Were Kauai men lousy lovers?

It is generally agreed that, despite Capt. Cook’s efforts to keep his men and Hawaiian women apart during his voyage of discovery in 1778, his plans failed, and as a result venereal diseases, probably both syphilis and gonorrhea, were introduced into the Hawaiian Islands on Kauai and Niihau. It is often assumed that the responsibility for this fell on his sailors who, deprived of women for months at sea, were unable to control their urges and forced themselves on the innocent native women. Certainly the sailors were willing, but the Kauai women were more than willing accomplices.

Thomas Edgar wrote, “The women used all their Arts to entice (the sailors) into their Houses & even went so far as to Endeavour to draw them in by force.”

David Samwell, ship’s surgeon, added, “The young Women, who were exceeding beautiful, used all their arts to entice our people into their Houses, and …  they absolutely would take no denial.”

Cook, who himself was not party to the sexual activity, wrote, “no women I ever met with were more ready to bestow their favors? Indeed it appeared to me that they came with no other view.”

Samwell also noted that the women were not prostituting themselves for gain “as they would almost use violence to force you into their Embrace regardless whether we gave them anything or not …”

So, what was driving the Kauai women into the sailors’ arms? Were Kauai men lousy lovers? Probably not! Certainly, Hawaiian men were more experienced lovers growing up in a culture that encouraged sexual experimentation with multiple partners; Hawaiian men were almost certainly cleaner and smelled better, too, as they bathed regularly, unlike European sailors who sometimes went for months without a bath.

What was it that attracted Kauai women to the haole sailors? The answer seems to be status. Hawaiian society was very stratified. Chiefs and their retainers had great status; commoners had little. Hawaiian men might gain status through success in battle. Hawaiian women moved up by mating with high status men. Cpt. Cook and his officers were obviously important; their retainers, the sailors, had status, too. By mating with these men, Kauai women hoped to ensure status for themselves and for their children.  

 Evidence to support this argument can be found in what happened a year later when Cook’s ships returned to Kauai. A number of women guided their canoes out to the anchored ships and directed their men to hide little packages of kapa on board the ships. Upon investigation, the sailors discovered that the packages contained piko, the umbilical chords of children the women had recently borne. The piko is the connection between the child and its ancestors; the women were claiming that connection with their sailor lovers.  

It can be argued that the most important “event” in Hawaiian history was the meeting of Cook’s crew with the women of Kauai and Niihau. The introduction of venereal diseases, especially syphilis and gonorrhea, but probably chlamydia as well, were especially important in bringing about the catastrophic decline in the Hawaiian population. Although probably more Hawaiians died directly from other diseases such as influenza, measles, smallpox, typhoid fever, etc., it is likely that their numbers would have rebounded following these epidemics.

The fact that they did not was almost certainly because the venereal diseases, which were “almost universal” among the Hawaiian population by the beginning of the 19th century, caused infertility which kept babies from being born.

With few keiki to replenish their ranks, less than 10 percent of the number of Hawaiians who were alive in 1778 populated these islands when the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown in 1893.

This story,  “Were Kauai men lousy lovers?” is the fourth of 12 stories leading up to the 100th anniversary of the Kauai Historical Society.

The highlight will be a multicultural festival on May 10, when there will be dances, music, food and stories on the front lawn of the Historic County Building.

In the meantime, The Garden Island is working with the Kauai Historical Society on a centennial crossword puzzle contest. Here’s how it will work:

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 and also be available at the office of the Kauai Historical Society, Old County Building Ste. 101, Lihue. 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 will be determined by date and time of submission. If mailed, date will be the postmark and time will be 6 p.m. If delivered to the historical society office, the date and time will be stamped on the submission. Three prizes will be awarded, determined by the earliest date and time of submission.

• Winners will be announced at the centennial celebration May 10, Historic County Building.