As many Kauai old timers know, Charlie Fern, long-time editor of The Garden Island newspaper, was the first to fly an airplane from Oahu and land on Kauai (1920), but he was not the first to fly an airplane on
As many Kauai old timers know, Charlie Fern, long-time editor of The Garden Island newspaper, was the first to fly an airplane from Oahu and land on Kauai (1920), but he was not the first to fly an airplane on the island. That honor belongs to a Chinese aviator, the noted “Chinese Birdman,” Tom Gunn, who entertained a crowd of 1,500 spectators from a hill above Koloa, just over 100 years ago, on Jan. 18, 1914.
Gunn was a “world character in the field of aviation” and the “only Chinese member of the Aero Club of America,” having “figured prominently in some of the most important aviation programs” on the American West Coast. He arrived on the inter-island steamer Kinau along with two flying machines, at least one of which arrived “all in pieces after its rough trip” from Honolulu.
The great event was much anticipated on Kauai and “all other sports for the day from Kapaa to Waimea were called off” so “that the visiting bird-man (might) have a clear field.” On Sunday, the 18th, about 1,500 paying spectators arrived by train, automobile, horseback and on foot to witness the program, which was to commence at 11:30. After some repairs, waiting on the winds and a false start ending in a collision with a wagon, the Bird-man managed a five-minute flight during which strong gusts nearly pitched him out of his machine. A “second attempt to rise was a failure, but at 3:10 the machine rose again” this time for all of three minutes. The Garden Island characterized the aerial program as “only a partial success” on account of the wind, but noted that many of the spectators were satisfied having never seen a plane before and enjoyed their picnic lunches despite the wind and showers.
The following Sunday, Gunn and his backers tried again, this time with his “Flying Bird,” an aeroplane that lights upon and flies from the water. Ticket sales were poor, only a few hundred Kauaians were at Koloa to watch Gunn skim out to the reef where his plane stuck and began to sink. Gunn complained that he nearly lost both his plane and his life when no one came to his aid. Ticket money was refunded; the planes were crated up, and the “Bird-man” sailed off to Honolulu, never to return.
Note: Gunn managed to carry several pieces of mail on one of his flights postmarked by the Koloa Post Office Jan. 20, 1914, the first air mail in Hawaii. At least two of these have survived and one of them recently sold for $8,500.
This story on the first flight from Oahu to Kauai is the third of 12 stories leading up to the 100th anniversary of the the Kauai Historical Society. The highlight will be a multicultural festival on May 10. In the meantime, The Garden Island is working with the Kauai Historical Society on a centennial crossword puzzle contest.
The Garden Island will publish 12 articles on Kauai history on successive Thursdays. The first was published Jan. 23. A crossword puzzle will be published by April 17. Answers to the puzzle will be found in the articles.
Here are the contest rules:
• The puzzle must be submitted by May 5 to KHS.
• Submissions may be mailed to P.O. Box 1778, Lihue, HI 96766 or to the office of the historical society.
• Winners of the prizes will be announced May 10.
