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 Centennial of the Hawaii Naval Militia

 By COL, Ret. Arthur N. Tulak

Hawaii World War One Centennial Task Force

As the United States prepares to commemorate the Centennial of World War One, we look back a century ago to a moment in history when America was a declared neutral as war waged in the European and Pacific Theaters.  Although neutral, the United States prudently improved its defense capabilities.  The Territory of Hawaii, along with the rest of the nation, took steps to ensure preparedness for war, if it came.   During this time, Hawaii stood up its own Naval force, the Hawaii Naval Militia, under the Command of the Territorial Adjutant General as a Territorial military force alongside the National Guard of Hawaii. 


     The Act to provide a Naval Militia for the Territory of Hawaii was approved by the Governor on April 23, 1915, and recruiting commenced in November of the same year.  The Hawaii Naval Militia made its first public appearance on Memorial Day, May 30, 1916.  At that time, the Hawaii Naval Militia numbered 100 enlisted and eight officers and had its initial headquarters in the Queen’s Bungalow on the Palace grounds, with hopes for moving the Hawaii Naval Militia to Naval Station at Pearl Harbor, a move which Rear Admiral Clifford J. Boush, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, had expressed his support.  In September 1916 Hawaii’s Naval Militia, was preparing for its first practice cruise aboard the Navy’s first class cruiser, USS Saint Louis (C-20).   

     The U.S. Navy provided assistance in training the Naval Militia to achieve proficiency to serve as a reserve for the Navy in time of need.   The U.S. Navy appointed Lieutenant Commander Victor S. Houston, a line officer and one of Hawaii’s Annapolis graduates, to serve as Inspector-Instructor of the Hawaii Naval Militia.   LCDR Houston, who in later years would be Hawaii’s delegate to the U.S. Congress, was then the Commanding Officer of the USS St. Louis.  LCDR Houston was seconded by the Navy to the Militia, and in this capacity, LCDR Houston was authorized to detail officers already under his command on the USS St. Louis to assist him in this task.

     September 14, 2016 is the Centennial anniversary of the first cruise of the Hawaii Territorial Naval Militia.  Seven Officers and seventy-six Sailors of the Naval Militia, under the Command of Ensign W. H. Stroud Hawaii Naval Militia, embarked on the USS St. Louis on September 14, 1916, and trained under the instruction of its Captain, LCDR Houston.  The concept for the cruise was to consider the Naval Militiamen as an addition to the ship’s complement, and to train them in emergency and battle drills.  In fact, the Hawaii Naval Militiamen’s training included Fire Drills; Battery Drills, Infantry Drills, Collision Drill, Abandon Ship Drills, General Quarters, Fire and Rescue Parties, Man Overboard, and inspection. The cruise included port calls at Waimea Kauai, Lahaina Maui, Kealakekua Bay Hawaii, Hilo Hawaii, and returning to Honolulu on 26 September 1916, after sailing 886 nautical miles.