Historical Event Timeline
1820
Missionaires Arrive

1820 In early April, the first company of missionaries aboard the Thaddeus make landfall in Hawai'i. Journeying with these seven couples are four young Hawaiian men. Three of them have attended the Cornwall Mission School.

African-American missionary schoolteacher Betsey Stockton, a freed black slave from Princeton, New Jersey, opened the first western school for the maka'āinana (commoners) of Hawai'i in Lahaina, Maui in 1823. Betsey sailed to Hawai'i with the second company of missionaries to serve as a teacher and helper to the family of missionary Charles Stewart and his wife Harriet Stewart. On June 29, 1823, Queen Keōpūolani at Lahaina recognized Betsey’s ability as a teacher and her outstanding character traits. Keōpūolani asked Betsey to sit next to her even though they “could barely understand each other’s language.” This recognition led to Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) asking her to teach him English. In her journal for June 30 Betsey wrote, “In the morning one of the king’s boys came to the house, desiring to be instructed in English. Mr. S. thought it would be well for me to engage in the work at once. Accordingly, I collected a proper number and commenced.” By September 16, 1823, Betsey wrote, “1 have now a fine school of the Makeainaana, or the lower class of people, the first I believe that has ever been established.” In company with the Stewarts, she sailed from New Haven aboard the Thames in 1822.

Missionary spokesperson, Reverend Hiram Bingham (called by Hawaiians kahina nui or leader) sets forth a standard for mission achievements undertaken by representatives of the ABCFM. Since the ABCFM is a Congregational organization, their priorities are egalitarian. The first company missionaries are charged by their board with establishing schools for all.