William Herbert Shipman
Encyclopedia
William Herbert Shipman (1854–1943) was a wealthy businessman on the island of Hawaii
. One estate of his family was used to preserve an endangered species of Hawaiian Goose
. A historic house associated with his family for over a hundred years is called the W. H. Shipman House
in Hilo, Hawaii. Another of his historic estates called the Ainahou Ranch
, built in 1941 as a refuge from World War II
, is preserved within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
.
had sent the Shipman missionaries to Micronesia
.
However, they were told to leave the ship Chaica in Maui
, since Dwight Baldwin
was acting as a physician on Maui while Micronesia had none to handle the birth.
In 1855 they were assigned the remote outpost of Waiōhinu in the Kaū district
, replacing Rev. John D. Paris. From Wiaohinu, they were responsible for ministry in the entire Kaū District. Titus Coan
, minister of Haili Church in Hilo personally welcomed the Shipmans to their new post on their arrival.
On December 21, 1861 William Cornelius Shipman died from typhoid fever. Jane considered moving the family back to America at that point. However, Titus Coan encouraged her to start a school since she was a trained teacher. Jane moved the family to Hilo and began a school for both Hawaiian and white children to support her family. On July 8, 1868 she married businessman William H. Reed (for whom Reed's Bay and Reed's island in Hilo are named).
W. H. Shipman attended Punahou School
in Oahu and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois
.
In April 1879 Shipman married one of his mother's former students, Mary (Mele) Elizabeth Kahiwaaialii Johnson, the great-grand-niece of Isaac Davis
. His sister Margaret Clarissa (1859–1891) married politician and businessman Lorrin Thurston. A few years after Margaret's death, Thurston organized the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. He also had one brother, Oliver Taylor (1857–1942) who became a businessman and local government official.
He had daughters Mary, Clara, Caroline, Florence Lukini, and Margaret Beatrice, and five sons of whom only the youngest, Herbert Cornelius (1892–1976), survived his father. He died on July 8, 1943.
. Reed died in 1880 with no children of his own, so William Herbert inherited the Reed land holdings.
In 1881 he and two partners (Captain J. E. Eldarts and S. M. Damon) purchased the entire ahupaa (ancient land division) of Keaau, about 70000 acres (28,328 ha), for $20,000 from the King Lunalilo
estate.
William went into business for himself in 1882, buying out his partners and eventually founding the W. H. Shipman Limited corporation in 1923. The family also had a dairy poultry farm. He was involved in several court cases over this land, including the case known as "Shipman v. Nawahi" of 1886, named for Puna lawyer Joseph Nāwahī
.
In 1898, the United States of America annexed the islands (after years of lobbying by his former brother-in-law Lorrin Thurston, since re-married) which became the Territory of Hawaii
. This meant agricultural products shipped to the vast American market were no longer subject to any duties. He leased much of his land to grow sugar cane, coffee, and other tropical fruit. In 1899 he leased properties to the new Olaa Sugar Company in Keaau. A large mill was built in 1900, which operated until 1982 (then called the Puna Sugar Company).
He built a house in 1904 near the remote Haena beach on his land, coordinates 19°38′32"N 154°59′7"W.
In the Hawaiian language
, hāena means "red hot", probably due to being downhill from the Kīlauea
volcano.
In 1911, he formed the Hilo Meat Company to market the cattle from his ranches, his brother Oliver's ranch, and the even larger Parker Ranch
on the northern part of the island.
His son Herbert C. Shipman (1892–1976) took over the company in 1943 after W. H. Shipman's death. Herbert is best known for breeding the endagered Hawaiian Goose
(known as nēnē in the Hawaiian language, Branta sandvicensis) on the remote Puna Shipman Estate. He started with four birds in 1918 as the species was starting to decline. Herbert also started commercial growing of Orchids and introduced the anthurium to the Island.
In 1948, some of the land was sold to be planted with macadamia
nut trees, which has grown into the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
plantation.
In 1959, the company sold about 15 mi2 of this land which became the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. Because of the agricultural zoning, lots are all 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) in size. In 1976 a park in Keaau was named in Herbert Shipman's honor, at coordinates 19°37′17"N 155°2′32"W.
Herbert's nephew Roy Shipman Blackshear (1923–2006) continued the work of raising the nēnē, and headed the company from 1976 until 1994.
