In celebration of the many contributions to Hawai'i and the Hawaiian people and in honor of His Magesty's King David La'amea Kalakaua, 175th La Hanau (birthday) we continue with our next post involving the King's nautical legacy and his love and support of water sports in the Kingdom of Hawai'i.
Hau‘oli Lā Hānau e Kalākaua!
The Kalakaua Cup and the Trans Pacific Yacht Race
On June 18, 1889 the delegates of the Hawaiian Rowing and Yachting Association appropriated a silver cup to be sailed for annually during the month of July under the auspices and conditions of the H.R.Y.A. by first class yachts of dimensions not over 40 feet overall. Said cup was named the "Hawaiian Challenge Cup". The 15-inch-tall silver trophy, however, is better known by the name of the inaugural winner of the Regatta, you guessed it King David Kalakaua.
Above participants in the TRANSPAC at the starting line leaving California for Hawai'i, King Kalakaua proposed the idea for the Regatta over 125 years ago. The next TRANSPAC will begin July 13th 2015
After a few periods of inactivity due to disinterest and extenuating circumstances, as well as the disappearance of the cup itself. The trophy was re-dedicated in 1986 and today is awarded annually to the winner of the Fourth of July Regatta consisting of three separate races. The first race is from Waikiki to Kaneohe, the second is an offshore race in the waters off of Kaneohe Bay, and the third is a race from Kaneohe to Waikiki. Monohull yachts from 27’ to 60’ can participate and the results are handicapped in order to accommodate different sizes of yachts in the competition with an adjusted time system.
The trophy itself is shaped like a binnacle, and on the front is engraved, "Hawaiian Rowing and Yachting Challenge Trophy". On the back are two sloops etched with Diamond Head in the background. Seabirds and dolphins decorate the upper and lower rims of the trophy. On either side of the bowl are placed two windlass with a wheel and anchor attached by a small chain.
The Kalakaua Cup is one of sailing's oldest and most prestigious trophies. After winning the Regatta, with the royal yacht Healani, King David Kalakaua was ceremoniously presented with the Hawaiian Challenge Cup on July 4th, 1889 . In celebration of his victory his majesty retired to the Royal Boat house and invited the regatta participants to join him in celebrating where he filled the cup with his favorite beverage, champagne and passed it around to his fellow skippers and sailors. Continuing the tradition, the Kalakaua Cup Regatta is run off O’ahu, every year on July 4th. Kalakaua also sponsored many swimming races and rowing regattas, and spent a great deal of his leisure time at the Royal Boat House in the middle of Honolulu Harbor, Diamond Head side of what is now Pier 7 today.
The center of much undignified gossip during its day, the Royal Boathouse was the King’s man cave by contemporary standards. Built in the 1870s as a private retreat for the King to entertain beyond the prying disapproving eyes of his detractors. An invitation to the Boat House was a sign of good favor with his majesty, where he played host to a long list of foreign dignitary’s and bon vivants who enjoyed the Kings penchant for champagne and having a good time, after all he was known as the Merrie Monarch, for good reason.
Above the Kings boat and winning crew of the Pomaikelani; Below a political cartoon from The Wasp a San Fransico political newspaper, depicting King Kalakaua as a drunk and under control of John Bull, the British equivalent of Uncle Sam with Queen Kapiolani being entreated by US President Grover Cleveland, who disapproved of annexation efforts and respected Hawaiian Sovereignty.
The King had many detractors, mainly American annexationists, missionary descendants, and American and European Sugar plantation owners who greedily eyed the Kingdom as a feather worth plucking. Sugar, was big money and US tariffs were affecting their desire for bigger profits.
If the US were to seize control of the Islands the tariffs would be moot and even larger profits could be manifested; if only the Hawaiians could be disenfranchised from the land, and the meddlesome monarchy deposed; the plantation owners and the ambitious missionaries dreams of yet more money and power could be realized.
There was a constant buzz about Honolulu initiated and maintained by these malcontents, through the press and through incessant gossip, niggling the King, Royal Family and practically everything and anything Hawaiian. An example of the typical contemporary comment by a detractor about the goings on at the Boat House always made sure to attack Hawaiian traditions along with a piqued distaste for the jovial nature of the King and his generosity.
“... the scenes enacted there beggar description. Gambling, lewd practices, immoral exhibitions, drunken carousals, and the abominations of the hula dance, all combined to establish his reputation as a prince of good fellows with his large retinue of dissipated dependents.”
Above -A luau at the Kings boat house with some of his "dissipated dependants"; the King's violinist was a constant fixture, as well as, his singing boys. Below a photo of King Kalakaua hosting author Robert Louis Stevenson on the boat house lanai.
Another one of the king's lasting nautical legacies is the Transpacific Yacht Race, Also known as TRANSPAC. In anticipation of the King’s Silver Jubilee, King Kalakaua instructed his private secretary to extend an invitation to the commodore of the Pacific Yacht Club in San Francisco.
The secretary wrote that the king, "desiring to show his appreciation for the friendly feelings which have always been shown him by the officers and members of the Pacific Yacht Club, has commanded me to extend an invitation to your club to be present at the festivities to be held at Iolani Palace in Honolulu, on the occasion of His Majesty's fiftieth birthday, the 16th of November next." In addition, silver cups valued at over $1500 would be offered as prizes "to be presented by the Hawaiian Boating Association." to the winner and runners up of the regatta. The Idea for the TRANSPAC was King Kalakaua’s, unfortunately, the event did not coalesce into reality until many years after the death of his majesty. But the prestige of the TRANSPAC as a premier sailing event is world renowned, today.
King Kalakaua's Royal Boat House circa 1880's Honolulu Harbor
Post 1: Celebrating King Kalakaua's 175th Birthday
Post 2: What in the World is a Schellenbaum
Post 3: The Merrie Monarch a Model of Modernity
Post 4: Hula is the Language of the Heart
Comments(8)