Continuing on about Robert Louis Stevenson from my post the other day, at the age of 38 he set sail for the South Seas on a chartered schooner called ‘The Casco’. Having come from a family of well-known Scottish lighthouse engineers he had developed a great love of the sea and, suffering from tuberculosis since childhood, was hoping to find a climate that would improve his health. He arrived in Honolulu in January 1889, whereupon he became good friends with King Kalakaua, the reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Islands.
King David Kalakaua was considered by his friend to be a cultured intellectual, and had a keen interest in politics, sports, literature and music. He gave his chief patronage to music, from the ancient chants to the walz. He was also instrumental in restoring to the public the performance of the Hula. He was also a poet and lyricist and one of his legacies to his people was his “Hymn to Kamehameha” known today as "Hawai`i Pono`i". It was the National Anthem of the Hawaiian Monarchy and today is their State Song.
If I have missed anything out about the King, or add any other history of Hawaii, perhaps our Hawaiian friends will let me know.
Thank you for looking and
I hope your day is a great one.
I had no idea about any of this! So did he stay in Hawaii?
ReplyDeleteNo Ginny, in 1890 he settled in Samoa, where he sadly died of a stroke in his island home in 1894. He was 44.
DeleteI didn't know about this either, Denise! I love the photo and appreciate you sharing this story. As well, I love the Hibiscus you put in your signature...I hope I have guessed the flower accurately. Thank you so much for sharing, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteYou guessed correctly dear friend, it is an hibiscus :) so happy you liked it and my post and you are very welcome.
DeleteInteresting as I like Ginny didn't know. It's good to learn more about people and places.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret :) I always enjoy learning about people and places in history, a fascinating subject to me.
DeleteInteresting, I didn't know that information either!
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful Sunday, hugs Elke
Greetings Elke, I am happy you found this interesting. I would also like to wish you a beautiful Sunday, hugs Denise
DeleteMust have been quite the adventure back in the day.
ReplyDeleteVery much so :)
DeleteThank you for the interesting information about Hawaii – I think it's a dream destination for many people all over the world.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a wonderful Sunday and send you my best wishes.
Greetings Viola and thank you, I am glad you found this interesting. Hawaii is a beautiful place. I wish you the same wonderful Sunday, with my best wishes also :)
DeletePart of history I am not familiar with, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTake care, enjoy your day and the new week ahead.
Thank you Eileen, and you are very welcome. I wish you the same :)
DeleteVery interesting. I didn't know any of this.
ReplyDeleteHappy you found it interesting Ann, thank you :)
DeleteHow wonderful it would be to become good friends with a king - it sounds so casual.
ReplyDeleteIt does, doesn't it? I am intrigued and would like to know the beginning of their friendship :)
DeleteInteresting...Happy Sunday
ReplyDeleteThank you Ashok, so glad you found it interesting. Happy Sunday to you also :)
DeleteWE took a trip to Hawaii in 1985..it was fantastic...such beauty.
ReplyDeleteHugs cecilia
Lovely that you got to see the place Cecilia :) It is a beautiful group of islands. Hugs, Denise
DeleteOf course I knew none of this and had never read a poem by him except 60 plus hears ago in highschool and only because I had to. I do read the poems here and what you say about them, which gives me a little knowledge I never had..
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandra :) I remember reading his poems in school and since then. Always glad to come across them.
DeleteI also knew nothing of any of this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy passing on what I find and you are very welcome Sandra. Thank you :)
DeleteInteresting, what a great photo.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed Christine, thank you :)
DeleteWell, I too am going to say ...
ReplyDeleteThank you for an interesting post and read :)
All the best Jan
That's very sweet of you Jan, you are very welcome and thank you so much! All the best to you too, Denise :)
DeleteAloha, my friend. This is information that makes me happy. That's such a beautiful photo. Yes, we in Hawaii learn to sing Hawaii Pono'i in grade school, and we sing it at the opening of the concert season at the Blaisdell and whenever customary. Great anthem!
ReplyDeleteAnd Aloha to you too my friend :) I can't tell you enough how happy that makes me. The photo was on a greeting card that I picked up on one of our visits to the Islands many years ago. I have had it in my box of treasures for a long time now :) I felt it was time to make an appearance.
DeleteTen una linda semana.
ReplyDeleteGracias, te deseo una linda semana también :)
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