If it was a great surprise for Captain James Cook and the men aboard the Resolution and Discovery to find large islands where they did not expect to find land, it was a greater surprise to the Hawaiians to discover these huge god-like vessels sailing towards their island of Kauai. Although the Cook expedition sighted land on the morning of January 18, 1778, it was not until the morning of the following day that they were able to approach one of the sighted islands. This print shows the initial moment of shock as the Islanders try to grasp this apparition from the blue. This view is from somewhere around Sleeping Giant Hills, and shows a small assembly of Islanders after a messenger has brought news of the sighting. In the center of the painting a young Ali (Chief) is deeply puzzled while a warrior below and to the right suggest that they might be gods. In the center of the painting a young Ali is deeply puzzled while a warrior below and to the right suggests to him that " they might be gods." It can only be imagined what impact these large floating fortresses had on the isolated culture of these Islanders.
To the right of the painting a young woman beckons to an elderly gentleman, who might be her grandfather, to hurry up and see this remarkable sight. To her right, her son grips the leg of his father, and this young boy senses the confusion and fear of the adults around him. In a sense the painting show a microcosm of the culture.
Signed and Numbered Edition of 110 giclee on canvas.
Image Size: 12 " X 10 " ; unf,,,$400.00
