On March 20, 1820, exactly 223 years ago to this day, the first missionaries landed in Kona.
Picture it, Kailua Bay shining turquoise in the morning sun.
The beach filled with half-clad Hawaiians pointing at the rowboat rowing from a larger ship offshore. The Hawaiians have never seen anything like it.
The rowboat has two tall men in dark suits, and two women in long, black dresses.The men are holding little black books in their hands.
Hawaiians have never seen books or paper or even words written before.
The friendly Hawaiians gather around as the rowboat slides onto the sand. They watch the somber men step ashore and help their ladies out of the boat.
The men walk sternly across the beach. The gentle Hawaiians have no idea how their paradise will change forever.
Soon these missionaries build the Moku’aikaua Church. Sunday services still ring out in this church today.
In the years to come Hawaiian men and women welcome sea captains,traders and whalers with aloha.
All through the mid 1800s ships landed bringing passengers, cargo and bags of mail. Ships would bring coffee and cattle hides, kegs of butter and oranges.
Passengers draped with leis disembarked hauling leather saddles, live chickens, dogs, pigs and bananas.
Boat Day was a big event in Kailua, kind of like an early Kona Stroll.
Twice a week the sleepy town would come alive, the bay filled with schooners and rowboats heading to the crowded shore to trade.
Then came the cattle shipping days, starting up in the 1880s. The whole town came down to the bay to watch.
Cows were lassoed and pulled into the surf by cowboys on horseback. Kicking and bellowing, the cattle were floated to the waiting steamships, then hoisted onto the decks. What a show!
This cattle show continued up to 1956 when cattle trucks came along and ended a 70 year tradition of cows swimming in the sea. So efficient and so boring.
Our little turquoise bay has many tales to tell, with a history as colorful as the bay itself. Many more to tell.
Lucky we live Kona! Aloha.
Dennis Gregory writes a bi-monthly column for West Hawaii Today and welcomes your comments at maewavess@yahoo.com
