Moment of Contact
by Herb Kawainui Kane

On his third Pacific voyage, Cook sailed north from Tahiti with orders to explore the northwestern coast of North America. The expedition arrived off Nawiliwili Bay, Kauai, on January 19, 1778. Fisherman in canoes were seen coming from the shore. Cook backed the main yard to wait for them, and hailed them in his imperfect Tahitian.

"It required but little address to get them to come along side, but we could not prevail upon any one to come on board; they exchanged a few fish they had in the Canoes for any thing we offered them, but valued nails, or iron above every other thing; the only weapons they had were a few stones in some of the Canoes and these they threw overboard when they found they were not wanted."

Page 78, Voyagers
Page 28, Ancient Hawaii
Text and image copyright Herb Kawainui Kane 2002