The Royal School 1839-1850

THE ROYAL SCHOOL 1839-1850 Linda K. Menton Included among the many portraits A similar letter was delivered and the mission voted to accept the and memorials which grace the walls directly to Amos Starr Cooke. Mr. chiefs' request with the following of Honolulu's historic KawaiaHa'o Cooke was a teacher, as was his wife conditions: Church is a large marble tablet Juliette Montague Cooke. They had . that they (the chiefs) will carry out dedicated to the memory of the arrived in the Sandwich Islands with their promise to Mr. Cooke's missionary couple: Amos Starr and the Eighth Company of missionaries satisfaction; namely to build a school Juliette Montague Cooke. Engraved in 1837.4 The letter read: house, sustain him in his authority over the scholars and afford him a in stone beneath their names are Honolulu June 1/39 support.8 those of the 16 royal children they Greetings to Mr. Cooke: taught at the Chiefs' Children's Here is our thought lo you that you With the acquiescence of the chiefs School. more commonly known as become teacher for our royal children. to these stipulations, Mr. and Mrs. The Royal School, an institution You are the one to teach them wisdom Cooke were released from the historian Ralph Kuykendall called and righteousness. This is our thought mission to take over their new " .. of outstanding importance in lo you. assignment. Mrs. Cooke immediately the history of the nation."• The (Signed) Kekauluohi Hoapiliwahine began to draw up plans for the school's alumni included the last five Hoapilikane Mataio' combination school and home where rulers of the Hawaiian Kingdom as Keohok;ilole he and his own family and 16 royal well as other men and women of children would reside for the next chiefly rank who played prominent The chiefs' proposal was debated ten years. Actual instruction began roles in the history of the Hawaiian at length by the assembled on June 12, 1839, when six students nation. missionaries. There was concern began attending school in the The Chiefs' Children's School was expressed by some that the mission Cooke's home.9 These children founded in June 1839.2 It was begun could not allow any of its members continued to board with parents and at the request of King Kamehameha to devote their time to only a few guardians until the permanent Ill and the high chiefs of Hawai'i children unless the school was structure was completed. to Money who presented the following letter to financially supported by the chiefs.• and time were lost in the building of the 1839 General Meeting of the Other missionaries were distressed the school due to the arrival of the Congregational missionaries: with the idea of creating a separate French frigate L'Arltmist and the school for the royal children and problems which resulted from Greetings to you all, Teachers thus encouraging a distinction Where are you, all you teachers. We French demands for $20,000 in ask Mr. Cooke to be our teacher for between the chiefs' children and the reparations money from the chiefs.11 our royal children. He is the teacher of common people.7 Finally, however, To hurry construction along Mr. our royal children and Dr. Judd is the these reservations were overcome Cooke took on the job of one to take care of the royal children superintending the erection of the because we two hold Dr. Judd as building. Mrs. Cooke completely necesssary for the children and also in assumed aU teaching responsibilities certain difficulties between and you all. to free Mr. Cooke for this chore. (Signed) Kamehameha Ill Kekauluohi HoapiliwahineJ 17 Finally the house was completed at a Reed Bishop and foundress of The calling for the steward to come and cost of about $1,500 and the Cookes Kamehameha Schools; Abigail sleep with him. It is a very trying time and their royal charges moved in on Maheha; Jane Loeau, half-sister of for them and us, too. They bear it thus April 11, 1840.11 Abigail; Elizabeth Keka'aniau; Emma far better than we anticipated. Do you remember how homesick I was at Aunt The school consisted of 17 rooms Rooke, the future Queen Emma Caldwell's? I suppose they feel of various dimensions. It included a after marriage to Alexander liholiho; somewhat so and I know how to pity large schoolroom, a dining room, a Peter Young Kaeo, cousin of Emma them.