Tanager Expedition facts for kids
The Tanager Expedition was a series of five amazing trips to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. These trips happened in 1923 and 1924. Scientists and sailors worked together to explore these faraway islands. They wanted to learn all about the plants, animals, and even the rocks there.
The expedition was led by Lieutenant Commander Samuel Wilder King on a ship called the USS Tanager (AM-5). A scientist named Alexander Wetmore was in charge of the science team. Famous people like archaeologist Kenneth Emory and reptile expert Chapman Grant were part of the crew.
One main goal was to get rid of domestic rabbits on Laysan island. These rabbits were brought there in 1902. They ate almost all the plants, causing some animals unique to Laysan to disappear forever. The expedition successfully removed the rabbits. Sadly, they also saw the very last Laysan honeycreeper (ʻapapane) die out.
During these trips, the scientists found many new kinds of plants and animals. They also found over 100 ancient sites. These included old religious places and settlements on Nihoa and Necker Island.
Contents
First Trip: Exploring Laysan and More
The first trip started on April 4, 1923. The team visited Laysan, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Midway Atoll, and Kure Atoll. They spent a month on Laysan studying the Laysan honeycreeper. A big storm hit the island, and sadly, the last three honeycreepers were killed.
Who Was on the First Trip?
- Alexander Wetmore (assistant biologist)
- Stanley C. Ball (biologist)
- J. W. Thompson (Bishop Museum)
- David T. Fullaway (insect expert)
- David Thaanum (shell expert)
- Edward L. Caum (plant expert)
- Donald Ryder Dickey (photographer)
- Charles E. Reno (rodent control specialist)
- John Baker
- Chapman Grant (bird and reptile expert)
- Eric Schlemmer (general helper)
Second Trip: Visiting French Frigate Shoals
The second trip left Honolulu on May 10, 1923. The team went to Laysan, the French Frigate Shoals, and the Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
Who Was on the Second Trip?
- Alexander Wetmore (assistant biologist)
- Stanley C. Ball (biologist)
- J. W. Thompson (Bishop Museum)
- David T. Fullaway (insect expert)
- David Thaanum (shell expert)
- Edward L. Caum (plant expert)
- Donald Ryder Dickey (photographer)
- Charles E. Reno (rodent control specialist)
- John Baker
- Chapman Grant (bird and reptile expert)
- Eric Schlemmer (general helper)
- L. A. Thurston
- Gerrit P. Wilder (plant expert)
- F. R. Lawrence
- Ted. Dranga
- Austin Jones
Third Trip: Discoveries on Nihoa and Necker
The third trip began on June 9, 1923. The team visited Necker, Nihoa, and the French Frigate Shoals. They tried to visit Kaʻula too. The Tanager ship dropped scientists off at Nihoa for ten days. Then it went to Necker to drop off another team. Both teams used radios to talk to each other.
On Nihoa, plant expert Edward Leonard Caum found the first ever Amaranthus brownii plant. Alexander Wetmore also discovered the Nihoa millerbird and named it after Captain Samuel Wilder King. The team found signs of an ancient village on Nihoa. They also found old platforms, terraces, and human remains.
On June 22, the Tanager arrived at the French Frigate Shoals. They stayed for six days to complete the first full study of that area. The expedition returned to Honolulu on July 1.
Who Was on the Third Trip?
- C. S. Judd (map maker)
- C. M. Cooke (shell expert)
- E. H. Bryan Jr. (insect expert)
- H. S. Palmer (geologist)
- Edward Leonard Caum (plant expert)
- Kenneth Emory (archaeologist)
- A. L. C. Atkinson
- Bruce Cartwright
- A. G. Rice
- W. G. Anderson
Fourth Trip: Exploring Johnston and Wake Islands
The fourth trip had two teams. The first team left Honolulu on July 7, 1923. They went to Johnston Atoll and Wake Island. This team traveled on the Whippoorwill (AM-35). This ship made the first survey of Johnston Island in the 1900s. They even had a special Douglas DT-2 floatplane on board! It could take off from the water to map the island from above.
The Tanager (AM-5) left Honolulu on July 16 and joined the Whippoorwill. From July 27 to August 5, the teams explored Wake Island. They named its small islets. One was named after Charles Wilkes, who found Wake Island in 1841. Another was named after Titian Peale, the main nature expert from that 1841 trip.
Who Was on the Fourth Trip?
- On the Whippoorwill
- Alexander Wetmore (assistant biologist)
- Charles Howard Edmonson (marine biologist)
- Jas. B. Pollock (plant expert)
- E. H. Bryan Jr.
- W. G. Anderson
- Max Schlemmer Jr.
- On the Tanager
- H. S. Palmer
- David Thaanum (shell expert)
- G. R. Mann (surveyor)
- Orme Cheatham
Fifth Trip: More Archaeology on Nihoa and Necker
The fifth trip happened in 1924. It visited Nihoa and Necker Island again. Archaeologist Kenneth P. Emory from the Bishop Museum cleared out 60 sites on Nihoa. He collected and organized many old objects. The expedition visited Necker from July 14–17.
Who Was on the Fifth Trip?
- Stanley C. Ball (biologist)
- E. H. Bryan Jr.
- Edward L. Caum (plant expert)
- Erling Christophersen (plant expert)
- Donald Ryder Dickey (photographer)
- Kenneth Emory (archaeologist)
- David T. Fullaway (insect expert)
- Chapman Grant (bird and reptile expert)
- Herbert E. Gregory (Director, Bishop Museum)
- C. S. Judd (map maker)
- A. J. Ker
- Commander Samuel W. King
- Charles E. Reno (rodent control specialist)
- Eric Schlemmer (general helper)
- David Thaanum (shell expert)
- J. W. Thompson (Bishop Museum)
- Alexander Wetmore (assistant biologist)
- Gerrit P. Wilder (plant expert)
- T. Wilson
Returning Ancient Remains
In 1990, a law was passed in the U.S. called the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. This law says that federal groups must return Native American cultural items and human remains to their people.
In the 1990s, a Native Hawaiian group called Hui Mālama asked for the return of bones (iwi). These were from seven Hawaiian skeletons. The Tanager Expedition had taken them from Nihoa and Necker Island in 1924. The bones were kept by the Bishop Museum.
Finally, the bones were given back to the group. In November 1997, Hui Mālama rented a boat. They traveled to Nihoa and Necker to rebury the remains in their homeland.
Images for kids
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A view of Laysan island from above.
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The beautiful Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
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Ancient standing stones on Necker Island.
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Johnston Atoll.
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A poacher's workshop on Peale Island, part of Wake Island, photographed by Alexander Wetmore.
