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Honolulu Polynesian - August 10, 1850

The total eclipse of August 7, 1850, was an all-Hawaiian event, crossing no other land in its path across the Pacific. It was also an extremely long six-minute-plus total eclipse. Although still a sovereign kingdom, by 1850 the islands were firmly under the influence of missionaries and businessmen from the U.S. and on August 10 the U.S.-owned Polynesian reported on the eclipse. A rainy sky threatened observation in Honolulu early on, but the clouds eventually cleared for an unobstructed view of the event. The writer concludes with a note regarding how some of the Hawaiians still believe that eclipses foretell the deaths of their chiefs and that something of a public education campaign had been initiated to help dispel these superstitions among the locals.

(Any information about eclipse viewing procedures provided in historical articles should be considered unsafe)

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Honolulu Polynesian - August 10, 1850

Honolulu Polynesian - August 10, 1850

(Any information about eclipse viewing procedures provided in historical articles should be considered unsafe)


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