Harry Maitey

The name Harry Maitey was given by Germans to a Native Hawaiian (April 23, 1807 – 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. 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)

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. 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. 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.

Journey to Prussia During the voyage the ownership of the ship was transferred to the (Prussian Maritime Enterprise) 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, should bring him to Berlin. a school institution he had attended since 1825. the result of which Humboldt presented first in the Berlin Academy of Sciences in 1828. served as foundation of his research on the Malayo-Polynesian languages and Maitey was Humboldt's most important source for the Hawaiian language.

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. 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. 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. 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:

Cultural characteristics Maitey likely understood his relationship to the President of the Seehandlung Christian Rother as the usual adoption in Hawai‘i (hānai). This also explains the misunderstandings in the years 1829 and 1830, when Maitey hoped in vain to return to Rother's household.

A newspaper report from 1824 shows that Maitey performed a hula in Berlin, which can be identified as a hula noho:

Johann Gottfried Schadow who was strongly interested in physiognomy drew Maitey in 1824 and noted about his appearance:

Notes and references