Robert Cooper, a non family member of the Company then became President while Roy Blackshear became its first (non executive) Chairman of the Board. Cooper was followed by Robert Saunders several years later after which Cooper again became President. In 2002, Roy Blackshear resigned from the Board to go into full retirement. His nephew William Walter became Chairman of the Board. In 2005 William Walter became President and CEO of the Company now managed cooperatively with cousin Thomas English, both fourth generation descendants. The company still owned about 17000 acres (68.8 km²) in the Puna district in 2009, including an industrial park near the current town of Keaau.
Since Hawaii state law requires public access to all ocean shorelines, controversies have surrounded attempts to keep vehicles off the roads through the Shipman Puna property.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. One estate of his family was used to preserve an endangered species of Hawaiian Goose
Hawaiian Goose
The Nene, also known as Nēnē and Hawaiian Goose, is a species of goose endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The official bird of the state of Hawaii, the Nene is exclusively found in the wild on the islands of Maui, Kauai and Hawaii...
. A historic house associated with his family for over a hundred years is called the W. H. Shipman House
W. H. Shipman House
W. H. Shipman House is a historic home used by William Herbert Shipman. It is located at 141 Kaiulani Street, named for Princess Kaiulani, the last crown princess of the Kingdom and Liliuokalani's niece....
in Hilo, Hawaii. Another of his historic estates called the Ainahou Ranch
Ainahou Ranch
The Shipman family leased of land near the Kīlauea volcano in 1937 from the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate, which they called the Ainahou Ranch. The name aina hou means "new land"....
, built in 1941 as a refuge from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, is preserved within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a United States National Park located in the U.S. State of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. It encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's most massive volcano...
.
Life
William Herbert Shipman (also known as "Willie" Shipman) was born December 17, 1854 at Lahaina, Hawaii, the son of missionary parents, William Cornelius Shipman (1824–1861) and Jane Stobie Shipman (1827–1904). Just married in July 1853, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign MissionsAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
had sent the Shipman missionaries to Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
.
However, they were told to leave the ship Chaica in Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, since Dwight Baldwin
Dwight Baldwin (missionary)
Dwight Baldwin was an American Christian missionary and physician on Maui, one of the Hawaiian Islands, during the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was patriarch of a family that founded some of the largest businesses in the islands.-Life:...
was acting as a physician on Maui while Micronesia had none to handle the birth.
In 1855 they were assigned the remote outpost of Waiōhinu in the Kaū district
Kau, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], [[Hamakua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], Kau , [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
, replacing Rev. John D. Paris. From Wiaohinu, they were responsible for ministry in the entire Kaū District. Titus Coan
Titus Coan
Titus Coan was an early American Christian Missionary to the Hawaiian Islands.-Early life and family:Titus Coan was born on February 1, 1801 in Killingworth, Connecticut, the son of Gaylord Coan and Tamza Nettleton. In June, 1831, he entered the Auburn Theological Seminary in Auburn, New York, and...
, minister of Haili Church in Hilo personally welcomed the Shipmans to their new post on their arrival.
On December 21, 1861 William Cornelius Shipman died from typhoid fever. Jane considered moving the family back to America at that point. However, Titus Coan encouraged her to start a school since she was a trained teacher. Jane moved the family to Hilo and began a school for both Hawaiian and white children to support her family. On July 8, 1868 she married businessman William H. Reed (for whom Reed's Bay and Reed's island in Hilo are named).
W. H. Shipman attended Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
in Oahu and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
.
In April 1879 Shipman married one of his mother's former students, Mary (Mele) Elizabeth Kahiwaaialii Johnson, the great-grand-niece of Isaac Davis
Isaac Davis (Hawaii)
Isaac Davis was a Welsh advisor to Kamehameha I and helped form the Kingdom of Hawaii. He arrived in Hawaii in 1790 as the sole survivor of the massacre of the crew of The Fair American. He along with John Young became friends and advisors to Kamehameha...
. His sister Margaret Clarissa (1859–1891) married politician and businessman Lorrin Thurston. A few years after Margaret's death, Thurston organized the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. He also had one brother, Oliver Taylor (1857–1942) who became a businessman and local government official.
He had daughters Mary, Clara, Caroline, Florence Lukini, and Margaret Beatrice, and five sons of whom only the youngest, Herbert Cornelius (1892–1976), survived his father. He died on July 8, 1943.
