The PRINCE of WALES was the first ship to sail down the north coast of Molokai which has the highest sea cliffs in the world. Captain James Colnett commented in his journal, “Most of the NE part of Molokai is perpendicular rock from the top of the hills to waters edge, the face of it is barren and bare, scarce an appearance of green upon it; in some places broken in deep gullies and indented forming some little coves on the shore down which poured torrents of water.” The PRINCE of WALES was a small ship of only 171 tons and 14 guns. She had a ship's company of only 35 officers and crew. The PRINCE of WALES was under charter to the King George’s Sound Company to make this single voyage to the far Pacific to trade for furs in the Northwest territories. Her consort was the sloop PRINCESS ROYAL of only 65 tons.