Samuel M. Spencer
Encyclopedia
Spencer Beach Park is a county park named for Hawaii island
politician Samuel Mahuka Spencer (1875–1960).
Spencer was born in the area in 1875, and died on February 28, 1960.
He was named for Samual Mahuka who was a judge in the area from 1893 to 1901.
He served as the chairman and executive officer of the Hawaii County Board of Supervisors 1924–1944, and some minor offices in the Territory of Hawaii
.
In 2003 the park was renamed to include the original name of the beach, Ōhai ula.
The beach could have been named for the red Sesbania tomentosa
trees that originally grew in the area,
or the royal poinciana tree Delonix regia.
The Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park in the Kohala
area of the Big Island of Hawaii
is a favorite camping and snorkeling
location. On July 18, 1935 Spencer planted one of the banyan trees lining the "Hilo Walk of Fame" on Banyan Drive
. As county chairman Spencer was responsible for some of the access improvements to the Waipio Valley
. He was postmaster in the area, which is why some sources say the post office for Waimea, Hawaii County, Hawaii is called "Kamuela", the equivalent of Samuel in the Hawaiian language
.
The beach is a terminus for a segment of the Southern Cross Cable
, the major Submarine communications cable
connecting to the island.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
politician Samuel Mahuka Spencer (1875–1960).
Spencer was born in the area in 1875, and died on February 28, 1960.
He was named for Samual Mahuka who was a judge in the area from 1893 to 1901.
He served as the chairman and executive officer of the Hawaii County Board of Supervisors 1924–1944, and some minor offices in the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
.
In 2003 the park was renamed to include the original name of the beach, Ōhai ula.
The beach could have been named for the red Sesbania tomentosa
Sesbania tomentosa
Sesbania tomentosa, commonly known as Ōhai, is an endangered species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to the main Hawaiian Islands as well as Nihoa and Necker Island. It inhabits low shrublands and, rarely, dry forests, at elevations from sea level to...
trees that originally grew in the area,
or the royal poinciana tree Delonix regia.
The Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park in the Kohala
Kohala, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; Kohala , [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
area of the Big Island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
is a favorite camping and snorkeling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
location. On July 18, 1935 Spencer planted one of the banyan trees lining the "Hilo Walk of Fame" on Banyan Drive
Banyan Drive
Banyan Drive is a tree-lined street at the shoreline of Hilo, Hawaii, coordinates . It is known as the "Hilo Walk of Fame" for the banyan trees planted by celebrities....
. As county chairman Spencer was responsible for some of the access improvements to the Waipio Valley
Waipio valley
Waipio Valley is a valley located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawaii. "Waipio" means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language.It was the capital and permanent residence of many early Hawaiian alii up until the time of King Umi...
. He was postmaster in the area, which is why some sources say the post office for Waimea, Hawaii County, Hawaii is called "Kamuela", the equivalent of Samuel in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
.
The beach is a terminus for a segment of the Southern Cross Cable
Southern Cross Cable
The Southern Cross Cable, operated by Bermuda company Southern Cross Cables Limited, is a trans-Pacific network of telecommunications cables commissioned in 2000....
, the major Submarine communications cable
Submarine communications cable
A submarine communications cable is a cable laid on the sea bed between land-based stations to carry telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean....
connecting to the island.