When Captain Cook’s Resolution and Discovery reached England in 1780, the War of American Independence was in full fury. Not until the Treaty of Paris did hostilities between England, France and the newly formed United States finally end. With peace, France sent out an expedition dedicated to science and exploration, similar to Cook’s voyages. The French naval hero, Jean Francois Galaup De La Perouse was placed in command of the expedition which consisted of the ships Bousole (flagship) and Astrolabe.
The expedition left Brest in August of 1785 bound for the Pacific via Cape Horn. On May 28, 1786 the expedition sighted the snow capped mountains of Hawaii and a little later the mountains of Maui. Despite their best efforts, they could not close with the land before dark. Spending the night on their tacks they were able to approach the channel between Maui and Hawaii with the first light. They closed with the land near what today is Muolea Point at 9AM and proceeded to follow the coast.
Canoes had put out from shore by the hundreds upon sighting the LaBousole and Astrolabe. But with the imperative of reaching a safe anchorage before nightfall, LaPerouse kept his ships moving with all plain sail. Canoes loaded with pigs and fruits closed with the ships, but the speed of the ships, about nine knots, made an approach very difficult. The crews threw lines to the canoes so that they could be pulled along side, but the quarter waves and wake swamped and capsized most of them forcing the occupants to let go and take to the water. Being strong swimmers, the Hawaiians took the canoes on their shoulders, according to LaPerouse, and emptied them, retrieving their goods, and cheerfully took off after the ships for a second try. Over fifty canoes were overturned in this manner with only a few getting alongside long enough to trade. In all the excitement, 15 pigs and some fruit were taken aboard. LaPerouse compared the magnificent swimming ability of the Hawaiians to that of a seal or sea lion.

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