{{Short description|First Hawaiian in Prussia, Germany}} [[File:KS-Schadow 0974 Re AF-KS-671 (cropped face).tif|thumb|Drawing by Johann Gottfried Schadow, chalk and graphite, October 26, 1824 (Detail)]] The name '''Harry Maitey''' was given by Germans to a Native Hawaiian (April 23, 1807<ref>According to his baptismal certificate of April 1830, which is a "given" birthday.</ref><ref name="Moore 1977">Moore, Anneliese. ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10524/519 Harry Maitey: From Polynesia to Prussia]''. Hawaiian Journal of History 11 (1977): 125–161</ref>{{rp|page=150}} – February 26, 1872), who was the first Hawaiian in Prussia, Germany. According to the records of Wilhelm von Humboldt, he stated ''Teoni'' as his father's name and ''Bete'' as his mother's.<ref name="Appel2">{{Cite book| publisher = Ferdinand Schöningh| isbn = 978-3-506-73995-7| pages = 435–451|editor1= Ulrike Folie |editor2=Volker Heeschen |editor3=Frank Zimmer |editor4=Tilman Borsche | last1 = Appel| first1 = Michaela| last2 = Humboldt| first2 = Wilhelm| title = Wilhelm von Humboldt: Südsee- und südostasiatische Sprachen: Vorarbeiten zu "Über die Kawi-Sprache auf der Insel Java"| chapter = Wilhelm von Humboldt und Harry Maitai: Hawaiianische Sprachstudien in Berlin| location = Paderborn| series = Schriften zur Sprachwissenschaft / Wilhelm von Humboldt ; begründet von Kurt Mueller-Vollmer ; herausgegeben von Tilman Borsche [und 3 anderen] ; 6. Abteilung: Austronesische Sprachen / Abteilungsherausgeber: Volker Heeschen ; 1. Band| date = 2017}}, p. 440</ref> He married Dorothea Charlotte Becker from Stolpe on August 28, 1833. Their son Heinrich Wilhelm Otto (born December 2, 1837) and his younger sister Friederike Wilhelmine (born in 1846) died as infants, while their second son Heinrich Wilhelm Eduard (born December 8, 1839, died 1906)<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=155}} survived his parents. His daughter Martha (born 1869), Maitey's only grandchild attaining adulthood, remained unmarried.<ref>Moore, Anneliese. ''Harry Maitey: From Polynesia to Prussia''. Hawaiian Journal of History 11 (1977): 125–161, p. 151; footnote 117, p. 160</ref>
==Biography==
===Early life=== There is little known about Maitey's life in Hawai‘i. The information about his Hawaiian name ''Kaparena'' seems to have no confirmation from other sources.<ref>Moore, Anneliese. ''Harry Maitey: From Polynesia to Prussia''. Hawaiian Journal of History 11 (1977): 125–161, p. 127; footnote 12, p. 156</ref> When the Prussian frigate ''Mentor'' arrived in Honolulu on November 28, 1823, the French whaler ''L'Aigle'' had left the harbour the day before with the Hawaiian king Liholiho and his queen Kamamalu the day before. Chiefs from other islands gathered on Oʻahu while the king was absent, and also the death of Keoua, the governor of Maui, caused an atmosphere of political uneasiness.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=127}} It is unknown, if this situation urged Maitey to plead to be taken aboard of the ''Mentor'', the first Prussian ship both to circumnavigate the globe as well as visiting Hawai‘i. Inquiries about the Hawaiian teenager confirmed, that he had no relatives,<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=127}} and he was allowed to leave Hawai‘i. The name ''Maitey'' was recorded by the Germans as Henry's (or Harry's) family name, but was obviously derived from the Hawaiian ''maika‘i'' or ''maita‘i''.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=127}}<ref>Good, fine, all right, well; cf. {{Hawaiian Dictionaries|maika‘i|id=D12046}}</ref>
===Journey to Prussia=== During the voyage the ownership of the ship was transferred to the {{ill|Seehandlungsgesellschaft|de}} (Prussian Maritime Enterprise)<ref>cf. Seehandlungsgesellschaft ''(German)''</ref> under the jurisdiction of the Prussian king Frederick William III. Therefore, after the arrival of the ''Mentor'' in Swinemünde on September 14, 1824, the king was informed about the ''Sandwich islander'', and decided on September 27, that the president of the ''Seehandlungsgesellschaft'', Christian Rother,<ref>cf. Christian Rother</ref> should bring him to Berlin.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|pages=128–130}} Maitey stayed in Rother's house there until the king decided on October 15, that he had to be educated in the German language and the principles of Christianity.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=130}}
