Cricket has a long and alustreous history in Hawaii dating back to the mid-nineteenth
century when it was the independent Kingdom of Hawaii. Cricket was brought to Hawaii by early Christian missionaries
and captains of commerce. Prominent HCC players between 1840 and 1849 were Mr. McFarlane and Mr. Sea. Regular
players between 1890 and 1898 were W.L. Stanley, R.L. Auerbach, W.C. Weedon, G.F. Davies, J.C. Cooke, Viggo Jacobson,
A. Wansey, D. Shanks, T. Lishman, H. Vincent, J. Lightfoot, H. Herbert, Dr. Murray, R.A. Jordan, J.W. Harvey, J. Catton,
R.W. Hamilton, A.R. Hatfield, D.W. James, E.H. Wodehouse, T.C. Davies, M. Mackintosh, P. Lishman, R. Mackintosh,
Rev. V.H. Kitcat, J.C. Penny, D. Ross, Rev. J.F. Lane, H.M. Ayres, H.B. Sinclair, H. Anderson, J.H. Walker, R. Lennox,
W,G. Singlehurst, J. Hogue, S. Woods, L. Tibey, A. Robertson, R. Anderson, J.T. Irvine
One of the first enthusiast cricket supporters in Hawaii was Alexander Liholiho (1834-1863), better known to the world as
King Kamehameha IV. The King's favorite sport to play was cricket and he was weary of the United States and he was keen
to align the Hawaiian Kingdom closer with England in the mid-nineteenth century. Today, the Honolulu Cricket Club plays
the Maui Cricket Club each year for the Alexander Liholiho "Ipu Pilialoha O Hawaii" or Hawaiian Friendship Cup.
The Honolulu Cricket Club was established in 1893 when
Hawaii was still a territory of the United States and historical
documents show that the club is the oldest sporting club in the
islands. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records also
attributes the Honolulu Cricket Club as the oldest sporting club
in the Pacific. Records also indicate that cricket was played on
the Big Island of Hawaii and was probably introduced by
Scottish engineers who worked for the sugar companies.
A similar situation probably existed on Maui around the same
time. There are however, no records of inter-island matches as
the time period would have necessitated travel by ship.
century when it was the independent Kingdom of Hawaii. Cricket was brought to Hawaii by early Christian missionaries
and captains of commerce. Prominent HCC players between 1840 and 1849 were Mr. McFarlane and Mr. Sea. Regular
players between 1890 and 1898 were W.L. Stanley, R.L. Auerbach, W.C. Weedon, G.F. Davies, J.C. Cooke, Viggo Jacobson,
A. Wansey, D. Shanks, T. Lishman, H. Vincent, J. Lightfoot, H. Herbert, Dr. Murray, R.A. Jordan, J.W. Harvey, J. Catton,
R.W. Hamilton, A.R. Hatfield, D.W. James, E.H. Wodehouse, T.C. Davies, M. Mackintosh, P. Lishman, R. Mackintosh,
Rev. V.H. Kitcat, J.C. Penny, D. Ross, Rev. J.F. Lane, H.M. Ayres, H.B. Sinclair, H. Anderson, J.H. Walker, R. Lennox,
W,G. Singlehurst, J. Hogue, S. Woods, L. Tibey, A. Robertson, R. Anderson, J.T. Irvine
One of the first enthusiast cricket supporters in Hawaii was Alexander Liholiho (1834-1863), better known to the world as
King Kamehameha IV. The King's favorite sport to play was cricket and he was weary of the United States and he was keen
to align the Hawaiian Kingdom closer with England in the mid-nineteenth century. Today, the Honolulu Cricket Club plays
the Maui Cricket Club each year for the Alexander Liholiho "Ipu Pilialoha O Hawaii" or Hawaiian Friendship Cup.
The Honolulu Cricket Club was established in 1893 when
Hawaii was still a territory of the United States and historical
documents show that the club is the oldest sporting club in the
islands. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records also
attributes the Honolulu Cricket Club as the oldest sporting club
in the Pacific. Records also indicate that cricket was played on
the Big Island of Hawaii and was probably introduced by
Scottish engineers who worked for the sugar companies.
A similar situation probably existed on Maui around the same
time. There are however, no records of inter-island matches as
the time period would have necessitated travel by ship.
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| To the right is an article covering the Honolulu CC versus the Theo Davies & Co. XI in 1898 from the Hawaiian Gazette. Below is a photo of the Officers of cable ship Restorer who played the HCC in 1905 |
Letters to the Department of the Interior. The 1893 letter (above)
concerns a request for a cricket ground. The 1899 letter (at left)
concerns the preparation of a proper "cricket pitch" in Makiki.
concerns a request for a cricket ground. The 1899 letter (at left)
concerns the preparation of a proper "cricket pitch" in Makiki.
The earliest known newspaper article (at left) covering the
Honolulu Cricket Club from the Polynesian on 3 July 1847.
Honolulu Cricket Club from the Polynesian on 3 July 1847.
| The photo above is of the "Working Members" of the Honolulu Cricket Club in 1907 |
The Cricket Team. Officers of the Cable Ship Restorer. (Seated
from left): C. Rowell, Chief Engineer, 1st Officer Larnder and his
son Harold, Captain B.C. Combe, unidentified, unidentified.
(Standing from left): ʺChipsʺ, Praupell, unidentified, unidentified,
Chief Steward
from left): C. Rowell, Chief Engineer, 1st Officer Larnder and his
son Harold, Captain B.C. Combe, unidentified, unidentified.
(Standing from left): ʺChipsʺ, Praupell, unidentified, unidentified,
Chief Steward
Important players of cricket between 1900 and 1909 in Hawaii
included S. Beardmore, R.R. Carton, F. Gill, S. Jordan, J.C. McGill,
J.A.M. Maclean, C.P. Morse, D.C. Lindsay (Maui), F. Holmes, S.
Catt, L. Withington, F. Withington, D.L. Withington, W. Brown, J.L.
Cockburn, Mr. Parish, A.W. Bottomley, Mr. Blackman.
included S. Beardmore, R.R. Carton, F. Gill, S. Jordan, J.C. McGill,
J.A.M. Maclean, C.P. Morse, D.C. Lindsay (Maui), F. Holmes, S.
Catt, L. Withington, F. Withington, D.L. Withington, W. Brown, J.L.
Cockburn, Mr. Parish, A.W. Bottomley, Mr. Blackman.