User:KAVEBEAR/William Kanui

William Kanui (circa 1796–1864) was one of the first native Hawaiians to become a Christian, assisting American Protestant missionaries who came to the islands during the 19th century. His name was frequently spelled Tenooe during his lifetime. He served in the War of 1812.

"In memory of William Tennooe Kanui Born about A.D. 1796* On the island of Oahu Went to America 1809 Educated at Cornwall, Ct. Returned to Honolulu 1820 Twice visited California Died in Honolulu Jan. 14, 1864"

Lost brother after War of 1812

Became barber.

Went to school.

Falling out with mission by drinking.

"One thing conspicuous during Liholiho's time was the extravagant use of liquor among the chiefs and commoners; they almost bathed in it. The sale of okolehao and 'uwi'uwi became a mean of wealth, and they were peddled through the outer districts. Hula dancing, debauchery, and licentious indulgence became common. Some people refused to touch liquor because they did not like the taste, but the majority fell into the gutter of filth. Pa'ula-li'ili'i and other young men who had come back with the missionaries and had even taught the word of God took to drinking liquor when they saw the chiefs using it."

Ka-nui, Willam, 245, 246

Death

 * William Kanui still alive. [DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE] The Friend, Volume 18, Number 2, 1 February 1861
 * DIED. [FAMILY NOTICES] The Friend, Volume 21, Number 2, 5 February 1864

Damon

The Last of tbe Cornwall Scholars. Forty years ago the Foreign Mission School, under the patronage of the American Board, formed an essential feature in the efforts of the christian public for the evangelization of the heathen. There were assembled youth from various heathen nations and the Indian tribes of North America. Having this morning had an interview with probably the last surviving member of that school, I have thought that perhaps the readers of the Magazine would not be uninterested in a brief statement of a few reminisences called forth during that interview. At that school there were several Sandwich Islanders. The most noted was Obookiah, who died while connected with the school, in February, 1818. Four others left the school, and embarked on board the "Thaddeus," in the fall of 1819, with the pioneer company bound to these islands: their names were John Honorii, Thomas Hopee, William Tenui, and George Tanmuarii. Tbe first died at Hilo in Hawaii, the second died about five years ago in California, and the last died in Honolulu. The third, above mentioned, viz: William Tenui, or Kanui, or Tannooee, as his name is variously written, I have met this morning, having arrived by the last vessel from San Francisco He has been absent from the island about fourteen years, residing in various parts of California. I was acquainted with him before he left. I was much interested in his account of affairs at the Islands before the arrival of the missionaries. He was born in the vicinity of Honolulu, and is well acquaited with all the localities of the islands, and with the ancient history of the people. When a mere boy of five or six years old, during the wars of Kamehameha I., the chief to whom his father was attached, was subdued, and his father was compelled to flee to the island of Kauai. Soon after his flight to that island, he was killed near Waimea, and thus his little boy was left fatherless. Kanui, for' that is his real name, went to live with the chief of that district. About that time Capt. Brintnell, commanding an American vessel bound to China, touched at the islands. While at Keulekeakua, Hawaii, he took on board Obookiah and Hopee. He then sailed for Kauai, and anchored at Waiwea. While on shore gunning, Capt. Brintnell took a fancy to Kanui, who followed him on his gunning excursion. He asked the chief if the boy might accompany him to sea. The chief consented, and the captain presented him with two pieces of white cotton cloth and some iron hoop.— This was about 1808. The vessel was detained some months in China, and thence proceeded to Boston, where the three Sandwich Islanders were landed, viz: Ubookiah, Hopee and Kanui. They were taken to New Haven, where Obookiah fell under the notice of Messrs. Dwight and Mills. Kanui was employed in a barber's shop. He says, that one day, Mr. Elias Cornelius, came to the shop, and enquired for him; and when he was introduced to Cornelius, the latter remarked: "You are just the boy that I want to see." Doubtless Dwight, Cornelius, and others of a kindred spirit, had been in consultation respecting the " Owhyeeans." Kanui says, that Mr. Cornelius secured him a boarding place in the family of the "Widow Johnson.'1 During the evenings, he was taught by a Mr. Ingersoll, and during the day, he went to a Mr. Brown's school. From New Haven, he was removed to Goshen, and lived with the Rev. Mr. Harvey; then with the Rev. Mr. Prentice, of Canaan, and subsequently, with the Rev. Mr. Stone of Cornwall, and frequently visited Rev. Dr. Beecher's family in Litchfield. The school at Cornwall having been established, he became a member, and wa6 taught by Mr. and Mrs. Daggett. After the death of Obookiah, and his memoir was published, the Friends of Missions employed Kanui to visit many of the principal towns of Massachusetts and dispose of the books, with the hope of exciting an interest in the contemplated mission to the Sandwich Islands. He visited Springfield, Northampton, Amherst, and many other places. The time having arrived for the missionaries to embark, Kanui and his fel low countrymen came with them.— After his arrival here, in 1820, he was employed as a school-teacher. His honor Judge Ji, with whom Kanui is now stopping, was his first pupil, and what is somewhat remarkable, Judge Ji owns the land which belonged originally to Kanui's father 1 Kanui rem ined at the Islands until 1848, when he left for California to search for gold. He was tolerably successful, and came down from the mines to San Francisco, with about $6,000 in gold. This amount ue deposited in Paige, Bacon & Co's Bank, and when they failed, he lost the whole amount. This was a severe trial. It well nigh crushed his spirits. He was getting old, being over sixty. He fell into good hands. The Rev. Mr. Rowell, the seamen's chaplain, has been a true friend in both temporal and spiritual affairs. During the last year he has become nearly blind, and has now come to his native land to spend the remnant of his days. How suggestive such a life! Through what changes he has passed! Through what changes his countrymen have passed! He is really a companionable and intelligent christian, retaining his memory and other faculties with much vigor. I have been thus minute in some of these statements, thinking there might be some residing in Litchfield county, who still retain a vivid recollection of this and other members of the Cornwall Mission School. Yours, S. C. Damon. Honolulu, 9th Sept. 1863. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

