CAPTAIN COOK DISCOVERS HAWAII
Waimea, Kauai (JFK+50) Two hundred and forty years ago, January 18, 1778, the English explorer Captain James Cook* became the first European to discover Hawaii.
Two days later Cook landed on the island of Kauai and named the group "The Sandwich Islands" after a sponsor, John Montagu**, the Earl of Sandwich.
President John F. Kennedy's mother, Rose, told the story of how young Jack loved to read the book "Billy Whiskers"*** and that one day he asked her where the Sandwich Islands were located. When she asked why he wanted to know, he said that was where Billy Whiskers had gone.
*James Cook (1728-1779) was born in Yorkshire, England & after serving in the merchant navy joined the Royal Navy. JC made 3 voyages to the Pacific Ocean in which he mapped unchartered lands from New Zealand to the Hawaiian Islands. Captain Cook was killed while attempting to capture a Hawaiian chief.
**John Montagu (1718-1792) served as Postmaster General, 1st Lord of the Admiralty & Secretary of State for the Northern Department. JM was the 4th Lord of Sandwich. Captain Cook also named Montague Island off the coast of Australia in honor of John Montagu.
***Billy Whiskers was a series of children's books about a mischievous goat written by Frances Trego Montgomery & originally published in 1908.
Statue of Captain James Cook
Waimea, Kauai
Photo by Caracas1830 (2005)
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