Honolulu Sailor's Home
Encyclopedia
The Honolulu Sailor's Home is non-profit lodge for international merchant seamen. The home was incorporated in May 1855 with a lot obtained by a grant from the Kingdom of Hawaii
. Originally located on Bethel Street adjacent to the Port of Honolulu, it is now located one block away at 707 Alakea Street, coordinates 21°18′23"N 157°51′45"W.
Hawaiian King Kamehameha IV laid the cornerstone for the home with "appropriate ceremonies" on Restoration Day, July 31, 1855. In October of that year, the Reading Room was opened for public use. On September 11, 1856, the home was officially opened as lodging for merchant seaman.
The chairman of the Executive Committee was Rev. Samuel C. Damon
, who published a newspaper called the Friend in the building.
Sailors who died on the island without family were buried in the Oahu Cemetery
, in a plot purchased for that purpose.
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
. Originally located on Bethel Street adjacent to the Port of Honolulu, it is now located one block away at 707 Alakea Street, coordinates 21°18′23"N 157°51′45"W.
History
The original grant included a clause "that no intoxicating liquors shall be drank on the premises", and "no women of lewd character admitted".Hawaiian King Kamehameha IV laid the cornerstone for the home with "appropriate ceremonies" on Restoration Day, July 31, 1855. In October of that year, the Reading Room was opened for public use. On September 11, 1856, the home was officially opened as lodging for merchant seaman.
The chairman of the Executive Committee was Rev. Samuel C. Damon
Samuel C. Damon
Samuel Chenery Damon was a missionary to Hawaii, pastor of the Seamen's Bethel Church, chaplain of the Honolulu American Seamen's Friend Society and editor of the monthly newspaper The Friend.-Early life:...
, who published a newspaper called the Friend in the building.
Sailors who died on the island without family were buried in the Oahu Cemetery
Oahu Cemetery
The Oahu Cemetery is the resting place of many notable early residents of the Honolulu area. They range from missionaries and politicians to sports pioneers and philosophers. Over time it was expanded to become an area known as the Nuuanu Cemetery....
, in a plot purchased for that purpose.