APEC 2011 Hawaii — Historical Tidbits — Hogs for Iron
Editor’s note: Honolulu’s visitors have told fascinating stories over the years. Civil Beat looked through vintage news clippings to give today’s APEC visitors a sense of the history of this place. With thanks to Pake Zane and Julie Lauster of Antique Alley.
In 1804, a Russian ship stayed away from Oahu, but visited the Big Island.
A 1931 article from the now-defunct Honolulu Star-Bulletin recounts the scene:
“From reports, (Captain Urey) Lisiansky had expected that the ship would have been surrounded by canoes, but not one came until sunset when about 100 young women swam out to the vessel. The captain refused to let any of them come aboard.
“Next morning many canoes surrounded the Neva offering articles for barter, but no pigs.”
Then, when notified that the ship would leave unless it was offered food for trade, “the chief came on board and made a present to the captain of two hogs and a quantity of vegetables and fruit.”
The chief, it was said, promised to supply the ship with all that it needed.
He traded four large hogs, one as a present, in exchange for a bar and a half of iron.
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