Honolulu Hale (Hah-lay) "City Hall"
Downtown Honolulu, to the right of photo above"Where we love is home,Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Kamehameha IV & Queen Emma 1859 "He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." Goethe
"Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest." Robert Montgomery
Did you know that our Hawaii State Archives contains several letters signed by President Abraham Lincoln? In one dated February 2, 1864 the US president offers condolences to Kamehameha V from “Your Majesties Good Friend.” This year we celebrate Lincoln’s 200th birthday. What would the “Great Emancipator” think of a Hawaii-born man of color ascending to his office, being sworn in on Lincoln’s own bible, and the Kingdom of Hawaii a US state? It boggles my mind! Incidentally, when Hawaii became a U.S. Territory the grand pooh bahs in Washington sent along a seemingly innocuous order that our archives be sent east immediately. Fortunately, quiet resistance garbed in governmental inertia prevailed so scholars and nosey types can read, touch, and smell historical documents and objects right here in Honolulu. Throw in all the historical buildings (including America’s only Royal Palace and oldest Chinatown) and it’s easy to see why Congress may name Downtown Honolulu a National Heritage area later this year. The nation’s 41st such designated area might even be announced in time for the 50th observance of Hawaii statehood on August 21st. In my dear downtown, ancient shades of Hawaiians and their gods prowl the shadows of night alongside gallery hoppers and chic nightlife habitués. Sacred rocks (Pohaku) lie beside ballast stones that traveled here in the hulls of sailing ships that carried away the last of our sandalwood trees. (Though Chinese immigrants continued to call our islands the “Sandalwood Mountain.” America: the “Gold Mountain.”). A king’s carriage way is now a high tech fiber optic channel. Torches have morphed into streetlights, Kahuna Kapu (taboos) all replaced by the Hawaii Revised Statutes. But on moonlit nights the old power and perfumes remain. The chiefs and chiefesses of old still love to laugh beneath the huddled mountains. Can you hear them whispering?
A L O H A! Cloudia
17 comments:
Aloha Cloudia,
Back after an away...
I love the way you blend past into present and morph your way across customs and through time. Your home is a special one, and always a delight to visit.
Tschuess,
Chris
I remember so well the day Hawaii became a state. Following Alaska, there were so different than any other states.
Good morning, Cloudia.
I will mark my calendar!
I think there is much old Abe would be surprised to learn, but this is good. He was of his time, and times have thankfully changed.
I doubt I'll ever visit. Thanks for the virtual visit!
I am convinced one day soon you will become the official Ambassador to Hawaii!
People are a product of their times. I don't think we'd really want to know what Lincoln might say if he were around today. I'm sure quite a bit of it wouldn't be politically correct by today's standards.
Aloha, Cloudia. I would love to visit Hawaii some day. 50 years of statehood! wow.
I'm so glad Hawaii kept it's archives, they are where they belong. :)
Hey, it's cloudy in those shots. i thought the sun always shined in Hawaii?
Magical post!
I'm not sure what Lincoln would say but considering he was one of the most progressive men of his time, I'd like to believe he would be impressed.
I'm not sure what Lincoln would say but considering he was one of the most progressive men of his time, I'd like to believe he would be impressed.
Lovely post, I can definitely hear them whispering.
The way you write, Cloudia, I believe I can hear the chiefs and chiefesses of old laughing! Beautiful!
Aloha and thank you for visiting my friends!!
Cloudia: You certainly have a beautiful state to visit. I love the cleanness of the look of your towns. This was an interesting post.
THANKS
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