The Olowalu massacre
In 1789, Captain Simon Metcalfe set out on a fur trading voyage with two ships, The large Eleanora and the Fair American which was a schooner that was under the command of his son Thomas Metcalfe. Later the Fair American was captured by the Spanish but was quickly released. Then Metcalfe decided to go to Hawaii to trade. The Eleanora had arrived to Hawaii by 1790, and was greeted by Chief Kame’eiamoku who borded the ship to welcome them. The chief must of done something wrong to offend Metcalfe, who had the chief flogged. This will come to be a consequence later. The Eleanora then sailed to Maui to resupply. One night a small boat was stolen and the night watchman was killed. This made Metcalfe furious. The next day Metcalfe aimed his cannons at the Hawaiians and fired. Then he captured some of the Hawaiians and they told him that some of the people from the village of Olowalu took the boat. (www.hawaiihistory.org )
So now Metcalfe went to Olowalu to look for the people that did this. When Metcalfe got to Olowalu he saw that the boat was ripped up for its nails. He signaled the villagers to come out and trade with them. That was not his intension at all. When all the people came out he aimed his cannons onshore and fired, killing hundreds and injuring many others. (www.hawaiihistory.org )
About four to five weeks later the Fair American arrived. Chief Kame’eiamoku was waiting there and the crew was overwhelmed by the numbers that the Hawaiians had. The whole crew was killed except for one person, Isaac Davis who will later help the Hawaiians fight battles and the takeover of Maui. (www.hawaiihistory.org )
So now Metcalfe went to Olowalu to look for the people that did this. When Metcalfe got to Olowalu he saw that the boat was ripped up for its nails. He signaled the villagers to come out and trade with them. That was not his intension at all. When all the people came out he aimed his cannons onshore and fired, killing hundreds and injuring many others. (www.hawaiihistory.org )
About four to five weeks later the Fair American arrived. Chief Kame’eiamoku was waiting there and the crew was overwhelmed by the numbers that the Hawaiians had. The whole crew was killed except for one person, Isaac Davis who will later help the Hawaiians fight battles and the takeover of Maui. (www.hawaiihistory.org )