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It is thought that local Hawaiians may have initially welcomed Cook as the god Lono, and celebrated the arrival of the explorer and his crew. Setting sail a month later however, Cook's ship - the HMS Resolution, was forced to return to Kealakekua Bay for repairs to its foremast. |
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The reappearance of Lono did not make sense to the Hawaiians, and after the theft of one of the Resolution's small boats, hostility ensued between the ship's crew and the Hawaiians. On February 14, 1779, Captain James Cook, a great explorer and unfortunately a mere mortal, was killed in battle at the northern end of Kealakekua Bay. |
