Description:
William Watman’s grave is upon the Morai, or Temple at Napoopoo. At the head of the grave a post was erected and a square board nailed upon it, with the name of the deceased, his age and the date.
The later memorial on the grave has an inscription on a metal plate.
In 2019 there is a reference to this monument being of black lava rock, which is 10-12 feet high and bearing a bronze plaque with the inscription as below.
History:
On 1st February 1779 William Watman, one of the gunner’s crew on Resolution, he died just two weeks before Cook. Watman was an old man, who had formerly served as a marine for 21 years, and had sailed on Resolution on Cook’s second voyage. His death was the result of a paralytic stroke two days earlier. He was beloved by his fellows for his good and benevolent disposition.
A new memorial on the grave was erected by the Kona Civic Club at Napoopoo in 1928.
Inscription:
On the metal plate on the grave:
IN THIS HEIAU
JANUARY 20th 1779
CAPTAIN JAMES COOK RN
READ THE ENGLISH
BURIAL SERVICE OVER
WILLIAM WHATMAN SEAMAN
THE FIRST RECORDED
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
ERECTED BY THE
KONA CIVIC CLUB 1928
GPS Coordinates: 19.478244, -155.925927
Heritage Listing:
The Heiau was designated an Historical Landmark by the Hawaiian Territorial Government in 1928. It is now part of the Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
References:
Cook’s Log, page 1197, vol. 18, no. 4 (1995)
Cook’s Log, page 35, vol. 31, no. 2 (2008)
Cook’s Log, page 32, and 35, vol. 34, no. 3 (2011)
Image gallery (click on any one to enlarge it)