UTRIGGER "REGATTA-DAY Mi

Another fine historical article by Edwin North McClellan, writer, historian, 0 radio commentator, world traveler, retired Marine officer and good friend. We thank him for his many contributions to the Forecast and hope for many more. By Edwin North McClellan

Outrigger- Races were features of King Kalakaua’s Birthday (November 16) Celebration, and Regatta-Day (third Saturday in September) which succeeded the “King’s Birthday” as a national holiday. - once formed a sub­ stantial part of transportation between Honolulu and Waikiki and other places. Hawaiians at first, and then Haoles, perpetuated outrigger- for use and sport around Oahu. Many men who, later helped create the Outrigger-Canoe-Club, aided in keeping the Hawaiian sport of outriggering on the programs of the many Regatta Days in Honolulu Harbor and on the Ala Wai. The first record of commem­ orating the “King’s Birthday” with aquatic-sports was about 1875. About 1882 thf phrase “The Regatta” attached itself to the "K ing’s Birthday” holiday commemorf tion. Aquatic-sport is fundamental—and prosperity-producing for the Territory— particularly at W aikiki, home of the Outrigger-Canoe-Club.

"THE REGATTA," NOVEMBER 16, 1882 Eighties and up the Nineties. But, with It was the “finest and most complete the death of Kalakaua in 1891, interest in Regatta,” reported the newspapers of the his Birthday diminished. Then, in 1896, outrigger-canoe and other competitions “Regatta Day” was bom in the Legisla­ in Honolulu Harbor on November 16, ture of , to encourage Aquatic 1882. The course for the Six-- Sport in Hawaii including outriggering, Canoe Race was around a buoy anchored surfboarding and swimming. off the Marine Railway and back to the starting-point. The winner of this race JUDGE ROBERTSON "FATHER OF REGATTA-DAY" was the Leleaanae (E. K. Lilikalani) Representative A. G. M. Robertson in­ closely followed by the Kokeauiha (J. troduced a bill which replaced the Birth­ W . P ilip o ). The Outrigger-Canoe- day of King Kalakaua as a national Race was won by the Iwalani (W. B. holiday with the “third Saturday of Sep­ Namahoe) with the Keaumiki (J. W. tember,” Regatta-Day. O n June 8, 1896 P ilipo), second. Judge Robertson explained that “there is a considerable local feeling in favor of^a "KING'S BIRTHDAY" REGATTAS Holiday at a time of the year suitable if CONTINUED UNTIL 1896 aquatic sports” and that a day of Septem­ Hundreds assembled on the Esplanade ber would be excellent for a Regatta-Day. on November 16, 1883 to view the “Re­ The bill passed both Houses on June 12, gatta.” The Six-Paddle-Canoe Race’s vic­ 1896, and, thus, Regatta-Day became a tor was the Leleaanae (E. K. L ilikalani), National Holiday to be devoted to the Ihihilauakea (Kahuli) finishing sec­ aquatic sports. Features of Regatta-Day, ond. W inner of the Outrigger-Canoe- in addition to rowing, were outrigger- Sailing Race was the O huli (Waiohi- canoeing, swimming and diving. kaia) ; Mignon (W. M. Giffard), 2d; Malolo (S. Naauao), 3d; and Hokulele REGATTA DAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1896 (J. H. Makole), 4th. On November 16, The first Regatta-Day was staged in 1884 the Kala came in first in the "Re­ Honolulu Harbor on September 19, 1896. gatta’s" Six-Paddle-Canoe Race. The Pua- The course for the Six-Paddle-Canoe kauwahi took second honors. These two Race was from the Judges’ Stand to the canoes reversed places in the Sailing- first Can Buoy off the Marine Railway, Canoe Race, the Puakauwahi winning and return. Keiki won, with Kaimoa, and the Kala, trailing. Thus did the second. "Every native who could scare up “Regatta,” as part of the King-Kalakaua- a piece of rag as large as a handkerchief Birthday Celebration, continue down the for a ” entered his canoe for the Sail­

