In 1787, the British ship “Nootka,” Capt. John Meares (1756?-1809) commanding, visited Waimea, Kaua‘i in route to Canton, China.

At that time in Waimea, many Hawaiians wished to see the world beyond Hawai‘i and were even willing to pay Meares for the opportunity, their most favored destination being England, where early ships visiting Hawai‘i originated.

Of these, Meares picked just one. He wrote that “Among the numbers who pressed forward with inexpressible eagerness to accompany us to Britannee, Tianna [Kaiana] a chief of Kaua‘i … was alone received to embark with us, amid the envy of all his countrymen.”

Kaiana adapted readily at Canton. Well over six feet tall, handsome, likable, and wearing western clothes, he became the darling of Canton’s British expatriates. When Meares sailed home for England, Kaiana remained.

In the winter of 1787-1788, Meares sailed back to Canton, where he joined Capt. William Douglas for a return voyage to Hawai‘i in 1788. Meares captained the “Felice” and Douglas commanded “Iphigenia,” with Kaiana aboard.

Upon their arrival at the Big Island, Meares sailed to Kaua‘i to inform Kaiana’s brother, King Kaeo, of Kaiana’s forthcoming arrival.

Meanwhile, Kaiana was forewarned on the Big Island that Kaeo didn’t favor his return to Kaua‘i. He therefore remained on the Big Island and gave Kamehameha I muskets and ammunition he’d acquired in Canton that bolstered Kamehameha’s army.

When Meares arrived at Waimea on the 23rd, no canoes came out to greet him, but the next day, two men and a girl paddled out to warn Kaiana (who they presumed was on board) that civil war was raging on Kaua‘i, and Kaeo, envious and jealous of Kaiana, planned to kill him.

Meares then set sail for Nootka Sound in present-day British Columbia, where he established a fur trading post.