Official portrait of Captain James Cook

Captain James Cook was an 18th century explorer and navigator whose achievements in mapping the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia radically changed western perceptions of world geography. As one of the very few men in the 18th century navy to rise through the ranks, Cook was particularly sympathetic to the needs of ordinary sailors.

KK

Captain James Cook returned to Hawaii in 1779. After sailing around the archipelago for some eight weeks, he made landfall at Kealakekua Bay, on 'Hawaii Island', largest island in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

KK

After a month's stay, Cook attempted to resume his exploration of the Northern Pacific. Shortly after leaving Hawaii Island, however, the Resolution's foremast broke, so the ships returned to Kealakekua Bay for repairs.

KK

Tensions rose, and a number of quarrels broke out between the Europeans and Hawaiians at Kealakekua Bay. An unknown group of Hawaiians took one of Cook's small boats. The evening when the boat was taken, the people had become "insolent" even with threats to fire upon them. Cook was forced into a wild goose chase that ended with his return to the ship frustrated. He attempted to kidnap and ransom the King of Hawaiʻi, Kalaniʻōpuʻu.

KK

That following day, 14 February 1779, Cook marched through the village to retrieve the King. Cook took the King by his own hand and led him willingly away. One of Kalaniʻōpuʻu's favorite wives, Kanekapolei and two chiefs approached the group as they were heading to boats. They pleaded with the king not to go until he stopped and sat where he stood. The king began to understand that Cook was his enemy. As Cook turned his back to help launch the boats, he was struck on the head by the villagers and then stabbed to death as he fell on his face in the surf.

KK

The Hawaiians carried his body away towards the back of the town. The esteem which the islanders nevertheless held for Cook caused them to retain his body and they prepared him for funeral rituals usually reserved for the chiefs and highest elders of the society. His remains, thus preserved, were eventually returned to his crew for a formal burial at sea.

KK

The Captain Cook Monument is a major landmark on the Kona Coast of Hawaii.

A plaque rests on the base of the structure, telling the story of his arrival and death in the islands.
KK

“In memory of the great circumnavigator,

Captain James Cook, R. N., who discovered these

islands on the 10th of January, A.D. 1770, and fell near

this spot on the 14th of February, A.D. 1779.

This monument was erected in November A.D. 1874

by some of his fellow countrymen.”

The Captain James Cook Memorial

Photo: Surfsupusa/Wikimedia • Placed in the Public Domain

Source: Wikipedia.org