Survey of the 8 Canyon Site:

[Papa_Bear]

We just got back from our first trip to survey a wreck site that has at least 8 cannons that are as old as three hundred years old. Here is the start of the story, but not the last as this might be a long term project. Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services

The site is just two nautical miles from these docks at Nawilliwilli.

 

[Dale M]

Are we talking cannons or canyons? Technically speaking a 300 year old canyon isn't old at all, relatively new as for the earth's geological timeline. But a cannon, that's a different story.

 

[Papa_Bear]

LOL I saw both, but they have historical value! Thanks, I was writing about Wiamea Canyon so much it was burned into my mind!

 

[Papa_Bear]

Thanks! At least someone is paying attention! But we did see more Canyon than cannon!

 

[Papa_Bear]

There is a lot more of these!

 

[Dale M]

I just happen to be a cannon freak. I have a replica civil war mountain howitzer that we fire quite often throughout the year. My carriage isn't quite done yet but I have a rack for the barrel so we can shoot it. LOUD!!! Canyons just don't make the same kind of noise. Also checked out your site...good stuff there.

 

[Papa_Bear]

With the right thunder they can! I have heard what sounded just like a Howitzer in some canyons before! We do hope to go back and do the survey and eventually bring them up! There is a theory that they are King Kamehameha I first cannon on one of two sailing ships he commissioned. He had two sailors he kidnapped for ransom and they stayed on with him as navel advisers..... The Ship was about 150 tons in size.

 

[Papa_Bear]

From Wikipedia:
Kamehameha was now aliʻi nui of all of Hawaiʻi east of Oʻahu, but the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau continued to elude him. When he attempted to invade the islands in 1796, his governor on Hawaiʻi, Namakeha, led a rebellion against his rule, and Kamehameha was forced to return. In 1803 he tried again, but this time, disease broke out among his warriors; Kamehameha himself fell ill, though he later recovered. During this time, Kamehameha was amassing the largest armada Hawaiʻi had ever seen - foreign-built schooners and massive war canoes, armed with cannon and carrying his vast army. Kaumualiʻi, aliʻi nui of Kauaʻi, watched as Kamehameha built up his invading force and decided he would have a better chance in negotiation than battle. He may also have been influenced by foreign merchants, who saw the continuing feud between Kamehameha and Kaumualiʻi as bad for the sandalwood trade.

 

[Papa_Bear]

We believe this is the source of the cannon that our friend found off Nawilliwilli.

 

[Dale M]

That would seem to make sense. You don't hear much about pirates hanging around the Hawaiian Islands very much. Basically nothing to plunder. All or most trade routes were in the Atlantic between N and S America and Europe.