This magnificent calabash and stand was commissioned by the Nihoa Society in 1886 as a gift for King Kalakaua. The Nihoa Society was composed of members of a scientific expedition that ventured to the island of that name in 1885. Princess Liliuokalani was a member of that expedition.

Photo by Paul Kodama

Crafted by Honolulu cabinetmaker Johann Heinrich Wicke, this presentation calabash is made from native kou wood. A decorative crown adorns the top of its lid, while the name Nihoa is carved into its body. It is mounted on a turned wooden pedestal with carved base, and rests upon an elaborately-styled stand composed of koa and kou wood.

After King Kalakaua died in 1891, Queen Dowager Kapiolani presented this calabash and stand to Rear Admiral George Brown of the United States Navy. As commander of the U.S. flagship Charleston, the Admiral had placed his ship at the King's disposal for his journey to California in November of 1890. When the King died in San Francisco just two months later, Admiral Brown had the solemn duty of returning the King's remains to Hawaii.

The U.S.F.S. Charleston remained in Honolulu during funeral observances for Kalakaua. The Admiral, his officers, and a detachment of Marines and Blue Jackets from the U.S.F.S. Charleston marched in the funeral procession that took the late King's body from Iolani Palace to the Royal Mausoleum.

As Admiral Brown and his ship prepared to return to San Francisco following the funeral,

a hookupu was held for Admiral Brown. This ancient Hawaiian custom paid homage to an honored personage through the presentation of gifts. The people of Hawaii wished to show their appreciation to the Admiral, for the kindness and consideration he had demonstrated towards their late King.

Thousands of people came to Brewer's Wharf bearing gifts. They included Cabinet Ministers, Supreme Court Justices, Government officials, and ordinary men and women throughout the Kingdom. F. W. Bartlett, who witnessed the event, recalled: "Some of the natives were very old and were hardly able to stumble along the wharf, but each brought something, some only one egg or nothing but a few flowers, but the desire was there and all came with their widow's mite or their large gift, all with the same attitude of respect and gratitude."

Besides the Nihoa calabash and stand, Queen Dowager Kapiolani presented Admiral Brown with a diamond ring and ebony parlor stand which had belonged to King Kalakaua, as well as provisions for the Admiral's journey.

More than just an example of expert craftsmanship, the Nihoa calabash is symbolic of the affection that a people held for their King; and the gratitude and respect that a Hawaiian Queen and nation had for an American Admiral.

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The search for the Nihoa calabash began in 1983. With only the name of Rear Admiral George Brown as a clue, acquisitions researchers Ena Sroat and Mary Marx began an extensive search to find any living descendants of the Admiral. After a seven-year search, contact was finally made in 1989 with one of Admiral Brown's descendants. Thomas T. Beattie, Jr., a great-grandson of the Admiral, had the Nihoa calabash in his possession. He assured Palace researchers then that the calabash would come to Iolani Palace after his deathHowever, a recent letter from acquisitions researcher Pattie Black resulted in the unexpected news that Mr. Beattie was now willing to part with the calabash and its accompanying stand. They were received, along with a niho palaoa and kukui nut necklace given to Admiral Brown, just in time for this year's commemoration of King Kalakaua's birthday.

The return of these objects is a testament not only to the generosity of its donor, but also the diligence by which acquisitions researchers pursue the worldwide recovery of original Palace artifacts.