The ''Tanager'' Expedition was a series of five

biological survey A biosurvey, or biological survey, is a scientific study of organisms to assess the condition of an ecological resource, such as a water body. Overview Biosurveys are used by government agencies responsible for management of public lands, envir ...

s of the

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or Leeward Hawaiian Islands are a series of islands and atolls in the Hawaiian island chain located northwest (in some cases, far to the northwest) of the islands of Kauai and Niihau. Politically, they are all ...

conducted in partnership between the Bureau of Biological Survey and the

Bishop Museum The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, designated the Hawaii State Museum of Natural and Cultural History, is a museum of history and science in the historic Kalihi district of Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu. Founded in 1889, it is the la ...

, with the assistance of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. Four expeditions occurred from April to August 1923, and a fifth in July 1924. Led by

Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding ran ...

Samuel Wilder King on the minesweeper , and

Alexander Wetmore Frank Alexander Wetmore (June 18, 1886 – December 7, 1978) was an American ornithologist and avian paleontologist. He was the sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Early life and education The son of a Country Physician, Frank Ale ...

directing the team of scientists, the expedition studied the plant animal life, and

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other Astronomical object, astronomical objects, the features or rock (geology), rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology ...

of the central Pacific islands. Noted members of the team include archaeologist

Kenneth Emory Kenneth Pike Emory (November 23, 1897 – January 2, 1992) was an American anthropologist who played a key role in shaping modern anthropology in Oceania. In the tradition of A. L. Kroeber and other pioneering anthropologists who trained him, E ...

and

herpetologist Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians ( gymnophiona)) and rep ...

Chapman Grant Chapman Grant (March 27, 1887 – January 5, 1983) was an American herpetologist, historian, and publisher. He was the last living grandson of United States President Ulysses S. Grant. He was married and had two children, one of whom survived him ...

. The expedition began with the goal of exterminating

domestic rabbit A domestic or domesticated rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus'')—more commonly known as a pet rabbit, bunny, bun, or bunny rabbit—is a subspecies of European rabbit, a member of the lagomorph family. A male rabbit is known as a ''bu ...

s that had been introduced to Laysan island by the guano industry in 1902. Since that time, the rabbits had devoured Laysan's vegetation and led to the extinction of several endemic species. The rabbits were eventually eliminated on Laysan, and the crew witnessed the extinction of the Laysan honeycreeper (apapane). Throughout the expedition, new species were discovered and named, and unique specimens were captured and returned to laboratories for further study. Over 100

archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

sites were found, including ancient religious sites and prehistoric settlements on

Nihoa Nihoa (; haw, Nīhoa ), also known as Bird Island or Moku Manu, is the tallest of ten islands and atolls in the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The island is located at the southern end of the NWHI chain, southeast of ...

and Necker Island.

First expedition

The first expedition departed Honolulu on April 4, 1923 and returned on May 4.Thrum 1923, p.92 The team visited the island of Laysan, Pearl and Hermes Atoll,

Midway Atoll Midway Atoll (colloquial: Midway Islands; haw, Kauihelani, translation=the backbone of heaven; haw, Pihemanu, translation=the loud din of birds, label=none) is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. Midway Atoll is an insular area of the Unit ...

, and

Kure Atoll Kure Atoll (; haw, Hōlanikū, translation=bringing forth heaven; haw, Mokupāpapa, translation=flat island, label=none) or Ocean Island is an atoll in the Pacific Ocean west-northwest of Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands ...

. When they spent a month on Laysan studying the endemic Laysan honeycreeper, a violent and sudden storm ravaged the island. After the storm, the crew concluded that the last three specimens of the honeycreeper had been killed. Laysan Aerial

Crew

(assistant biologist) *Stanley C. Ball (biologist) *J. W. Thompson (Bishop Museum) *David T. Fullaway (entomologist) *David Thaanum (conchologist) *Edward L. Caum (botanist) *

Donald Ryder Dickey Donald Ryder Dickey (1887–1932) was an American ornithologist, mammalogist, and nature photographer. He collected 50,000 specimens and produced 7,500 photographs and moving images of nature subjects. At his death, his collection of bird and mam ...

(photographer) *Charles E. Reno (rodent control specialist) *John Baker *

(Ornithology assistant, herpetologist) *Eric Schlemmer (general utility)

Second expedition

The second expedition departed Honolulu on May 10. The team visited the island of Laysan, the

French Frigate Shoals The French Frigate Shoals ( Hawaiian: Kānemilohai) is the largest atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Its name commemorates French explorer Jean-François de La Pérouse, who nearly lost two frigates when attempting to navigate the sh ...

and the Pearl and Hermes Atoll. Starr 990615-0895 Coronopus didymus

Crew

*Alexander Wetmore (assistant biologist) *Stanley C. Ball (biologist) *J. W. Thompson (Bishop Museum) *David T. Fullaway (entomologist) *David Thaanum (conchologist) *Edward L. Caum (botanist) *

(photographer) *Charles E. Reno (rodent control specialist) *John Baker *

(Ornithology assistant, herpetologist) *Eric Schlemmer (general utility) *L. A. Thurston *Gerrit P. Wilder (botanist) *F. R. Lawrence *Ted. Dranga *Austin Jones

Third expedition

The third expedition departed Honolulu on June 9. The team visited the islands of Necker,

, and the

. An attempt was also made to visit

Kaula Kaula may refer to: People * Prithvi Nath Kaula (1924–2009), Indian librarian * William J. Kaula (1871–1953), American watercolor painter * William M. Kaula (1926–2000), Australian-born American geophysicist Other uses * USS ''Kaula'' (AG- ...

