Presents
The History
of
AFRICAN AMERICANS
in
HAWAII
compiled
by
Deloris Guttman
African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii. AADCCH
Introduction
by
Hugo R. Miller aka Hugeaux
African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii
web site: www.aadcch.org
Aloha!
In the early 1800s many African Americans men found their way to the Hawaiian Islands Kingdom on whaling and merchant ships. Some were descendants from Black
Portuguese of the Cape Verde Island off the coast of West Africa, and others were from the mainland U.S. A. escaping the burden of slavery. Native Hawaiians welcome their
foreign Black brothers. Many of these African Americans were knowledgeable and
possessed special skills. They served as advisors to
King Kamehameha’s administration and acted as interpreters for the Monarchy. Some became entrepreneurs, musicians and
small businessmen serving foreigners. In the downtown area near the Iolani Palace during the early evening, the King’s band could be seen scrolling along King Street & Fort Street Mall playing their instruments. The King’s band consisted of four African
American men.
Portuguese of the Cape Verde Island off the coast of West Africa, and others were from the mainland U.S. A. escaping the burden of slavery. Native Hawaiians welcome their
foreign Black brothers. Many of these African Americans were knowledgeable and
possessed special skills. They served as advisors to
King Kamehameha’s administration and acted as interpreters for the Monarchy. Some became entrepreneurs, musicians andsmall businessmen serving foreigners. In the downtown area near the Iolani Palace during the early evening, the King’s band could be seen scrolling along King Street & Fort Street Mall playing their instruments. The King’s band consisted of four African
American men.
The most notable among African Americans arriving in the Hawaiian Islands was Anthony Allen. Allen was born in 1774. His mother was probably a slave and his father
was a free man. Allen himself was freed at age 24 through a combination of skill and luck. He fled to Boston like his father before him. He became a ship hand on a merchant ship that took him to China, the West Indies and the Northwest coast of American and to
Hawaii, where he settled around 1810. Allen served as stewart to Kamehameha the Great.
was a free man. Allen himself was freed at age 24 through a combination of skill and luck. He fled to Boston like his father before him. He became a ship hand on a merchant ship that took him to China, the West Indies and the Northwest coast of American and to
Hawaii, where he settled around 1810. Allen served as stewart to Kamehameha the Great.
He acquired about six acres of land from the high priest Hewahewa near the Waikiki areaon Oahu. This piece of land began at Punahou and King Streets where the present Washington Middle School is located continuing down to Ward Avenue fronting the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Allen married a Hawaiian woman and they had three children who survived into adulthood. They had children of their own. His grand children continued his legacy. Allen was a successful businessman and farmer. He owned cattle, chickens, pigs and horses. In addition, he had a vegetable garden.
He built a boarding house, bowling alley and hospital. The hospital was a place sick
sea captains and injured merchant seamen to recuperate on shore. Allen was respected
and admired by missionaries and Native Hawaiians. The missionaries depended upon
him for fresh vegetables, milk and eggs. The board house had a restaurant which was
popular with the missionaries. King Kamehameha used it often to entertain his guests.
sea captains and injured merchant seamen to recuperate on shore. Allen was respected
and admired by missionaries and Native Hawaiians. The missionaries depended upon
him for fresh vegetables, milk and eggs. The board house had a restaurant which was
popular with the missionaries. King Kamehameha used it often to entertain his guests.
The first known African American woman that came to the Hawaiian Islands was Betsey Stockton. She came with the Charles Stewart family who were missionaries. Betsey was given her freedom prior to leaving for the Hawaiian Islands. The Stewart family resided in Lahaina, Maui. Native Hawaiians fell in love with Betsey. They brought their sick children to her to be nursed back to good health. She in turn reached out to them and learned to speak the Hawaiian language. This gave her an opportunity to teach the commoner Hawaiian children how to read and write. Betsey Stockton’s humanitarian efforts were considered to be the beginning of the first public school system in the Hawaiian Islands.
