)was the first school to house students.

• In 1842, Punahou School(Oahu) opened. Punahou was founded to educate the children of missionaries.

Missionary Schools• Royal School(Oahu) 1839.• St. Joseph(Big Island)• St. Anthony’s(Maui)• Maryknoll(Oahu)• Iolani(Oahu) 1870’s• St. Andrew’s Priory(Oahu) All girls

school.

Kamehameha Schools• Founded in 1887 by the will of Princess

Bernice Pauahi Bishop – a relative of Kamehameha I.• In 1850, she married Charles Bishop.

Since they had no children, they decided to use the estate for the benefit of the children of Hawaii.• Kamehameha Schools is the only school

in Hawaii that has preference to native Hawaii children.