KANUI THE UNFORTUNATE "Obookia was converted and educated, and was to have returned to his native land with the first missionaries, had he lived. The other native youths made the voyage, and two of them did good service, but the third, William Kanui, fell from grace afterward, for a time, and when the gold excitement broke out in California he journeyed thither and went to mining, although he was fifty years old. He succeeded pretty well, but the failure of Page, Bacon & Co. relieved him of six thousand dollars, and then, to all intents and purposes, he was a bankrupt in his old age and he resumed service in the pulpit again. He died in Honolulu in 1864."

The Rev. Mr. Damon's paper, referring — in the obituary notice — to Page-Bacon's unpaid certificates of deposit in the unhappy man's possession, observes that "he departed this life leaving the most substantial and gratifying evidence that he was prepared to die." And so he was, poor fellow, so he was. He was cleaned out, as you may say, and was prepared to go. He was all ready and prepared — Page-Bacon had attended to that for him. All he had to do was to shed his mortal coil. Then he was all right. Poor, poor old fellow. One's heart bleeds for him. For some time after his bereavement in the matter of finances, he helped Rev. M. Rowell to carry on the Bethel Church in San Francisco and gave excellent satisfaction for a man who was so out of practice. Sleep in peace, poor tired soul! — you were out of luck many a time in your long, checkered life, but you are safe now where care and sorrow and trouble can never assail you any more.

1 Since the above was written, I have seen the following notice of Tenooe in The Friend of February 5, 1864, published monthly at Honolulu, and edited by the Rev. Mr. Damon, the excellent Seamen's Chaplain in that city. Tenooe was in San Francisco when I passed through it on my return from the Islands, and I heard a good report of him from Mr. Rowell. It seems he went back to his native isles, and finished his course there. The Queen's Hospital is at Honolulu. "Died at Queen's Hospital, January 15, 1864, William Kanui, aged about sixty-six years. The early life of the deceased was so intimately connected with the effort to establish Christianity upon the Sandwich Islands, that it merits more than a passing notice. He was born on the Island of Oahu, about the close of the last century. His father, belonging to the party of a defeated chief, fled with his son to Waimea, Kauai. While there, an American merchant vessel, commanded by Captain Brintnel, touched for supplies. The vessel had previously touched at Kealakekua, and whilst here the master took on board two young men, whose subsequent history was remarkable. They were Obookiah and Thomas Hopu. At Waimea they were joined by William Kanui. These three youths Captain Brintnel took to America. Soon after their arrival, they attracted the attention of the friends of foreign missions, and when the Mission School was opened at Cornwall, Connecticut, they were received as pupils, with another Hawaiian, George Kamaulii, son of the king or governor of Kauai. Obookiah died in America, but the three others came out in the brig Thaddeus, with the first company of missionaries. "Kanui, or Tenooe, as his name was originally written, early fell under the censure of the church, but was subsequently restored. In 1848, when the gold excitement arose, he went to California, where he remained until about four months ago. He was successful in gold digging, but lost all, or about $6000, by the failure of a mercantile house in San Francisco. During the last few years he has labored in San Francisco, and was connected with the Bethel Church of that city, under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Rowell. Much more might he written respecting his career, but for the present we would merely add, that he departed this life leaving the most substantial and gratifying evidence that he was prepared to die. His views were remarkably clear and satisfactory. Christ was his only hope, and heaven the only desire of his heart. It was peculiarly gratifying to sit by his bedside and hear him recount the 'wonderful ways' in which God had led him. He cherished a most lively sense of gratitude towards all those kind friends in America who provided for his education when a poor heathen stranger in a foreign land. The names of Cornelius, Mills, Beecher, Daggett, Prentice, Griffin, and others, were frequently upon his lips, and often mentioned with a glow of grateful emotion." Thomas Hopu is understood to have maintained his Christian course to the end of life.

Mark Twain Roughing It

Died January 15, 1864, at Queen's Hospital in Honolulu.
 * Stay in Hospital
 * Death