the Island of Hawaii from 1855-1874. Princess TABER’S HAWAII VIEWS Ruth retained traditional Hawaiian cultural practices and rejected Christianity and the This section contains a number of rare, English language, choosing, instead, to speak in significant photographs of Hawaii published by her native Hawaiian. A large woman, being Isaiah West Taber. Taber was part of a six-week over six feet tall and weighing 400 pounds in cruising voyage to and around the Hawaiian her later life with a scar on her nose resulting Islands in 1880 on Dr. Samuel Merritt’s from an infection, her physical appearance was schooner yacht, Casco. While there, he unappealing to many Europeans who frequently photographed towns, industry, the Hawaiian picked young, slight, light-skinned Hawaiian royalty, scenic views, landmarks, and other women as wives. Consequently, many attractions of that exotic place popular with his foreigners wrongly assumed that she, in some clientele back in California. He returned in 1883 ways, was inferior and not sharp enough to at the invitation of the monarchy to attend the learn English and the precepts of Christianity. coronation of King Kalakaua. However, the When she died, her land holdings included views presented here most likely date from that many acres throughout the islands, including 1880 trip. much of what is now downtown and 251. [HAWAII – Honolulu] Taber, Isaiah West. its immediate environs. The mansion was built Boudoir size photo titled, “B 227 Princess on the site of Ruth Ke’elikolani and her adoptive Ruth’s Palace, Honolulu, H.T. / Taber Photo., son’s former residence that burned down in San Francisco”, nd. The view shows an ornate 1873. The main architect was Charles J. Hardy Italianate house with a carriage at far left. The of Chicago, who was employed at the Enterprise mansion, named Keoua Hale, was located on Planing Mill in Honolulu. It was considered a classical Victorian home of the Second Empire or French style of architecture, which was ironic in that she so favored traditional Hawaiian culture over more contemporary Western influences. The house was completed in the spring of 1883 and Princess Ruth gave a grand luau and hosted a ball which was attended by all the best society of Honolulu. Unfortunately, she became suddenly ill shortly after the festivities and went back to Kailua on the island of Hawaii where she died. On May 24, 1883 her remains were brought back to Honolulu and lay Emma Street in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was in state in the new house. Today the site of occupied by Ruth Luka Keanolani Keoua Hale is occupied by Central Middle Kauanahoahoa Ke’elikolani (1826-1883), or School. Princess Ruth. She was a member of the 252. [HAWAII – Honolulu] Taber, Isaiah West. Kamehameha royal family of Hawaii, but Two boudoir sized images mounted back to because of her traditional native birth she was back on stiff board, measuring 6 ¾” x 10 5/8”. considered to be an outsider by many. In 1840 The first is titled, “B 116 Nuuanu Street, looking the ruling king of Hawaii inserted into Hawaii’s up, Honolulu, Taber Photo., San Francisco”, nd. constitution that eligibility to be monarch Visible signs include “Sun Variety” and a required a Christian style legitimate birth, which Chinese sign with characters. The second effectively eliminated Ruth. However, she was image is titled, “B 217 Honolulu from the Bell very powerful and influential in Hawaii politics and culture and served as the Royal Governor of Tower, H.T., Taber Photo., San Francisco”, nd. front of a two-story building, surrounded by This view looks toward the ocean with ship palms, on the college grounds in Honolulu. Originally located in the windward side of in 1846 by the Fathers of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the school was relocated to downtown Honolulu in 1881. At that time it was called the College of Saint Louis. Eventually the high school and college sections separated. Today St. Louis School is located in Honolulu’s Kaimuki hillside community. [An editorial note: The University of Oregon’s 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota graduated from St. Louis School!] masts in the background. Visible is the 1872 [HAWAII – Album Photos] The following C.E. Williams Building and several signs, photographs have been cut from album pages. The images, measuring approximately 4” x 7”, were pasted into an album, four to a page. The mounts are irregularly cut; however, the photographs were not affected in any way. Included are several spectacular street scenes in Honolulu that show business and public buildings, views along Honolulu’s busy water front; photos of the sugar industry; and other scenes and activities on Oahu, , and . The album page mounts show some foxing, but “Tregloan”, “Goo Kim”, and “Dry Goods Fancy the photographs are in VG+ to Fine condition. Goods”. The photographs are listed by Taber’s title inserted into the negative at the bottom of each 253. [HAWAII – Honolulu] Taber, Isaiah West image. Omitted from the listed titles is the (attributed to). Titled in a period ink script on “Taber Photo., San Francisco” that was included the bottom border of the mount, “St. Louis at the end of each photograph’s title College Grounds”. The 6 ¼” x 9 3/8” description. The photographs speak for themselves, so very little additional information is included in each listing.