[6] ing-Canoe Race which was won by the Keiki with the canoe I next. On Regatta OUR WELCOME GUESTS Day, September 18, 1897, in Honolulu We wish this journal was about 96 Harbor, the H onuakaha (Prince Kuhio) pages. Then we could mention all of our finished first in the Six-Paddle-Canoe guests. A ll we can do is list those from Race; Kakaako second; and the Kauahe- Clubs with reciprocal relations. To all ahe in third place. One of the defeated we wish our hearty aloha and hope that canoes was the W aikiki (David Kawa- they will visit us often. We trust that nanakoa). The wind was poor for sail­ their stay was made a bit more pleasant ing and all but two of crews paddled. by our hospitality. San Diego Club—Mrs. Jewell Anderson, Mr. Clarence The “Judges did n ’t like their activities,” Anderson, Grace L. Benbough, Lt. Sam T. Loften. and the prizes were given to the two that Santa Monica Swimming C/ub-Mr. L. M. Anderson. The American Club of Mexico City—Mr. and Mrs. Larry “came over the line sailing.” First prize S. Brakmo. Washington Athletic Club—Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Burke, went to the Kakaako (Kehoku) and Mr. Walter Clark. second to the Kauaheahe. This was the Balboa Bay Club—Mr. Edwin A. Bauer, Mr. and Mrs. H . L. Hoffman, Mrs. Bernice V. Lynn, Mrs. R . £. last Regatta-Day under an independent Lawrence, Mr. Allan D. Mayes, Mr. H . V. Snodgrass. Los Angeles Athletic Club—Mr. and Mn. J. W. Ben- Hawaii. stein, Mr. J. Harvey Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Roberts. FIRST "REGATTA-DAY" UNDER AMERICAN FLAG H ilo Club—Mr. £. B. Burke, Mr. and Mn. G. S. Silver. “The business-center of the Town was New York Athletic Club—Mr. Edward Coleman. 'losed-up and deserted,” on Regatta-Day, Club Del Mar—Mr. R. E. Carpenter, Mrs. Gertrude Little, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Miller, Mr. Theodore September 17, 1898. The Kakaako took Micholiezn, Mr. and M n . W illiam P. Swartz, Miss Nancy Trude. first-honors in the Six-Paddle-Canoe Race Jonathan Club—Mr. and M n . Coulter, Miss Marley Drury. Mr. Phil Gough, Mr. and Mn. Emmett N. with the Leilani second. Maui-Boy won Hughes, Mr. George F. Jacobberger, Mr. Paul Trous­ the Sailing-Canoe Race. The K aiulani dale. TattersalVs Club—Mr. C. E. Forrest, Mr. K. Kennedy, took second honors. Three craft started Mr. and M n . F. A. Phillips. M ultnomah Athletic Club—Miss Jean Hailing, Mr. and in the Six-Paddle-Canoe Race on Regatta M n . S. J. Pordson, Mr. and M n . W. E. Roberts. Day, September 16, 1899. The Liloa Lake Shore Club—Mr. H. I. Huntington. Terminal City Club—Mr. G. L. Miles. (L. P. Scott) won this race followed in Kauai Yacht Club—Mr. Ben. S. Mitchell. by the W aikiki (L. P. Scott) and Ka­ kaako (Hanaukana)1 The Kakaako also NEW MENUS won the Sailing-Canoe Race. The Kano- DINNERS $1.25 hololeake was second. In this day of inflation it’s real news HAOLE CANOES APPEAR IN 1900 when something is reduced in price. For a long time haole residents of W ell—the Club has done it—not exactly W aikiki had owned outrigger-canoes. O n a reduction—but each evening at Dinner Regatta-Day, September 15, 1900, we find there will be a BLU E PLATE D IN N E R some of them racing in Honolulu Har­ SPECIAL for $1.25 on the menu. If suc­ bor. The Six-Paddle-Canoe Race was won cessful this will be continued. This spe­ \ the Alabama (Arthur M. Brown) cial should appeal to large family groups, -'with all kinds of ease.” The Kakaako young folks home from mainland schools crew was reported “to have been under and many others. the spell of a kahuna during the race.” . . . and don’t forget the new menus— The W aikiki (L. P. Scott) and Puaka- brand new, showing the Club coat of lani (Prince Kuhio) were also entries in arms, an authentic outrigger canoe with this race. The Takatoa (John Wilson) six paddlers—a short history on the re­ and Nonoa (Teominatun), manned by verse side—very colorful and artistic. South Sea Islanders, ran away from the The Club is well supplied with food other eight starters. An Hawaiian canoe, and you may enjoy meals without too the Kealoha (Moku) was 3d. Regatta- much evidence of the strike. Manager Day, September 21, 1901, saw the old Mosher states that he has most all foods Alabama of Arthur M. Brown, winning in good supply and unless the strike is the Six-Paddle-Canoe Race. Im i (J. Na- of long duration we should be able to malehua) was second. The Canoe-Sailing extend the same variety