"Thanksgiving Day First Observed Here in 1838"

Thanksgiving Day First Observed Here in 1838

Instigated by Missionaries

Source: Honolulu Advertiser. Wednesday, November 24, 1948. 5:1.

Thanksgiving Day came early in Hawaii.

Hawaii's first Thanksgiving Day was observed 110 years ago, records of the Territorial archives show. According to a passage from Frear's 'Lowell and Abigail,' Dec. 6, 1838, was the date.

The Chronicle notes: "This day has been observed by us missionaries as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God. Something new for this nation. The people turned out pretty well to meetings and they dined in small groups and in a few instances large groups. WE missionaries all dined at Dr. Judd's and sipped at Brother Bingham's."

ON NOV. 23, 1849, just 99 years ago, King Kamehameha III issued this now-famous proclamation:

"In accordance with the laws of this kingdom and the excellent usage of Christian nations, it has pleased His Majesty, in council, to appoint the 31st day of December next as a day of public thanksgiving to God for His unnumbered mercies and blessings to this nation.

People of every class are respectfully requested to assemble in their several houses of worship on that day to render united praise to the Father of nations, and to implore His favor in time to come upon all who dwell upon these shores, as individuals, as families and as a nation."

The authority for annual Thanksgiving proclamations was provided under the statute laws of 1845, which added: "When thus promulgated, they shall be obligatory according to their general spirit and intent upon all persons, provided that they shall have no sectarian tendency, and not be calculated by favoring one sect to injure another." 

One of the best-known Thanksgiving messages in Hawaiian annals is that in which the Hawaiian Evangelical Assn. recommended Thursday, Nov. 28, 1861 as a day of general thanksgiving.

This message, signed by E.W. Clark and E. Corwin, recounted the Biblical quotation: "Let all His people, then on the day appointed, enter His courts with thanksgiving and His gates with praise." 

It cited the "manifold blessings" which had been bestowed upon the islands: "new and becoming avenues of industry have been opened…the necessities of life have been supplied to all…industry and enterprise have been duly rewarded…a free press and an equitable representation of public opinion in matters pertaining to the public welfare as secured…religious toleration is enjoyed…no pestilence has desolated the islands…institutions of learning and religion abound."