Fun fact. Many of the warriors in Ka‘awaloa village that day had thick, woven hala armor on. Seeing the fire erupt from Cook's weapon, they slipped into the ocean to wet their armor, in an attempt to further protect themselves.
Cook tried to kidnap the king, shot first, then found out.
The journals of the crew of both ships are pretty interesting.
I did trail maintenance on the trail for the last few years, and heard so many stories as well. Became a bit obsessed with researching the event.
I'd absolutely vote for an iron dagger, blunt-force trauma, and subsequent drowning for the dude photoshopped into the image above. Maybe don't treat his ‘iwi with such respect as was given to Cook's bones, however.
I've stood next to the spot his body was taken. Beautiful view. Beautiful place.
But they didn't know really how to work it. Which is why they stole the ironworking tongs from cook's blacksmith. (It was subsequently returned, however)
One Hawaiian, upon seeing the iron on one of the ships, said something to the british that sounded like "hematite". What he probably said was He Maita‘i (It's good).
Hawaiians did have previous knowledge of iron, probably from metal washed up from shipwrecks.
Oh, and the future King Kamehameha was 17 at the time, and actually traded with Cook. A feather cloak, in exchange for 9 iron daggers. Such was the value of iron to them at the time.
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Cook tried to kidnap the king, shot first, then found out.
I did trail maintenance on the trail for the last few years, and heard so many stories as well. Became a bit obsessed with researching the event.
I've stood next to the spot his body was taken. Beautiful view. Beautiful place.
Hawaiians did have previous knowledge of iron, probably from metal washed up from shipwrecks.