Kaimiloa Informations

HHMS Kaimiloa was the first and only ship of the Hawaiian Royal Navy. The ship was a 170-ton Explorer gunboat, made in Britain in 1871. King Kalākaua bought the ship for $20,000 and added the rigging. It sailed from Hawaii to Samoa and other Pacific islands in 1887 in an effort by Kalākaua to form a confederation of Polynesian states to counteract European imperialism. The instance nearly resulted in military conflict between Hawaii and the German Empire, who viewed Samoa as their possession in the Pacific. It was also used as a training ship. In the Hawaiian language, kaimiloa means "one who seeks afar".

Kaimiloa came into commission on 28 March 1887. The ships captain was George E. Gresley Jackson. Twenty-four of the crew members were young Hawaiians who were enrolled in reform school, and who were placed on the ships crew with only one month of training. Due to the music program which was in effect at the reform school, some of these crew members were also members of a military band. They were led by Charles Palikapu Kaleikoa, who was a member of the Royal Hawaiian Band.

Seeking an alliance with Samoa, Kaimiloa set sail on May 18, and reached Apia on June 16. However, due to Samoa already being in negotiations with the German empire, and the United Kingdom and United States of America also keeping track of the situation, talks did not progress well. During these negotiations, the military band held a concert for the townspeople of Apia, which helped to build up good relations between them and the Hawaiians. There were few problems caused by the crew, with only one incident that required reprimand being on record.

Due to the effects of the coup détat that happened in July 1887, the ship was ordered to return home on August 23. They arrived in Honolulu on September 23. This was the only voyage conducted by Kaimiloa for the Hawaiian navy. The crew were disbanded on August 29, and the ship was decommissioned on August 30. After this, Charles Palikapu Kaleikoa reformed the Royal Hawaiian Band and continued to play in it until his retirement 40 years later.

After being decommissioned, Kaimiloa was used as a quarantine ship, but in 1888 it was sold for 2,800 dollars and used as a transportation vessel between the Hawaiian islands.

In 1894, the Gatling guns were removed by the administration of the Republic of Hawaii. Later, the steam engine was also removed and used by the sugar industry.Kaimiloa was then used to transport coal and oil. In 1910, the hull was burned.

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