July 4 in Hawaii: USS Constellation and Hawaii Day, 1926

The year 1926 coincided with the 150th sesquicentennial anniversary of American independence. Far from the shores of the Hawaiian Islands a special celebration was held in Baltimore Harbor.

'Hawaii Day' was celebrated aboard the frigate Constellation. We present to our readers the text of a front page story that was published in the July 8, 1926 edition of the Honolulu Advertiser (today's Star Advertiser). The Constellation visited Hawaii as the frigate circumnavigated the world 1840-1845. Go to the links above the learn more about its remarkable history.

Today, the U.S.S. Constellation is a maritime museum open to the public in Baltimore. It is the sister-ship of the U.S.S. Constitution in Boston, Massachusetts.

CONSTELLATION IS HAWAII DAY CLOSING SCENE
Source: Honolulu Advertiser: Thursday, July 8, 1926.

Large Flower lei Draped Over Gangway; Visitors Given Leis.
(By The Associated Press)


PHILADELPHIA July 3 -The exercises tonight on the wooden decks of the frigate Constellation climaxed the Hawaii Day celebration at the Sesquicentennial exposition, reviving the memories of the incident 83 years ago. Miles Cary, chairman of the exercises, read the official greetings, pledging anew the fidelity of Hawaii to America in the form of a message from Acting Governor Raymond C. Brown.

Miss Palmyra Beie, chairman of the Hawaii delegation, delivered a tribute to the Constellation on behalf of the citizenry of the islands, at the close of which she handed a large lei of Hawaiian flowers to Admiral Thomas P. McGruder, U.S.N., who placed it at the entrance to the gangway.

Three native teachers distributed five hundred leis to the visitors. Each lei is the work of a school child, whose name is attached with the request that the recipient of the floral wreath write to Teachers Mrs. Phoebe Amoy, Honolulu; Gertrude Leong, Lahaina; and Mrs. Nora Marcham, Honolulu.

Marked by all the color and classic dancing and depiction of life in those tropical islands, Hawaii Day was celebrated today at the sesquicentennial here.

The exercises were the first held by a territory of the United States at the exposition for observance of the 150th anniversary of the mother country.

A delegation from Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors marched in a colorful procession from the exposition grounds to the frigate Constellation in the nearby navy yard, where a pageant was presented re-enacting the boarding of the Constellation in 1843 by King Kamehameha III, and the raising of the Hawaiian flag by the commander of the Constellation as a mark of friendship for the island government. A lei was presented to the old ship by the "Warriors" in memory of the day when the Constellation lay at Honolulu with her guns facing a British frigate and when commander Kearney protested the hoisting of the British flag over Hawaii.

The Hawaiians later gave a reception aboard the ship to a number of guests, including Admiral Thomas P. Magruder, USN, naval and military officers and sesquicentennial exposition officials and their wives.

Hawaiian exhibits at the exposition are displayed at the transportation building.

Miles Cary of Honolulu is general chairman of the day for Hawaii.