1823 Shipwreck discovered -exhibit coming to Hilo

[Rob Tucker]

This is on ABC News. The first remains of a Nantucket Whaler found in Hawaiian waters. Artifacts will be coming to Hilo for display it says.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/rese...d=12894946

[Devany]

Very cool, I have ties to Nantucket and now to Hilo! They have an incredible whaling museum there.

Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com

[Rob Tucker]

I have Connecticut family too.

I've always been fascinated by shipwrecks. Ancient sinkings in the Med. Pirate ships off Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras. This whaler wreck is supposed to be the only whaler found to date. I'm looking forward to seeing the artifacts when they come to Hilo.

Years ago I saw gold artifacts from the Atocha - a Spanish Galleon. The artistry of the gold work was impressive. Made by enslaved Aztecs. On a gold crucifix under a magnifying glass they showed how the slaves inscribed tiny Aztec gods basically giving the finger to their brutal colonial masters.

It was all rather brutal in past centuries. Life was short. Dangers were most everywhere. The Hawaiian culture had its lows too but was in many ways very enlightened and still offers the world a lot.

The Whalers used and abused Hawaii (not to mention the whales). It is a bit interesting to note that petroleum, which we consume by the billions of barrels today, was probably what saved the whales. The demand for whale oil plummeted when it was easier, safer and more profitable to just suck it out of the ground.

So artifacts from a whaler wrecked in Hawaiian waters will be real interesting to see. I hope to post it in the Event Forum soon.