In pursuit of sovereignty
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Elele published on April 1, 1845.
When looking for an event that occured on this day in history, we came across this article which speaks of Timoteo Haʻalilio being baptized aboard the ship Montreal on December 1, 1844.
Image: Portrait of Timoteo Haʻalilio. Photographic copy by Norman D. Hill. Bishop Museum Archives. SP 18665.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org
Image: “Ka Hoi mai o Mi. Rikeke, a me ka Make ana o Haalilio,” Ka Elele, April 1, 1845, p. 2.
THE RETURN OF MR. RICHARDS, AND THE PASSING OF HAʻALILIO.
On this past 23rd of March, it was a Sabbath, the clipper ship from Boston named Montreal docked here at Honolulu. It spent 119 days at sea before docking here. Mr. Richards and Haʻalilio boarded this ship at Boston, and when it docked here, Mr. Richards ran quickly upland, and immediately entered the house of the king; and all the chiefs soon gathered there, and they shared a long greeting. The physique of Mr. Richards was fine, it was bulky, not sickly, though his features were a bit aged.
Haʻalilio had not gone upland together [with Richards], and we had heard immediately that he had died at sea. When hearing this [news], there was much crying of the chiefs and the people for the great pain of their hearts. The chiefs all kneeled in front of God, and prayed to him and humbled [themselves] beneath him for this great calamity that had come. When the prayer was done, they went in droves to the church to the morning assembly, and there we all worshipped Jehovah intently, some with pained hearts while others with joyful hearts. When the sermon finished, Mr. Richards stood forth and told of Haʻalilio becoming ill and then dying.
In this manner—in September 1844 he had caught a cold, though it was not too severe, and on the 18th day of that month, he had a cough and fever; after which he slightly recovered. They were in New York at that time; and on the 15th of October, they sailed to Boston, and it was there that the sickness quickly increased, and it was realized that it was in his lungs. However, he did not stop going out, traveling a little by carriage; it was like this until his final 10 days at Boston, he had stopped going out, due to the severity of his illness. On the 18th day of November, the ship was set to sail, he was carried seaside and taken aboard the ship. They then sailed here. On the first four days at sea, he was somewhat at ease, but soon thereafter, the sickness increased greatly. He remained like this until the 3rd of December, when he died.
Mr. Richards said, he was of sound mind during his sickness, until the time of his death. Apparent was his repentance and faith in Christ, the redeemer that kept him alive. From the time they sailed from here, he often read the word of God, and reflected upon that of the spirit, and worshipped. And his thoughts were hopeful that
Image: “Ka Hoi mai o Mi. Rikeke, a me ka Make ana o Haalilio,” cont. Ka Elele, April 1, 1845, p. 3.
he would soon join the church, when he had been taken care of and return again here to Hawaiʻi. Because he was ready, he was baptized in the name of the trinity on the 1st day of December, upon the ship, and two days later, he passed on.
The people saw this death of Haʻalilio as ill-fated for this nation, although perhaps it became a blessing for it. God is able to summon those who are prepared as he was, to carry out his duties.
This will encourage the chiefs to reflect and remain prepared; through this action, God is instructing the chiefs to seek out his kingdom and his righteousness in advance.
Image: Timoteo Haʻalilio and Rev. William Richards. Photograph retouched by Norman D. Hill, 1843. Bishop Museum Archives. SP 224608.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