Five years after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, 
Thomas McCant Stewart, an attorney came to Hawaii in 1898. He was the first African American to practice law in Hawaii's court system.
Thomas McCant Stewart, an attorney came to Hawaii in 1898. He was the first African American to practice law in Hawaii's court system.In 1892, Hawaii enacted the Chinese Exclusionary Act to prevent Chinese immigration
from coming to the Islands. Stewart was vehemently against the act. Needless to say, he represented Chinese immigrants and assisted Native Hawaiians in regaining their land rights.
from coming to the Islands. Stewart was vehemently against the act. Needless to say, he represented Chinese immigrants and assisted Native Hawaiians in regaining their land rights.
His daughter Carlotta Stewart Lai was 18 years old when she arrived in Hawaii to join her father. She graduated from the Punahou School that was established by the missionaries and became a teacher. Her talents and skills were recognized. She was promoted to be principle at Anahole School on Kauai. Carlotte was a refined cultured professional African American woman who was highly regarded. As principal of Anahole School, she became involved in the community. She met her husband Yum Kim Lai who was from a well-known Chinese family. In 1935, her husband traveled to Hong Kong where he died suddenly. Carlotta lived on Kauai many years until her retirement. She moved back to Honolulu and maintained her contact with her sister-in-law Ruth Ching until her death in 1952. She is buried in Oahu cemetery.
During the early 1900's the Island of Maui attracted a number of notable African Americans. One of them was Dr. William Lineas Maple. In 1902, The HawaiiCommercial Sugar Company hired Dr. Maples to be the physician for the plantation
workers. Before coming to Hawaii, Dr. Maples practice medicine in Knoxville,
Tennessee. His brother Samuel Maple, an attorney followed him to the Island of
Maui. The family was loved and respected by the people on the Island. The Maple
School on Maui was named for the family. Dr. Maples died in 1943, leaving a wife
and two daughters.
Another family that arrived on Maui was the 
William F. Crockett family. Williams was an attorney for the Spreckerlsville Plantation on Maui. Later he became Maui District Magistrate and a member of the Territorial legislature. This position made him prominent in the community. His wife Annie Crockett was a teacher. She taught at Wailuku Elementary School. The school celebrated its 100th year Anniversary recently and Mrs. Crockett was acknowledged for her contributions. Her grandson Wendell Crockett, an attorney still resides on the Island of Maui. Mrs. Crockett was fond of flowers which was her hobby. She created numerous variations of the hibiscus. The State Flower is the yellow hibiscus which enhances the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands today.
William F. Crockett family. Williams was an attorney for the Spreckerlsville Plantation on Maui. Later he became Maui District Magistrate and a member of the Territorial legislature. This position made him prominent in the community. His wife Annie Crockett was a teacher. She taught at Wailuku Elementary School. The school celebrated its 100th year Anniversary recently and Mrs. Crockett was acknowledged for her contributions. Her grandson Wendell Crockett, an attorney still resides on the Island of Maui. Mrs. Crockett was fond of flowers which was her hobby. She created numerous variations of the hibiscus. The State Flower is the yellow hibiscus which enhances the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands today. Also during the early 1900's, a number of distinguished African Americans came to Honolulu and one was a well-known daguerrean photographer, James P. Ball, Sr. arrived in Hawaii with his son James Jr. who was an attorney in 1902. James Jr. daughter,
Alice Ball is the most noteworthy. Alice was the first African American to teach at the College at the University of Hawaii. She was a chemist instructor. During her laboratory research, she discovered a breath through for Hansen Disease known asLeprosy. This pioneering treatment was called the “Ball Method” found in chalmoogra
seeds. She extracted the ether esters in the fatty acids from the chalmoogra oil. This
chemical was injected into leprosy patients to reduced the symptoms they suffered. This discovery brought relief to many patients with suffering from this disease. Her research findings were the beginning of discovering a cure for Hansen Disease.
The knowledge of Alice Ball's research was hidden for more than 80 years before it was coincidently discovered during a literature search. Alice died at the age 24 in 1916. The cause of her death is unknown.