===Education=== thumb|Map showing the ''Erziehungs-Anstalt'' outside the Gate to Halle (1848)
Maitey continued to live with the family of president Rother until 1827, when he moved to the ''Erziehungshaus vor dem Halleschen Tor'',<ref>Heidemann, Wilfried M. ''Der Sandwich-Insulaner Maitey von der Pfaueninsel: Die Lebensgeschichte eines hawaiischen Einwanderers in Berlin und bei Potsdam von 1824 bis 1872.'' Mitteilungen des Vereins für die Geschichte Berlins 80. Jahrgang, Nr. Heft 2 (April 1984): 153–172, p. 159-160.</ref> a school institution<ref>''see also'' {{Cite web |url=http://kreuzberged.com/2014/05/07/today-in-kreuzberg-may-4th-the-boysborstal-school-before-the-gate-to-halle/ |title=Today in Kreuzberg: May 4th – The Boys´ Borstal School before the gate to Halle |access-date=2014-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715194142/http://kreuzberged.com/2014/05/07/today-in-kreuzberg-may-4th-the-boysborstal-school-before-the-gate-to-halle/ |archive-date=2015-07-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> he had attended since 1825.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|pages=136–137}} In 1827 Maitey was invited to meet Wilhelm von Humboldt for conversations about the Hawaiian language,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wvh-briefe.bbaw.de/Brief?section=all&id=1070&view=leser |title=Wilhelm von Humboldt an Christian von Rother, 15.04.1827 |access-date=2019-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303105409/https://wvh-briefe.bbaw.de/Brief?section=all&id=1070&view=leser |archive-date=2019-03-03 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref name="Appel1">{{Cite book| publisher = Ferdinand Schöningh| isbn = 978-3-506-73995-7| pages = 435–451|editor1= Ulrike Folie |editor2=Volker Heeschen |editor3=Frank Zimmer |editor4=Tilman Borsche | last1 = Appel| first1 = Michaela| last2 = Humboldt| first2 = Wilhelm| title = Wilhelm von Humboldt: Südsee- und südostasiatische Sprachen: Vorarbeiten zu "Über die Kawi-Sprache auf der Insel Java"| chapter = Wilhelm von Humboldt und Harry Maitai: Hawaiianische Sprachstudien in Berlin| location = Paderborn| series = Schriften zur Sprachwissenschaft / Wilhelm von Humboldt ; begründet von Kurt Mueller-Vollmer ; herausgegeben von Tilman Borsche [und 3 anderen] ; 6. Abteilung: Austronesische Sprachen / Abteilungsherausgeber: Volker Heeschen ; 1. Band| date = 2017}} p. 437</ref> the result of which Humboldt presented first in the Berlin Academy of Sciences in 1828.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|pages=138–139}} Based on these conversations the ''Sandwich-Wörterverzeichnis'' (Sandwich glossary)<ref name="Reutter 2007">{{Cite web| publisher = Universität Hamburg| last = Reutter| first = Georg| title = Wilhelm von Humboldts linguistisches System: Seine Position in der Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft| location = Hamburg| accessdate = 2016-10-13| date = 2007-01-10| url = https://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de/volltexte/2007/3166/}}</ref>{{rp|page=68}} served as foundation of his research on the Malayo-Polynesian languages and Maitey<ref>cited as ''Harres Maitai'' in various publications of von Humboldt: {{Cite web| publisher = Universität Hamburg| last = Reutter| first = Georg| title = Wilhelm von Humboldts linguistisches System: Seine Position in der Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft| location = Hamburg| accessdate = 2016-10-13| date = 2007-01-10| url = https://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de/volltexte/2007/3166/}}, p. 377</ref> was Humboldt's most important source for the Hawaiian language.