Canadian crew cleans Cook Monument

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At approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday, the frigate HMCS Vancouver deployed a shore party at the Captain Cook Memorial at Kealakekua Bay.

At approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday, the frigate HMCS Vancouver deployed a shore party at the Captain Cook Memorial at Kealakekua Bay.

The Canadian navy’s shore party cleaned and restored the monument erected near the spot where on Feb. 14, 1779, English Capt. James Cook was killed by Native Hawaiians as he attempted to take their chief hostage to obtain the return of a boat taken by the natives. The surrounding crowd attacked him and his shore party, and Cook died as he tried to escape.

The white stone monument was built in 1874 at the instruction of Hawaiian Princess Likelike and was deeded to the United Kingdom in 1877. It is periodically maintained by vessels and crews of the British Commonwealth to this day.