During King Kamehameha IV’s reign (1855-63), he proposed “bringing in Polynesian immigrants to … reinvigorate the Native Hawaiian stock.”
And, on Dec. 31, 1859, the American schooner “Wamp,” Capt. Charles St. Clair, master, brought the first of the king’s intended Polynesian immigrants to Hawaii.
They were South Seas Islanders, likely from the Ellice Islands (now Tuvalu), under a five-year contract as laborers for Koloa Sugar Plantation.
An article published on Jan. 21, 1860 in “The Polynesian” newspaper reported, in part:
“Of the immigrants four are men and six women, all young and healthy, and in personal appearance resemble Hawaiians.
“Capt. St. Clair says they are from two islands lying between 10 and 15 degrees South latitude and West nearly to the 180th meridian. They are low coral islands, producing only cocoanuts.
“There is a native Christian missionary serving both islands and most of these immigrants can read and write. Most of them have been baptized and have Christian names.
“It is their practice before eating to ask a blessing on their food, and in the evening they read their Testament and all kneel while one of them leads in prayer. One of them has picked up some English and all are able to communicate somewhat with the Hawaiians.
“They were at church last Sabbath and were objects of great curiosity to the Hawaiians. They seem in good spirits, and all have shipped on the plantation for five years.
“The “Wamp” will sail again in a few days for another cargo of the same sort – of 25 or 30 for the plantation. The Captain says there was a scarcity of food on the islands and he thought it a deed of charity to bring them away.
“The mate of the “Wamp” said they wanted to come, that they would all come if they could.”
About 2,500 South Sea Seas Islanders immigrated to Hawaii during the 19th century.
After completing their plantation contracts, they returned to their home islands.
By 1910, none were listed in the census of Hawaii.
