Recently, Russia hasn't been on good terms with the West. And not only recently. Were there ever times when our interests didn't clash? And if not for these intersections, wouldn't our history be less exciting?
A peculiar quotation on our screen: "Hawaii must become a Russian West India or the second Gibraltar. Russia must acquire the land at all costs." Egor Shefer, 19th century. And the most curious fact — a lot of the ancestors of the current Hawaiian US-citizens would have agreed. Where are these islands? Let's use the map. OK, so here's the Pacific and here's Hawaii. If you look at the distance... Here's Hawaii, and if you look at the distance to the future state of California or to the Russian Kamchatka, well it's a bit further to Kamchatka, but, in general, it's in the middle. The debates are in the past.
The Hawaiian Islands have been long annexed by the US.
Made into US territory then a state. By the way, it’s also the birthplace of the former President, Barack Obama. Well, first of all, the debates about Hawaii symbolize the ambitions of both our nations. Secondly, it's quite curious, let's not forget Alaska is close and back then it was Russian. How Hawaii could have become a garden for Alaska and Kamchatka is quite a curious story. A rare story from the Hawaiian Islands our own correspondent in the Pacific Region, Sergey Mingazhev.
Every morning, this sweet couple crawls to the beach of the Hawaiian island, Kauai, paying no attention to the crowds of tourists and blissfully sleeps under the crashing waves and then goes for the night hunt to the exact area where George Anton Shefer arrived from Russia 200 years ago.
At a mid-way point between the sleeping place of seals and Waimea Canyon, there's a sign pointing to the Russian Fort. It still bears the name of Empress Elizabeth. A pile of stones and chunks of solid lava are the only things left of it. There were three Russian forts in Hawaii. The other two were located on the opposite coast. This luxurious hotel is located on the exact spot where 200 years ago the fortress named after Alexander the First stood. It's the north of Kauai island. This pavilion is all that serves as a reminder of it.
A German serving the Russian Empire was acting on behalf of the thriving Russian-American company. Its flag was flying here in 1816-1817. Hawaii wasn't a unified land back then, and Shefer played on the strife between two kings. The ruler of Kauai, Kaumualii, agreed to become subjects of the Russian Crown in exchange for protection against his main adversary, the king of the rest of the islands, Kameamea.
The chief willingly swore his allegiance to Emperor Alexander.
The aborigines started to dress like Russian sailors, some even changed their names. There was a Kauai noble named Platov. The king presented Shefer the Hanalei Valley, the most fertile grounds in the north. The valley was instantly renamed to Shefertal. And for a brief period of time, this Hanapepe river became Don. On the anniversary of events, members of the Russian community together with Hawaiians and Americans, historians, and experts from both countries supported by Russian Foreign Ministry and the local authorities have gathered here at a conference dedicated to the 200-year anniversary of Russians at Hawaii.
The leader of the island held a speech.
He said, that the whole story made him think about reinforcing their ties with Russia and establishing a Kauai-Vladivostok friendship. Bernard Carvalho, mayor of Kauai: "This landmark ties back to our Hawaiian legacy, to our Hawaiian history. We've got a whole Russian Fort on the small part of our island. We, as leaders, must now aim to educate, inspire, and attract people so that they would come here more often." Despite its plans of transforming the Northern Pacific into the Russian Sea, Russia refused to resort to violence when the situation went against it. Why didn't Hawaii become Russian?
Vladimir Orlov, Russian Foreign Ministry Academy: "You see, Dr. Egor Shefer or George Shefer couldn't have held the place for long with a small group of Russians and Aleuts because the Americans began to force him out, began to spread rumors that Russia was in a state of war with the US, or was going to start it, that the Russian ambassador was expelled from Washington, which was a total lie. But King Kaumualii decided not to mess with the US, since they weren't playing around anymore and began to force Shefer out".
At that time Russia had just joined the Holy Alliance. Provoking an international conflict because of a small island on the other side of the globe didn't fit in the Empire's foreign policy that was based on preserving the world order as it was after the Congress of Vienna.
"A mysterious woman riding a white steed along the shore of Olemolo," is a literal translation of this woman's name. She’s the sixth-generation heir to the Hawaiian King. She thinks that it was the fort designed by Russians and built by Hawaiians that helped the island retain its independence.
Aletha Keohi, historian, a descendant of King Kaumualii: "The King thought of using the fort to regain his lost lands. It's what kings do".
According to official information, the Russian flag was lowered 200 years ago. However, the locals told us a story that there was one Russian immigrant that came here every morning in order to raise the Russian flag over Fort Elizabeth and took it home at night. He had been doing it until he died 20 years ago.
This week, a Christian Orthodox and then a Hawaiian prayer were held. After Russia left, but before Hawaii was annexed by the US in the late 19th century, this fortress became a battleground for the warring aborigines. A three-colored flag with a two-headed eagle is being raised above the fort. The same flags used to be raised above all Russian settlements. From Kamchatka and the Aleut Islands to Alaska and California. Where the Russians and Americans are still preserving the memory of their common past.
Sergey Mingazhev, Alexey Pichko Vesti on Saturday, Kauai, Hawaii, USA.