A distinguished African American by the name of Charles Cottrill was appointed by President William Taft to be tax collector for the Hawaiian Territory in 1911. Today, this is called the Internal Revenue Services. He brought his wife and son with him. His
son attended Punahou School. Of course, Cotrill was a socialite who enjoyed the
privileges provided by prestigious country clubs and socialized with top business
executives associated with Hawaii's top five corporations who were family members of the first missionaries who came to Hawaii in 1821. He left the Hawaiian Islands in 1915 when President Wilson sent him to Ohio where he continued his political career.
son attended Punahou School. Of course, Cotrill was a socialite who enjoyed the
privileges provided by prestigious country clubs and socialized with top business
executives associated with Hawaii's top five corporations who were family members of the first missionaries who came to Hawaii in 1821. He left the Hawaiian Islands in 1915 when President Wilson sent him to Ohio where he continued his political career.
In 1929, Nolle Smith, a high profile African American business man arrived in Honolulu. He served in the Territorial House of Representatives and became Territorial Assistant director of the Budget Bureau. Nolle was a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and was involved in a number of business ventures in the Islands. In 1959, Essence Magazine ran an article about Blacks in Hawaii. Nolle's family was the highlight of the article.
It's interesting to note that African Americans like Frank Marshall Davis, a journalist and poet from Chicago found his way to the Hawaiian Islands. He moved to Honolulu with his second wife, a Chicago socialite, Helen Canfield Davis in 1948. Davis was known for his thought provoking poetry and found it to be a complimentary mode of self-expression. Living in the Islands gave Davis an opportunity to observe the Hawaiian
culture and customs first hand. In Honolulu, Davis also wrote a series of articles on
democracy Hawaiian style. Documentation of discrimination and racism in the Islands
were a testament to Davis' role as a significant voice and witness in the historical
process of Hawaii's economic development. He lived in Hawaii for 25 years before
his death in 1987.
culture and customs first hand. In Honolulu, Davis also wrote a series of articles on
democracy Hawaiian style. Documentation of discrimination and racism in the Islands
were a testament to Davis' role as a significant voice and witness in the historical
process of Hawaii's economic development. He lived in Hawaii for 25 years before
his death in 1987.
The contributions and involvement of African Americans in the Hawaiian Islands over the last hundred years are very impressive.
Charles Campbell a young African American teacher of government & consumereducation a local high school (Farrington) was elected to the City Council of Honolulu.
He did it with his gasoline credit card and sign waving which is unique in the Islands.
Of course the 'sign waving' is a popular advertising technique for political candidates
today. After leaving the City Council, Campbell continued his political career. He was
elected to serve in the State House of Representatives and later became a State Senator.
In 1970, Honolulu was honored by the presence of a distinguish world renown African American by the name of Dr. George Johnson who moved to Island of Oahu with his wife to retire. He was the Dean of Howard University Law School and co-founder of
the University of Nigeria. After a few months of rest, he became involved in creation of the University of Hawaii Law School with Chief Justice William Richardson. The law
school open in 1973. He lived in Honolulu until his death in 1987.
the University of Nigeria. After a few months of rest, he became involved in creation of the University of Hawaii Law School with Chief Justice William Richardson. The law
school open in 1973. He lived in Honolulu until his death in 1987.
Helene Hale, an African American was the first woman to hold a government executives office in Hawaii since 
Queen Liliuokalani. She embarked on her political career in 1964. Helen ran and won the election for executive of the Big Island which acted as mayor in 1962. As mayor, she wanted to revitalize Hilo. She collaborated with George Na'Ope and others in the community to establish the first “Merrie Monarch Festival” in April 1964. This event has become one of Hawaii's most popular tourist attraction. In 2000, Helene Hale became the first woman of African descent to be elected to the State legislature at age 82. She served two terms in the State House of Representatives until her retirement in 2006 at age 86.
Deloris Guttman and Hugeaux are members of the African American Cultural Center Hawaii.
web site: www.aadcch.org
Copyright by
African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii, AADCCH
