Jonathan Smith Green
Encyclopedia
Reverend Jonathan Smith Green (1796–1878) was a missionary from New England
to the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
to Beriah and Elizabeth Green. He graduated from Andover Seminary and on September 20, 1827 he married Theodosia Arnold (1792–1859) of East Haddam, Connecticut
. They traveled to Honolulu by March 30, 1828 on the Parthian, as part of the third company from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
. Other members of this company were Rev. Lorrin Andrews
and Dr. Gerrit P. Judd
. He left his wife an exploratory took a trip to the Pacific Northwest
coast of America in 1829 for the mission. The family was assigned to Lahaina, Hawaii on the island of Maui
until 1831, then Hilo for one year. In 1833 they moved to Wailuku, Hawaii
back on Maui, and built one of the first permanent houses there. In 1836 the Greens founded a girls' boarding school called the Wailuku Female Seminary.
Their house is now the Bailey House Museum
.
He helped Lorrin Andrews translate the Bible
into the Hawaiian language
, and published the first book on the history of the Christian church in Hawaiian. He resigned from the Congregational Church
in 1842 along with Andrews because he thought it should take a tougher stand against slavery. He refused to wear cotton clothing, since it was generally picked with slave labor.
In 1843 he became an independent pastor and experimented with agriculture. He was an early member of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society, founding a local chapter and published reports of his progress growing wheat
and other non-tropical crops at higher elevations. In 1844 he published a biography of an early convert who was known as "Blind Bartimeus", after the biblican character, born with the Hawaiian name Puaaiki.
At the suggestion of local chief Kiha, he founded the independent Pookela Church in Makawao
on land donated by King Kamehameha III
, conducting services in the Hawaiian language. The expression Pookela means "foremost". Pookela Church is located at 200 Olinda Road, 20°50′59"N 156°18′32"W.
His first wife Theodosia died in 1859 after having four children. He took a trip back to the mainland, and then married Asenath Cargill Spring (1820–1894) from Providence, Rhode Island
in 1863.
Green had conducted services from about 1857 in English in his home. He founded a congregation called the "Pāia foreign church" because English was the foreign language of the Kingdom of Hawaii
at the time, and the location was closer to the sugar plantation near the coastal town of Pāia
. In April 1861 the church was commissioned by minister of the interior Prince Lot Kamehameha, who would later become King Kamehameha V
. It was then called the Makawao Union Church
.
In 1870, Henry Perrine Baldwin
his wife, Emily Alexander Baldwin, and their children joined the church. Henry served as organist for over forty years. Baldwin and his brother-in-law became wealthy co-founders of Alexander & Baldwin
.
On January 5, 1878 Rev. Green died; Asenath Green would maintain the church until she died in 1894, and then daughters Mary and Laura.
The family is buried at the Makawao Union Church cemetery.
His son Joseph Porter Green was born October 30, 1833, served at the church, and was elected to the legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
in 1860.
J. Porter green married Hariette Fowler Parker (1837–1912) on June 23, 1864, and their daughter Mary Theodosia Green (1865–1936), married Henry Harrison Wilcox (1868–1899) who was son of missionary Abner Wilcox
(1808–1869) .
J. Porter Green died June 26, 1886, in Honolulu.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
to the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
.
Life
Green was born December 20, 1796 in Lebanon, ConnecticutLebanon, Connecticut
Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
to Beriah and Elizabeth Green. He graduated from Andover Seminary and on September 20, 1827 he married Theodosia Arnold (1792–1859) of East Haddam, Connecticut
East Haddam, Connecticut
East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. They traveled to Honolulu by March 30, 1828 on the Parthian, as part of the third company from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
. Other members of this company were Rev. Lorrin Andrews
Lorrin Andrews
Lorrin Andrews was an early American missionary to Hawaii and judge. He opened the first post-secondary school for Hawaiians called Lahainaluna Seminary, prepared a Hawaiian dictionary and several works on the literature and antiquities of the Hawaiians. His students published the first newspaper,...
and Dr. Gerrit P. Judd
Gerrit P. Judd
Gerrit Parmele Judd was an American physician and missionary to the Kingdom of Hawaii who later became a trusted advisor and cabinet minister to King Kamehameha III.- Life :...
