La Pérouse Memorial

Although James Cook is the first European known to have reached Hawaii (then called the Sandwich Islands), he did not land on all of the islands. For instance, he passed by Maui but could not land there because the surf was too high and he could not find a suitable harbor. The first European to actually set foot there would end up being Jean-François de Galaup, Count of La Pérouse, who landed at the bay now named after himself on May 18, 1786.

On behalf of the French crown, La Pérouse embarked on an expedition in the Pacific with scientific and trade goals. Heavily admiring Cook, La Pérouse aimed to complete his discoveries made in the region. Arriving in Hawaii, he had much better fortune than the ill-fated Cook, who was murdered here. La Pérouse was able to trade pieces of iron for food, and also obtained an outrigger canoe and small pieces of native furniture. However, he was disappointed about the lack of water at La Pérouse Bay. Remarkably, he refused to claim the islands for France, writing that the natives should have the right to their own land.

After leaving the islands, La Pérouse met an ill-fated end when he disappeared and was presumably shipwrecked in the Solomon Islands. Today, he is remembered for his humanistic ideals and efforts to better understand the Pacific. Today at La Pérouse Bay stands a monument to him, erected by a group of French in 1994. A plaque nearby gives a more in-depth explanation into La Pérouse and his expedition.