James Austin "Kimo" Wilder (May 22, 1868 – July 4, 1934) was an artist, writer, and scouting pioneer in Hawaii. Wilder was born on May 22, 1868, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of shipping magnate Samuel Gardner Wilder. He had five siblings. Wilder attended Harvard University and

Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. Each class ...

in 1893–1896. Wilder married Sarah Harnden September 12, 1899, in Alameda, California and had two children. His daughter Kinaʻu Wilder (1902–1992) married

Charles B. McVay III Charles Butler McVay III (August 31, 1898 – November 6, 1968) was an American naval officer and the commanding officer of the cruiser which was lost in action in 1945, resulting in a significant loss of life. Of all captains in the history of ...

and had son Kimo Wilder McVay (1927–2001), who managed Don Ho when he popularized the song '' Tiny Bubbles''.

Background

He became an artist and founded the first

Boy Scout A Scout (in some countries a Boy Scout, Girl Scout, or Pathfinder) is a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split ...

troop in Hawaii with D. Howard Hitchcock, another artist who married Wilder's cousin. Wilder was active in Hawaii Scouting and traveled to the eastern United States where he developed Seascouting for older teen scouts and the Pine Tree Patrol System. Seascouting was introduced in 1919. The James A. Wilder Residence built in 1907 in Honolulu is historic. In 1917, Wilder wrote a story titled ''Knights of the Square Table''. This was adapted into a Conquest Pictures film of the same title, in which Wilder played a scoutmaster. The film is held by the Library of Congress. He painted a portrait of Prince Kuhio that hangs in the 'Iolani Palace's throne room and painted U.S. Congressman

William D. Thomas William David Thomas (March 22, 1880 – May 17, 1936) was an American pharmacist and politician from Hoosick Falls, New York. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Y ...

. Wilder died on July 4, 1934, in Honolulu.

Bibliography

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilder, James A. 1868 births 1934 deaths Harvard University alumni Artists from Honolulu Writers from Honolulu