. ''Tanager'' arrived at Nihoa on June 10 and dropped off scientists for a ten-day visit and moved on to Necker the following day to drop off a second team. Both teams used radio to keep in constant communication between the two islands. On Nihoa, botanist Edward Leonard Caum collected the first specimen of '' Amaranthus brownii'' and Alexander Wetmore discovered the Nihoa millerbird and named it ''Acrocephalus familiaris kingi'', in honor of Captain Samuel Wilder King. Evidence of an ancient settlement on Nihoa was discovered, along with platforms, terraces, and human remains.Emory 1928 On June 22, the ''Tanager'' arrived in the French Frigate Shoals and remained for six days, completing the first comprehensive survey of the atoll. The expedition returned to Honolulu on July 1. Necker Island Standing Stones

Crew

*C. S. Judd (

cartographer Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an ...

) *C. M. Cooke (conchologist) *E. H. Bryan Jr. (entomologist) *H. S. Palmer (geologist) *Edward Leonard Caum (botanist) *

(archaeologist) *A. L. C. Atkinson *Bruce Cartwright *A. G. Rice *W. G. Anderson

Fourth expedition

The fourth expedition consisted of two teams, with the first departing Honolulu on July 7. Destinations included

Johnston Atoll Johnston Atoll is an unincorporated territory of the United States, currently administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Johnston Atoll is a National Wildlife Refuge and part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine Nati ...

and

Wake Island Wake Island ( mh, Ānen Kio, translation=island of the kio flower; also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll in the western Pacific Ocean in the northeastern area of the Micronesia subregion, east of Guam, west of Honolulu, southeast of T ...

. The first team left on the ''Whippoorwill'' (AM-35), which made the first survey of

Johnston Island Johnston Atoll is an unincorporated territory of the United States, currently administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Johnston Atoll is a National Wildlife Refuge and part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine Nation ...

in the 20th century. Aerial survey and mapping flights over Johnston were conducted with a Douglas DT-2

floatplane A floatplane is a type of seaplane with one or more slender floats mounted under the fuselage to provide buoyancy. By contrast, a flying boat uses its fuselage for buoyancy. Either type of seaplane may also have landing gear suitable for land, m ...

carried on her fantail, which was hoisted into the water for take off. Two destroyer convoys accompanied the expedition from Honolulu. The ''Tanager'' (AM-5) left Honolulu on July 16 and joined up with the ''Whippoorwill'' to complete the survey. From July 27 to August 5, the expedition surveyed Wake Island and named its islets: The southwest islet was named after

Charles Wilkes Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842). During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he commanded ' during the ...

who had led the

United States Exploring Expedition The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby ...

in 1841 and determined the location of Wake Island. The northwest islet was named after

Titian Peale Titian Ramsay Peale (November 2, 1799 – March 13, 1885) was an American artist, naturalist, and explorer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a scientific illustrator whose paintings and drawings of wildlife are known for their beauty an ...

, the chief naturalist for the 1841 expedition. Johnston-Atoll-DF-ST-92-02431

Crew

;Whippoorwill *Alexander Wetmore (assistant biologist) *Charles Howard Edmonson (marine biologist) *Jas. B. Pollock (botanist) *E. H. Bryan Jr. *W. G. Anderson *Max Schlemmer Jr. ;Tanager *H. S. Palmer *David Thaanum (conchologist) *G. R. Mann (surveyor) *Orme Cheatham

Fifth expedition

The fifth expedition visited Nihoa and Necker Island in 1924. Archaeologist Kenneth P. Emory of the Bishop Museum cleared out 60 sites on Nihoa and collected and cataloged artifacts. The expedition visited Necker from July 14–17.

Crew

''This list is incomplete'' Poacher's workshop, Peale Island, July 27, 1923

*Stanley C. Ball (biologist) *E. H. Bryan Jr. *Edward L. Caum (

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

) *Erling Christophersen (botanist) *

(photographer) *

(

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landsca ...

) *David T. Fullaway (entomologist) *

(Ornithology assistant,

) *Herbert E. Gregory (Director, Bishop Museum) *C. S. Judd (

) *A. J. Ker *Commander Samuel W. King *Charles E. Reno (rodent control specialist) *Eric Schlemmer (general utility) *David Thaanum (conchologist) *J. W. Thompson (Bishop Museum) *

(assistant biologist) *Gerrit P. Wilder (botanist) *T. Wilson

Repatriation

In 1990, the U.S. congress passed the

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Pub. L. 101-601, 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq., 104 Stat. 3048, is a United States federal law enacted on November 16, 1990. The Act requires federal agencies and institutions tha ...

which requires federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding to return Native American cultural items and human remains to their people. In the 1990s, Hui Mālama (Hui Mālama I Na Kūpuna O Hawaii Nei), a

Native Hawaiian Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, First Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians) ( haw, kānaka, , , and ), are the indigenous ethnic group of Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawa ...

group, spent two years petitioning the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

for the release of the bones (''iwi'') from seven Hawaiian skeletons originally taken from Nihoa and Necker Island by the Tanager Expedition in 1924. Although the bones were owned by the USFWS, the Bishop Museum acted as custodian. The bones were finally released to the group, and in November, 1997, Hui Mālama chartered a yacht and travelled to Nihoa and Necker to rebury the remains.Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources 2008, p.12

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

;NWHI Searchable Online Cultural Collection Database at the Bishop Museum
Tanager Expedition C, 1923
148 items
Tanager Expedition E, 1924
122 items {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Tanager'' Expedition Natural history of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 1923 in science 1924 in science 1923 in the United States 1924 in the United States History of science and technology in the United States United States Navy in the 20th century Military expeditions of the United States 1923 in Hawaii 1924 in Hawaii

First expedition

Crew

Second expedition

Crew

Third expedition

Crew

Fourth expedition

Crew

Fifth expedition

Crew

Repatriation

Notes

References

Further reading

External links