. He left his wife an exploratory took a trip to the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
coast of America in 1829 for the mission. The family was assigned to Lahaina, Hawaii on the island of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
until 1831, then Hilo for one year. In 1833 they moved to Wailuku, Hawaii
Wailuku, Hawaii
Wailuku is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 12,296 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Maui County.Wailuku is located just west of Kahului, at the mouth of the Īao Valley...
back on Maui, and built one of the first permanent houses there. In 1836 the Greens founded a girls' boarding school called the Wailuku Female Seminary.
Their house is now the Bailey House Museum
Bailey House Museum
The Bailey House Museum, also known as Old Bailey House, is a museum of Hawaiian history located in Wailuku, Hawaii, on the island of Maui, owned and operated by the Maui Historical Society.-The building:...
.
He helped Lorrin Andrews translate the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
into the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, and published the first book on the history of the Christian church in Hawaiian. He resigned from the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
in 1842 along with Andrews because he thought it should take a tougher stand against slavery. He refused to wear cotton clothing, since it was generally picked with slave labor.
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and other non-tropical crops at higher elevations. In 1844 he published a biography of an early convert who was known as "Blind Bartimeus", after the biblican character, born with the Hawaiian name Puaaiki.
At the suggestion of local chief Kiha, he founded the independent Pookela Church in Makawao
Makawao, Hawaii
Makawao is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,327 at the 2000 census. Located in the rural northeast slope of Haleakala on East Maui, the community is known for being the hub of the "Upcountry", a part of the island dominated by mostly...
on land donated by King Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
, conducting services in the Hawaiian language. The expression Pookela means "foremost". Pookela Church is located at 200 Olinda Road, 20°50′59"N 156°18′32"W.
His first wife Theodosia died in 1859 after having four children. He took a trip back to the mainland, and then married Asenath Cargill Spring (1820–1894) from Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
in 1863.
Green had conducted services from about 1857 in English in his home. He founded a congregation called the "Pāia foreign church" because English was the foreign language of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
at the time, and the location was closer to the sugar plantation near the coastal town of Pāia
Paia, Hawaii
Pāia is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, on the northern coast of the island of Maui. The population was 2,499 at the 2000 census. Pāia is home to several restaurants, art galleries, surf shops and other tourist-oriented businesses. One business, Charley's, is frequented by...
. In April 1861 the church was commissioned by minister of the interior Prince Lot Kamehameha, who would later become King Kamehameha V
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
. It was then called the Makawao Union Church
Makawao Union Church
Makawao Union Church is a church near Makawao on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It was founded by New England missionary Jonathan Smith Green during the Kingdom of Hawaii. The third historic structure used by the congregation was designed by noted local architect C.W. Dickey and dedicated in 1917 as...
.
In 1870, Henry Perrine Baldwin
Henry Perrine Baldwin
Henry Perrine Baldwin was a businessman and politician on Maui in the Hawaiian islands. He supervised the construction of the East Maui Irrigation System and co-founded Alexander & Baldwin, one of the "Big Five" corporations that dominated the economy of the Territory of Hawaii.-Life:Henry Perrine...
his wife, Emily Alexander Baldwin, and their children joined the church. Henry served as organist for over forty years. Baldwin and his brother-in-law became wealthy co-founders of Alexander & Baldwin
Alexander & Baldwin
Following World War II, the company entered a new business: land development and real estate. The company formed a new subsidiary, the Kahului Development Co., to develop housing in the Kahului area. In the following years, the company became more involved in the development of its land and the...
.
On January 5, 1878 Rev. Green died; Asenath Green would maintain the church until she died in 1894, and then daughters Mary and Laura.
The family is buried at the Makawao Union Church cemetery.
His son Joseph Porter Green was born October 30, 1833, served at the church, and was elected to the legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
The Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom was the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A royal legislature was first provided by the 1840 Constitution and the 1852 Constitution was the first to use the term "Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom", and the first to subject the monarch to...
in 1860.
J. Porter green married Hariette Fowler Parker (1837–1912) on June 23, 1864, and their daughter Mary Theodosia Green (1865–1936), married Henry Harrison Wilcox (1868–1899) who was son of missionary Abner Wilcox
Abner Wilcox
Abner Wilcox was a missionary teacher from New England to the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Abner Wilcox was born April 19, 1808 in Harwinton, Connecticut. His father was Aaron Wilcox and mother was Lois Phelps. He was fourth of nine children.On November 23, 1836 he married Lucy Eliza Hart who was born...
(1808–1869) .
J. Porter Green died June 26, 1886, in Honolulu.