Special Report

Dead Letters

In the 1800s, Americans who died in Hawaii were considered foreigners and the few treasured items they possessed were sent to the U.S. State Department to be delivered to their next of kin. More than 160 ended up as dead letters and stored in boxes at the National Archives.
They Came To Hawaii Looking For A Cure. But Many Died Here Instead

They Came To Hawaii Looking For A Cure. But Many Died Here Instead

Hawaii was a hot spot for what's come to be known as medical tourism, even back in 1800s.

The Scars Of The Civil War Arrived In Hawaii Along With Many Of The Men Who Fought

The Scars Of The Civil War Arrived In Hawaii Along With Many Of The Men Who Fought

Hawaii became home to many veterans of the war between the North and the South. The islands' close ties to New England put Hawaii on the side of the Union.

She Found Herself Alone In Hawaii, Her Dream Derailed. And Then A Freak Accident Took Her Life

She Found Herself Alone In Hawaii, Her Dream Derailed. And Then A Freak Accident Took Her Life

Irene Cowles was seeking the excitement of travel and opportunity in the film and photography business that was emerging in the late 1800s.

‘A Foul Nest Of Wrong And Corruption’: U.S. Consuls In Hawaii Profited Off The Dead

‘A Foul Nest Of Wrong And Corruption’: U.S. Consuls In Hawaii Profited Off The Dead

In 1860, the State Department became so concerned about the behavior of the men who had been sent to represent the U.S. in the Kingdom of Hawaii it ordered a secret investigation.

The Last Stop For Whalers And Sailors

The Last Stop For Whalers And Sailors

Lahaina and Honolulu became bustling centers of a burgeoning industry that took whaling crews throughout the Pacific.

Unpacking The Lost Letters Of Long-Ago Hawaii Adventurers

Unpacking The Lost Letters Of Long-Ago Hawaii Adventurers

Boxes of packets tied with twine hold the last possessions of Americans who died in Hawaii in the 1800s. They've been sitting unopened in a storage facility near Washington, D.C., for more than 100 years.

Related Articles

A Civil Beat Reporter Stumbled On Boxes Of Hawaii Letters Stored Away, Unseen, Since The 1800s Kirstin Downey/Civil Beat/2024

A Civil Beat Reporter Stumbled On Boxes Of Hawaii Letters Stored Away, Unseen, Since The 1800s

The fragile and fragmented records of sailors, travelers and other adventurers who died in Hawaii are the basis for our new series.