The family business
Returning to the island from college, he became manager of Kapapala Ranch, which was owned by his stepfather William Reed and C. B. Richardson. This early introduction to ranching had a lasting influence. After marriage, he moved to Kapoho, Hawaii, the eastern-most point of the island, in the Puna DistrictPuna, Hawaii
Puna is one of the nine districts in Hawaii County, Big Island, Hawaii. The District of Puna is located on the easternmost portion of the island and shares borders to the north with the District of South Hilo and a border to the west with the District of Kaū...
. Reed died in 1880 with no children of his own, so William Herbert inherited the Reed land holdings.
In 1881 he and two partners (Captain J. E. Eldarts and S. M. Damon) purchased the entire ahupaa (ancient land division) of Keaau, about 70000 acres (28,328 ha), for $20,000 from the King Lunalilo
Lunalilo
Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...
estate.
William went into business for himself in 1882, buying out his partners and eventually founding the W. H. Shipman Limited corporation in 1923. The family also had a dairy poultry farm. He was involved in several court cases over this land, including the case known as "Shipman v. Nawahi" of 1886, named for Puna lawyer Joseph Nāwahī
Joseph Nawahi
Joseph Nāwahī also known as Joseph Kahooluhi Nāwahī and as Joseph Kahooluhi Nāwahīokalaniōpuu was a native Hawaiian legislator, lawyer, newspaper publisher, and painter.-Life:...
.
In 1898, the United States of America annexed the islands (after years of lobbying by his former brother-in-law Lorrin Thurston, since re-married) which became the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
. This meant agricultural products shipped to the vast American market were no longer subject to any duties. He leased much of his land to grow sugar cane, coffee, and other tropical fruit. In 1899 he leased properties to the new Olaa Sugar Company in Keaau. A large mill was built in 1900, which operated until 1982 (then called the Puna Sugar Company).
He built a house in 1904 near the remote Haena beach on his land, coordinates 19°38′32"N 154°59′7"W.
In the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, hāena means "red hot", probably due to being downhill from the Kīlauea
Kilauea
Kīlauea is a volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, and one of five shield volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. Kīlauea means "spewing" or "much spreading" in the Hawaiian language, referring to its frequent outpouring of lava. The Puu Ōō cone has been continuously erupting in the eastern...
volcano.
In 1911, he formed the Hilo Meat Company to market the cattle from his ranches, his brother Oliver's ranch, and the even larger Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch is a working cattle ranch on the Island of Hawaii in the state of Hawaii, now run by a charitable trust.-History:The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ranches in Texas and other southwestern states by more than 30...
on the northern part of the island.
His son Herbert C. Shipman (1892–1976) took over the company in 1943 after W. H. Shipman's death. Herbert is best known for breeding the endagered Hawaiian Goose
Hawaiian Goose
The Nene, also known as Nēnē and Hawaiian Goose, is a species of goose endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The official bird of the state of Hawaii, the Nene is exclusively found in the wild on the islands of Maui, Kauai and Hawaii...
(known as nēnē in the Hawaiian language, Branta sandvicensis) on the remote Puna Shipman Estate. He started with four birds in 1918 as the species was starting to decline. Herbert also started commercial growing of Orchids and introduced the anthurium to the Island.
In 1948, some of the land was sold to be planted with macadamia
Macadamia
Macadamia is a genus of nine species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, with a disjunct distribution native to eastern Australia , New Caledonia and Sulawesi in Indonesia ....
nut trees, which has grown into the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation is the world's largest processor of macadamia nuts. The American company has been a subsidiary of The Hershey Company since 2004. The company takes its name from the volcano Mauna Loa...
plantation.
In 1959, the company sold about 15 mi2 of this land which became the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. Because of the agricultural zoning, lots are all 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) in size. In 1976 a park in Keaau was named in Herbert Shipman's honor, at coordinates 19°37′17"N 155°2′32"W.
Herbert's nephew Roy Shipman Blackshear (1923–2006) continued the work of raising the nēnē, and headed the company from 1976 until 1994.
Robert Cooper, a non family member of the Company then became President while Roy Blackshear became its first (non executive) Chairman of the Board. Cooper was followed by Robert Saunders several years later after which Cooper again became President. In 2002, Roy Blackshear resigned from the Board to go into full retirement. His nephew William Walter became Chairman of the Board. In 2005 William Walter became President and CEO of the Company now managed cooperatively with cousin Thomas English, both fourth generation descendants. The company still owned about 17000 acres (68.8 km²) in the Puna district in 2009, including an industrial park near the current town of Keaau.
Since Hawaii state law requires public access to all ocean shorelines, controversies have surrounded attempts to keep vehicles off the roads through the Shipman Puna property.