•• kitchen and quarters for the Rooke; James Kaliokalani, brother of After this difficult beginning the children, the Cookes and their David Kalakaua and Lydia children adjusted rapidly to the assistants. The school enclosed a Kamaka'eha; David Kalakaua, the restrictions placed upon them in central courtyard and included a future King David Kalakaua; Lydia their new surroundings. Mr. Cooke 13 playground for the students. It was Kamaka'eha, sister of James and reported on their conduct in his I840 located adjacent to the old palace.14 David, the future Queen report to the American Board of On April 15, 1840 the school was Lili'uokalani; Mary Pa'a'aina, adopted Commissioners for Foreign Missions dedicated by the Reverend Hiram daughter of John 'l'i; and John Pitt in far-away Boston: Bingham in the presence of the king, Kina'u.16 chiefs and children. After a feast, The Cookes were assisted in their The second week the children became more reconciled to their new home and paid for by the children's parents, work with the children by John Ti are not happy at school and at play and various speakers addressed the and his wife Sarai. John Ti, an early apparently in the restraints already assembly: Mr. Dibble spoke of the convert to Christianity, was educated beginning to surround them. importance of English while Dr. Judd with David Malo in the palace of They have not been so difficult to stressed the need of the children to King Kamehameha II. He later manage as we anticipated, submitting live an orderly life which included became the superintendent of to the rules of the school without a exercise, frequent bathing and schools on O'ahu, a member of the great deal of opposition.to regular hours for eating and House of NobJes, a member of the A year later Mr. Cooke outlined sleeping; Mr. Richards concluded the Privy Council, and an associate for the Board the order of the day ceremonies by emphasizing to the justice of the Hawaii Supreme and the course of studies employed children the importance of their Court.t 7 in the school. Everyone arose at S growing up together, with similar Originally John and Sarai were to a.m. with perhaps time for a walk or habits of thought and understanding, be the only lcahu, retainers, in the horseback ride before prayers at 6:30 so that when they became rulers and school. Later, more help was needed a.m. These included readings from were scattered to the different and the children had various the Old Testament, in Hawaiian, islands they would still be united in servants assigned to them. Initially, with the memorization of a Bible their plans.is however, a determined effort was verse in Hawaiian. After a 7 a.m. A few weeks after this ceremony, made to separate the children from breakfast-during which the use of 11 children entered the school as their numerous attendants. Some of the Hawaiian language was boarders. The oldest was I I -year-old the children arrived at the school forbidden-the children attended Jane Loeau; the youngest, two-year with as many as 25 or 30 kahu whose three hours of class work. Supper old Victoria Kamamalu. During the sole charge was to care for the was at 5:30 p.m. with evening next few years five other children young chiefs. Separation, considered prayers immediately afterward. came in to the school. The I6 royal by the Cookes and others as These prayers and readings from the children then included: Moses essential to the success of the New Testament were conducted in Kekuaiwa, presumptive governor of children's education, was painful to English. The same Bible verse Kaua'i; Lot Kamehameha, brother of children and bhu alike. In a letter learned in Hawaiian in the morning Moses, presumptive governor of dated May 5, 1840 Mrs. Cooke was memorized in English in the Maui and the future King described the leavetaking: evening. At 7 p.m. the children Kamehameha V; Alexander Liholiho, Our scholars have entered the family retired to their rooms and the small brother of Moses and Lot, the heir this day. The Governor was here to ones went to bed. Lights were out apparent and the future King dinner and is to sleep here tonight. He for all the children at 8 p.m.zo When Kamehameha IV; Victoria is much affected. He and all the bih11 the children were older, evenings Kamamalu, sister of Moses, Lot and have been weeping and some of the were spent in reading aloud to each children have cried themselves to sleep Alexander, the future kuhina nui; other, in singing, and in correcting - now all are asleep but one, and he is William Charles Lunalilo, the future the journals they were required to King William lunalilo; Bernice keep.21 Pauahi, the future Mrs. Charles 18 In school the children were divided The children frequently sang a song letters long after their formal into classes according to age. All for visitors entitled "Sparkling and association with the school ended.J6 instruction was conducted in English. Bright" which began with the words: The Cookes also had continuing The curriculum included reading, ''Nothing is so good for the youthful assistance in their endeavor from Dr.

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