OUR HONOLULU
When students were occupiers

By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist

This is the story of a "secret" occupation of Pacific islands that everybody in Our Honolulu knew about, of U.S. imperialism carried out not by soldiers but by Kamehameha Schools students.

The reason I bring it up is because this Robinson Crusoe land grab ended 50 years ago this week. Bishop Museum is planning an exhibit. Here's what happened:

Back in 1935, three tiny specks of sand near the equator called Baker, Jarvis and Howland islands were occupied only by gooney birds when the Coast Guard cutter Itasca set out from Honolulu on what was called a routine survey trip.

On board were 12 Kamehameha Schools students, who were put ashore on the desolate islands. In the coming months and years, the Itasca made more trips with more students for stays of typically six months.

"Although the officers of the Itasca would not comment on the fact, it is believed that Great Britain might enter a protest with the U.S. government over ownership of the islands," The Advertiser reported.

Another story read: "The 12 'colonists' were placed on the islands shortly after newspapers reported that the British government ... was planning to send an expedition to visit the islands."

One of the colonists was George West, who later became an Advertiser reporter. He wrote that an Army major told them on the Itasca: "Boys, someday you're going to be mighty proud you made this trip. Your names will go down in history.

"You're going to colonize and help establish claim to three islands ... islands which are going to be famous air bases in a route that will connect Australia and California."

Those trips became the worst-kept secret in Honolulu. If the students didn't go down in history, they got plenty of publicity in the Honolulu papers. Their names and subsequent voyages were reported and a book later written about what is called the Panala'au Project.

A full report on the first trip appeared on July 6, 1935: "Between visits of the Itasca, the boys have sufficient water and food for at least five months. The water is taken through the surf in 55-gallon drums.

"Many accidents occurred during this transshipment, boats upset. The sailors had narrow escapes. Stores went to the bottom, in four and five feet of water, to be recovered by skilled swimmers. The waters teem with edible fish. It takes only five minutes to step out on the reef and spear sufficient mullet and snapper for the day's meal."

But two of the Kamehameha students who remained on the islands after Dec. 7, 1941, were killed by Japanese air raids and shells from submarines. "Six hungry, thirsty, almost-naked survivors from Baker and Howland islands were rescued by a U.S. destroyer," The Advertiser reported 52 years ago this week.

The exhibit opens April 18 at Bishop Museum.

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.