254. “119 Native Church on King Street, Honolulu.”

photograph on an 8 7/8” x 10 ¼” mount shows a group of men, probably instructors at the school and the Brother in charge, and a dog in 258. “B 76 Diamond Head, Oahu, S.I.”

255. “126 Palm Trees, Queen’s Hospital, Honolulu.”

259. “B 78 New Music Hall, Honolulu.”

256. “B 73 Bridge at Waikiki, Honolulu.”

260. “B 79 Leper Settlement, Sandwich Islands.”

257. “B 75 Diamond Head, Oahu, S.I.”

261. “B 80 Leper Settlement, Sandwich Islands.”

266. “B 109 Looking down Fort Street from cor. of King, Honolulu.”

262. “B 105 Royal Band, Honolulu.”

263. “B 106 Honolulu from Punch Bowl.” 267. “B 110 Hackfield & Co., P.M.S.S. Co. Agents, Honolulu.”

264. “B 107 Honolulu from Punch Bowl.” 268. “B 111 Looking down Fort Street from Hotel, Honolulu.”

265. “B 108 Post Office, Honolulu.”

269. “B 112 Barracks, Honolulu.”

270. “B 113 274. “B 117 Nuuanu Street, looking down, Nuuanu Honolulu.” Avenue, looking up, Honolulu.”

271. “B 114 Nuuanu Avenue, looking down, Honolulu.”

275. “B 118 Queen Street, Honolulu.” Street signs on the buildings include H.J. Nolte’s “The Old Corner” billiard saloon and “J.T. Waterhouse / Importer.”

272. “B 115 Afong, Chinese Consul Residence, Honolulu.”

276. “B 120 Water Front, Honolulu.”

273. “B 116 Nuuanu Street, looking up, Honolulu.”

277. “B 121 Water Front, Honolulu.” 281. “B 212 The First Sugar Mill built on Spreckel’s Plantation, H.I.”

278. “B 122 Merchant Street, showing Bank, Honolulu.” 282. “B 213 Sugar House, Spreckel’s Plantation, H.I.”

279. “B 125 Palm Trees, Queen’s 283. “B 214 Cane Cars, Spreckel’s Plantation, Hospital, H.I.” Honolulu.”

280. “B 126 Palm Trees, Queen’s Hospital, Honolulu.”

284. “B 215 Spreckel’s Store, Kahului, Maui, 288. “B 219 Water Front, Honolulu, H.I.” H.I.”

289. “B 228 Town of Waimea, Kauai, H.I.”

285. “B 216 Wailuku, Maui, H.I.”

286. “B 217 Honolulu from the Bell Tower, H.I.”

290. “B 231 Native Grass Houses in Waimea, Kauai, H.I.”

287. “B 218 Honolulu, looking up Fort Street, H.I.”

291. “B 233 Hauling Cane to Mill, Koloa, Kauai, H.I.”

292. “B 234 Wailua Falls, 294. “B 246 Luhue Plantation, Kauai, H.I.” Kauai, H.I.”

293. “B 244 Town of Koloa, Kauai, H.I.”

295. “B 245 Koloa Plantation, Kauai, H.I.”