Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii

Subject: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: harpmolly
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 05:16 PM

This is probably a long shot, but I wonder if anyone here knows of any songs related to the Scottish families that emigrated to Hawaii in the early twentieth century.

I just went home to Hawaii for a week for my grandmother's funeral, and at the service my uncle told the amazing story of how Tutu ended up in Hawaii. In 1920, when she was 8 years old, she and her family set sail from Glasgow to New York, then took the train across the United States to the West Coast, where they boarded another boat bound for Honolulu. From Honolulu they went to the big island of Hawai'i to work the sugar plantations.

I know there was a trend of Scottish emigration to Hawaii at this time--the cemetery where we buried Tutu was full of Scottish surnames--but I just wondered if anyone else knew anything else about this, or had any resources I might look up. If a song doesn't exist, maybe I'll write one. *grin*

Molly

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: Amergin
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 06:09 PM

Hey Molly,

I didn't find any songs but I found a couple of links that might help out your search....This one I found to be pretty interesting.....

I don't know whether or not they'll be able to help but here you go....click here

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: harpmolly
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 06:34 PM

oh, wow!

Amergin, you rock! :) I've always loved Princess Kaiulani, and I'd forgotten she was the daughter of a Scotsman. That article was beautiful, and exactly what I was looking for.

I'd also forgotten about the Caledonian Society of Hawai'i. Duh. Thanks again for the reminder!

I wonder if Robert Louis Stevenson's beautiful poem for Kaiulani was ever set to music? If not, that might be an interesting project. :)

Molly

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 06:46 PM

Molly, the Big Island phone book has two pages that go from McAdams to McWilliams, and a bunch of "Mac"'s as well. But I actually didn't know about the Scottish connection until you mentioned it. A friend of mine, John Mebane, wrote a book called "The April of Her Age", which is a historical novel about the relationship between Robert Louis Stevenson and Princess Ka'iulani. If you're interested and can't find it, let me know and I can send you details. And let me know if you write a song...I'll sing it here if I can ever find enough people to get a song circle together. Where on the island did you live?

Aloha,
Mark (in Hilo)

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: Amergin
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 06:52 PM

You also might consider writing a song about your grammas journey.....

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: harpmolly
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 08:10 PM

True enough, Amergin :) I'll have to get my dad to tell me as much of the story's details as he can.

Mark: I lived on Maui, but my father used to live in Hilo--hell, you've probably met him! He used to own Harrington's restaurant (his second wife's name was Eileen Harrington). He's a bit of a restaurant guru in those parts. I was just in Hilo last week--we buried my grandmother's ashes and then went up in a big family unit (read: ball of chaos) to stay at the Volcano House and tromp around on Kilauea (I'm surprised Pele didn't lose patience and blast us all to kingdom come ;)).

Gosh, I should've had the foresight to ask who the Hawaii 'Catters were before I went. But I didn't have much time for socializing outside the Bauckhams, anyway. :)

Molly

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 09:48 PM

I think I'm the only one. If I'm wrong, I hope somebody will correct me...and call!

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 10:03 PM

Now this is neat info! I had no idea the Scots went directly to HI......I always figured it was at least a 2 generation trip. Cool!

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: harpmolly
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:09 PM

Ah ha!

Found it! The Caledonian Society of Hawai'i published a book recently called "The Story of Scots In Hawai'i", which I'll have my dad send me. Doh! Now I actually seem to recall Dad mentioning it last week, and even saying that my grandmother's name is mentioned in it (she was the maid of honor at the wedding of a very prestigious Scottish lady whose name eludes me.)

hmmm...I feel a song coming on...*grin*

M

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: Amergin
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:56 PM

Great!!! Just let me know how it comes out...

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: sheila
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 04:53 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Help: Songs: Scottish emigration to Hawaii
From: Amergin
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 09:47 PM

have not heard from Molly in a year....