<ref>''Die wichtigsten Quellen auf diesem letzten Weg Humboldts sind William Mariner für das Tongische (ein Schiffbrüchiger), Thomas Kendall für das Neuseeländische (ein Missionar) und Harres Maitai für das Hawaiische (ein Eingeborener).'' {{Cite web| publisher = Universität Hamburg| last = Reutter| first = Georg| title = Wilhelm von Humboldts linguistisches System: Seine Position in der Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft| location = Hamburg| accessdate = 2016-10-13| date = 2007-01-10| url = https://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de/volltexte/2007/3166/}}, p. 231</ref>
From fall in 1829, he had a Hawaiian companion in the ''Erziehungshaus'' for about eight months, Jony Kahopimeai, who had come to Germany with the Prussian ship ''Princess Louise''.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=145}} After Maitey started to serve at Peacock Island Jony occasionally visited him,<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=149}} but in February 1831 he became ill, died from pneumonia and was buried on March 2, 1831.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=146}}
===Service at Peacock Island===
thumbnail|Harry Maitey, ca. 1850 On April 23, 1830, Maitey was baptized and confirmed. He was given the German names ''Heinrich Wilhelm'' at the christening.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|pages=143–144}} In August Maitey was taken over by the royal household and assigned as assistant to the engine master at Peacock Island (German: ''Pfaueninsel''). He was listed as a ''ward of the king'' and ''assistant to the engine master''.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|pages=146–147}} However, it is documented that there was also a suggestion, that Maitey should become the ferryman of Peacock Island, but obviously his final assignments were a much better perspective for him.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=148}}
In summer 1834, two Hawaiian geese ''(nēnē)'', which were brought to Germany on the ship ''Princess Louise'' as well, arrived also on the island.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=147}}
The engine master Franciscus Joseph Friedrich trained Maitey as wood turner, locksmith, and cabinetmaker.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=147}}
After some difficulties Maitey got the royal marriage consent with help from Christian Rother, and married Dorothea Charlotte Becker on August 25, 1833, in the church of Stolpe.<ref>Wilfried M. Heidemann: ''[http://www.zlb.de/fileadmin/user_upload/berlin_portal/MVGB/MVGB_1983-1987.pdf Der Sandwich-Insulaner Maitey von der Pfaueninsel: Die Lebensgeschichte eines hawaiischen Einwanderers in Berlin und bei Potsdam von 1824 bis 1872.]'' Mitteilungen des Vereins für die Geschichte Berlins 80. Jahrgang, Nr. Heft 2 (April 1984): pp. 153–172, cf. p. 163 and footnote 65 at p. 171: ''Kirchenbuch Stolpe 1833, Nr. 2''; August 28 after Anneliese Moore, cf. ''Harry Maitey: From Polynesia to Prussia''. In: ''Hawaiian Journal of History'' 11 (1977): 125–161, pp. 149–150 and footnote 112 at p. 159: ''Archiv der Kirchengemeinde Wannsee [formerly called Stolpe] per Pfarrer Hauschild, 1 Berlin 39, Schuchardtweg 5''</ref> After the wedding the couple moved to Klein-Glienicke, therefore Maitey had to travel to Peacock Island for work. Later he was more and more absent, which created difficulties for his relationship with Friedrich. Finally it was decided, that Maitey was assigned to the royal ''Garten Inspector'' Fintelmann.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|pages=150–151}}