and quality as Race was taken by the Marine Railway usual. If you find some things short, (M akuda). A special sailing contest for please bear with the management for (Continued on Page 18) the duration. [ 7 ] REGATTA-DAY torial Championship from the Kona (Continued from Page 7) crew. 10,000 spectators lined H onolulu South Sea Islanders was won by the sail­ Harbor. The Aa (Kona crew) won by ing canoe Taimapaitaun. The Liloa, six lengths from the Alabama (of W ai­ entered by the Hotel-Annex, won the Six- kiki) , with the Kamehameha Aquatic Paddle-Canoe Race on Regatta-Day, Sep­ C lub’s entry a poor third. tember 20, 1902. Alabama (Arthur M. OUTRIGGER CLUB IN REGATTA-DAY, 1908 Brown) was second; Ala-Huki-Moku Probably the first entry of a crew of the (Pea), third; and the Halekulani (Al­ Outrigger Canoe Club in an outrigger ford C. W a ll), fourth. Other entries in race was on July 18, 1908 during the this race were: W aikiki (Hotel-Annex) Great-Fleet-Welcome at W aikiki. It was and Makani Kona (D. R. Vida). The a boys’ crew led by Harold Hustace in Sailing-Canoe Race was won by the H ale­ Walter F. Dillingham’s Malolo which kulani (Alford C. W all) with the Marine lost to the Le Ilim a manned by H a­ Railway (J. K. A i) , coming in second. waiians. Prince Cupid’s Aa defeated an On September 19, 1903—Regatta-Day— O C C crew in the Keomoku; in the M a­ there were four starters in the Six-Paddle- lolo, Atherton Gilman, Lane Webster, Canoe Race: Arthur M. Brown’s Ala­ Kenneth Brown and Zen Genoves, rep/' bama; A. C. Cunha’s Kaiukauwea; Dr. resented the OC C and won the fouiv. Alford C. W all’s Halekulani; Walter F. paddle race. Dr. W all’s Halekulani won Dillingham’s Malolo. Two other entries the Big Canoe race from Prince K uhio’s were: Kanoelani (Pahukula) and Pua- Aa and Brown’s Alabama. O n Regatta- lani (Inauha). Alabama won with Ka­ Day, September 20, 1908, the A a won the iukauwea, second. Centerboards were Big Canoe Race followed-in by the H ana­ barred in the Sailing-Canoe Race in keoki representing the OCC. The Mihi- which the Alabama was the victor; Hale­ kinaiao (Auliua) won the sailing-canoe kulani; 2d; and Malolo, 3d. event. O n Regatta-Day, September 18, REGATTA-DAYS, 1904 TO 1907 1909, Prince C upid’s Aa, crewed by Out- O n September 17, 1904 the Six-Paddle- rigger-Clubbers, won the Big Canoe Race Canoe Race of Regatta-Day was won from Dr. Alford C. W all’s Kaimookalani. by the famous Alabama (Arthur M. The Aa’s crew was: Kenneth (Rusty) Brow n);. Keomoku (Arthur M. Brown), Brown, Harry Steiner, W illy (Knute) 2d; Malolo (Walter F. Dillingham), 3d. Cottrell, Edmond Melanphy, Dad Cen­ The Alabama repeated her victory, in the ter and Zen Genoves. It was Haoles vs. Sailing-Canoe Race, followed by the M a­ Hawaiians on Regatta-Day, September lolo. O n Regatta-Day, September 16, 17, 1910. The Hawaiians in the Aa de­ 1905, the “old reliable” Alabama (Ar­ feated the "Outrigger Club Sextette” in^ thur M. Brown) defeated the Keomoku the Hanakeoke, their names being: Keii in the -race. The Alabama also neth Brown, “Knute” Cottrell, “Monk’ won the Sailing-Canoe Race, leading the Dodge, Pete Young, Ted Melanphy and Keomoku and the Malolo. The best race R. Hitchcock. Although suspended dur­ of Regatta-Day, September 15, 1906, was ing the wars, Regatta-Day stayed alive the Six-Paddle-Canoe. The entries in­ until 1949 although during its latter cluded the old Alabama (Arthur M. years it was held on the Ala Wai. Judge Brown) with her black-hull and yellow A. G. M. Robertson, "Father of Regatta- band at the gunwale manned by six Ha­ Day,” died about 1947. Two years later waiians wearing red sweaters; Dr. Al­ Regatta-Day died. In May of 1949 the ford C. W all’s beautiful koa Hanakeoki Legislature of Hawaii deliberately killed (haole crew); and Prince Kuhio’s A or Regatta-Day, a holiday that the Legisla­ Aa from W aikiki, crewed by men of ture had created in 1896 to perpetuate Kona. The Aa defeated the Alabama and Aquatic Sports in Hawaii. The Outrigger Hanakeoki. Regatta-Day, September 21, Canoe Club can re-capture the tradition 1907 was very interesting. The haole crew and prestige of Regatta-Day by re-estab­ which had manned Dr. W all’s Hanakeoki lishing that Great-Aquatic Day on Sep­ in 1906 paddled Rusty Brown’s Alabama tember 20, 1952, with a program of Out­ in 1907, determined to wrest the Terri­ rigger Canoe Races at Waikiki.

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