When Captain James Cook’s ships sighted the Hawaiian Islands on January 19th, 1778 they struggled through that day trying to get close to the nearer of the two distant islands that they had discovered . However, light winds and a westward current carried them to leaward of the this first island, They now faced possibly days of tacking to reach the first island (Oahu) or bear away and have an easy sail to the second island (Kauai) which was now to leaward. Cook wisely chose the second option and made sail for the island of Kauai. It took them until dawn the next day to close with Kauai. They had set a course to take them along the east coast of Kauai, but as they approached the island it became apparent that the wind would not allow them to do this, so once more Captain Cook gave the order to bear away. They now set a course that would take them along the south or leaward shore of the island.
The painting shows the Resolution in the process of bearing away while the Discovery has yet to start the process. Schools of spinner dolphins head for the ships to frolic in the bow waves. Onboard both ships the navigators were taking bearings and ranges of the various terrain features and beginning to relay them to paper in the first rough draft of a chart, while the artists on both ships were busy with pens and brushes trying to capture the view. One of the first lessons learned on an expedition such as this was to record what you could while you can, as weather,wind and the pressures to push onward, seldom gave a second chance. At this time it was unknown whether the islands were inhabited by man or not. Surely this must be the full splendor of exploration, as the ships approach unchartered, unknown islands and the page begins to turn to open up on new adventures.

I have visited most of the Hawaiian Islands over the past decade and Kauai is my personal favorite, if I had to call one island “paradise.” Whether James Cook found Kauai his favorite or not, I cannot say. But these gracious islands certainly offered great respite and refuge to his crews. It is not hard to comprehend why these 18th century men did not wish to leave the islands. Not getting paid until their return to England was not the best incentive to offer crews who had found paradise, but it was probably the only one they could be tempted with. I find it miraculous that mutinies did not occur far more frequently than they did. It is a great tribute to Captain Cook’s fair treatment of his men and concern for their health and a healthy diet, that these sailors served him so faithfully, faced with such temptation.