While working under master Friedrich, Maitey apparently helped him ''building miniature replicas of famous castles and cathedrals''<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=152}} from ivory and mother-of-pearl. The part of his carving skills seemed to be essential, because it was stated later, that Friedrich did not make the models anymore after Maitey left as his assistant.<ref name="Moore 152-153">Moore, Anneliese. ''Harry Maitey: From Polynesia to Prussia''. Hawaiian Journal of History 11 (1977): 125–161, pp. 152-153; von der Ahé, Caesar: ''Heinrich Wilhelm Maitey, der Südsee-Insulaner auf der Pfaueninsel.'' In: ''Heimat und Ferne,'' Nos. 36-37 (Sept 9 and 16, 1930), no pagination</ref> It is also suggested that Maitey was the artist who created some yellow room dividers in the castle, which were attributed to Friedrich as well.<ref name="Moore 152-153" />
==Late years and descendants== thumb|Grave of Harry Maitey: inscription for himself and his wife thumb|Grave of Harry Maitey: inscription for his in-laws
Living in Klein-Glienicke (Kurfürstenstraße 10) for the rest of his life, Maitey died of smallpox at his home on February 26, 1872, ''"a pensioner of the king, at the age of sixty-four."''<ref>Church register Klein-Glienicke, letter Pfarrer Strauss August 29, 1973, cited after Moore, Anneliese. ''Harry Maitey: From Polynesia to Prussia''. Hawaiian Journal of History 11 (1977): 125–161, pp. 154, footnote 128, p. 160</ref> His grave still exists at a small cemetery not far from the church Ss. Peter and Paul at Nikolskoe near Peacock Island and is also the final resting place of his wife and his in-laws:<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=154}} : ''Here rest in God the Sandwich Islander Maitey, 1872, and his wife Dorothy Becker Maitey, 1889'' : ''Here rest in God the animal keeper Becker and his wife. They are the in-laws of the Sandwich Islander Maitey'' :: Inscriptions on the cross at the grave<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=154}}
Maitey's son Eduard believed, that his father was a Hawaiian prince, which was doubted by Caesar von der Ahé who published articles about Maitey in 1930 and 1933. Von der Ahé mentioned the name ''Kaparena'' as probably Maitey's Hawaiian name, but there are no such records in the Prussian documents. He also referred to files of the former Prussian court when he wrote, that Maitey's father was a soldier in Hawai‘i.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=155}}
It is unknown, if Maitey's widow or Eduard had the chance to see King Kalākaua during his visit in Berlin and Potsdam in August, 1881.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=155}} However, Eduard served as an actuary in Angermünde for some time before he returned to Potsdam for the rest of his life.<ref name="Moore 1977" />{{rp|page=161}}<ref>''Transferred are: [...] the actuary Maitey from Angermünde to the district court in Potsdam.'', in: [https://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?PPN=PPN751181676&PHYSID=PHYS_0061 Bureau-Blatt für gerichtliche Beamte, 30. Jahrgang], Berlin 1882, S. 51 (1. April 1882)</ref>
==Cultural characteristics== Maitey likely understood his relationship to the President of the Seehandlung Christian Rother as the usual adoption in Hawai‘i ''(hānai)''.<ref>{{Hawaiian Dictionaries|hānai|id=D2868}}</ref> This also explains the misunderstandings in the years 1829 and 1830, when Maitey hoped in vain to return to Rother's household.<ref>Wilfried M. Heidemann: ''[http://www.zlb.de/fileadmin/user_upload/berlin_portal/MVGB/MVGB_1983-1987.pdf Der Sandwich-Insulaner Maitey von der Pfaueninsel: Die Lebensgeschichte eines hawaiischen Einwanderers in Berlin und bei Potsdam von 1824 bis 1872.]'' Mitteilungen des Vereins für die Geschichte Berlins 80. Jahrgang, Nr. Heft 2 (April 1984): pp. 153–172, pp. 159–161.</ref>
