Letter written by Alexander Liholiho (the future King Kamehameha IV) in 1846

Kawaiahae, July 14, 1846

My dear teacher

I hasten to write you a few lines and as Mr. Cooke has not sealed up his letter yet I think I shall say a few words. We have had a very pleasant time since we left you. We have arrived here this noon from Kailua starting last evening about 9 o'clock. We got becalmed all last night till just this morning when we got some wind and arrived here safely this morning. We found Mrs. Pitt here. William Pitt has gone up to Waimea. Mr. Cooke calculated to start for Waimea this afternoon if he can get horses enough, but probably the girls will not go. When I was at the volcanoe [sic] I was very much disappointed indeed. I expected to see fire and smoke issuing out of the volcanoe [sic], but when I got there I did not see anything but a large deep hole and some little smoke issuing out here and there like so many chimneys. All around the place their [sic] are steam holes, but most of them were not in operation. We went around

the crater. It took us almost all day. When we came down to Hilo, Mr. Andrews came across to Kau. We went down to Hilo Fryday [sic] morning and arrived down there at Hilo on Saturday afternoon. We spent the Sabbath at Mr. Lyman's very pleasantly. On Tuesday we started for Kau and arrived there Wednesday morning. We got there about 12 o'clock, went on one hour and met Mr. Andrews. Went up with him to Mr. Paris's place; slept there that night and came down the next morning and sailed for Kealakekua. We arrived at Kealakekua Thursday. On Fryday [sic] started next day for Kailua, arrived there Saturday and spent the Sabbath there. On Monday evening we started for this place and arrived here this morning.

I think this is as much as I shall say for this time for the ship is in somewhat in hurry.

From your aff't.
Scholar
Alexander Liholiho

Alexander to Mrs. Cooke
Kawaihae July 14, 1896

To
Mr. L.M. Cooke
Honolulu
Oahu.