[[File:Vossische Zeitung 1824 10 18 Nr 245 Ausschnitt.png|thumb|left|Vossische Zeitung October 18th, 1824 (Scholarly and art news)]] A newspaper report from 1824 shows that Maitey performed a hula in Berlin,<ref>David A. Chappell: ''Double Ghosts: Oceanian Voyagers on Euroamerican Ships''. M.E. Sharpe, 1997, {{ISBN|9780765636959}}, S. [https://books.google.com/books?id=FntyfsjsaScC&dq=harry+maitey&pg=PA130 130]</ref> which can be identified as a ''hula noho'':<ref>{{Hawaiian Dictionaries|q=hula noho|erweitert=ja}}</ref> {{quote|text=When he is invited to sing, he adorns himself almost as much as our young ladies, and also has the other nasty habit that when he first started singing one has to give him good words before he stops. When singing, he sits down on a chair, and makes vigorous movements with the hands, and it seemed to me remarkable that he often struck with the right hand to the heart, while he never touched the right side with the left. His singing was limited to four or five tones, and the words seemed primarily to consist from the sounds ae, i, o, his voice is not creaky, you could call it a pleasant tenor voice, but the presentation of the song with these strange movements made quite the impression as if you saw a madman.|source=''Königlich priviligierte Berlinische Zeitung von Staats und gelehrten Sachen,'' Im Verlage Vossischer Erben. 245stes Stück. Montag, den 18ten Oktober 1824.<ref>also quoted by Wilfried M. Heidemann: ''[http://www.zlb.de/fileadmin/user_upload/berlin_portal/MVGB/MVGB_1983-1987.pdf Der Sandwich-Insulaner Maitey von der Pfaueninsel: Die Lebensgeschichte eines hawaiischen Einwanderers in Berlin und bei Potsdam von 1824 bis 1872.]'' Mitteilungen des Vereins für die Geschichte Berlins 80. Jahrgang, Nr. Heft 2 (April 1984): 153–172, S. 156.</ref>}}
[[File:KS-Schadow 0974 Re AF-KS-671 (cropped).tif|thumb|Drawing by Johann Gottfried Schadow, chalk and graphite, October 26, 1824]] Johann Gottfried Schadow who was strongly interested in physiognomy drew Maitey in 1824<ref>The drawing is now in the Academy of Arts: ''Harry von den Sandwich-Inseln, en face und im Profil nach links.''; Signature: KS-Zeichnungen Schadow 974; 23.2 x 33.6 cm; Werkverzeichnis 1334; Inscription: ''Harry Sandwich Inseln. 26. octob. 1824.''; Archiv der Akademie der Künste (https://archiv.adk.de/objekt/2787631)</ref> and noted about his appearance: {{quote|text=Since the same remained among us, the visual inspection shows to everyone that in its facial features no deviations can be perceived from ours. The broad cheek-bones are also found in us, and, although his skull is narrower, this is hidden by the strong and thick hair; which reasonably distinguishes him is the darker skin color. For a finer mental cultivation he found himself not suitable.|sign=Johann Gottfried Schadow: ''Polyklet oder von den Maasen des Menschen nach dem Geschlechte und Alter mit Angabe der wirklichen Naturgröße nach dem rheinländischen Zollstocke und Abhandlung von dem Unterschiede der Gesichtszüge und Kopfbildung der Völker des Erdboden, als Fortsetzung des hierüber von Peter Camper ausgegangenen von Gottfried Schadow.'' Berlin 1834, S. 26/27.|source=Quoted by Wilfried M. Heidemann: ''[http://www.zlb.de/fileadmin/user_upload/berlin_portal/MVGB/MVGB_1983-1987.pdf Der Sandwich-Insulaner Maitey von der Pfaueninsel: Die Lebensgeschichte eines hawaiischen Einwanderers in Berlin und bei Potsdam von 1824 bis 1872.]'' Mitteilungen des Vereins für die Geschichte Berlins 80. Jahrgang, Nr. Heft 2 (April 1984): pp. 153–172, p. 162.}}
==Notes and references== <references />
==Further reading== * Michael Stoffregen-Büller: ''Der Sandwich-Insulaner. Von Polynesien auf Preußens Pfaueninsel.'' Henrik Bäßler Verlag, Berlin 2019, {{ISBN|978-3-945880-38-8}} ''(German)''
==External links== {{commons category}} {{Wikisource|Wissenschaftliche und Kunst-Nachrichten|''Wissenschaftliche und Kunst-Nachrichten'', in: Vossische Zeitung vom 18. Oktober 1824}} * Heidemann, Wilfried M. ''[http://www.zlb.de/fileadmin/user_upload/berlin_portal/MVGB/MVGB_1983-1987.pdf Der Sandwich-Insulaner Maitey von der Pfaueninsel: Die Lebensgeschichte eines hawaiischen Einwanderers in Berlin und bei Potsdam von 1824 bis 1872.]'' Mitteilungen des Vereins für die Geschichte Berlins 80. Jahrgang, Nr. Heft 2 (April 1984): 153–172, p. 159-160.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Maitey, Harry}} Category:Hawaiian Kingdom people Category:Native Hawaiian people Category:People from Berlin Category:People from Potsdam Category:1807 births Category:1872 deaths Category:Hawaiian Kingdom emigrants Category:Immigrants to the Kingdom of Prussia