died march soldier native hawaiian descent considered civil war group documented native hawaiian hawaii born combatants fought american civil war independent nation enlisted 41st united states colored infantry united_states colored regiment formed pennsylvania participating siege hawaiian soldier met hawaii born colonel recorded encounter letter home 41st present surrender confederate general house april war returned died march buried unmarked grave honolulu cemetery period time end war legacy contributions documented hawaiian participants american_civil_war largely forgotten private circles descendants historians revival interest recent years hawaiian community sons civil war commemorated bronze plaque erected memorial national memorial cemetery pacific honolulu local effort grave marker dedicated burial site stayed unmarked years life outbreak american_civil_war king declared neutrality august native hawaii born americans mainly descendants american missionaries abroad islands volunteered enlisted military regiments states union confederacy native participating american wars period independence individual native served united_states navy army war served american civil war union ties new_england missionaries industries ideological opposition institution slavery known life war enlisted private assigned 41st regiment united states colored troops colored regiment formed camp philadelphia pennsylvania september december command colonel native participated war assigned colored regiments dark skin color policy military time hawaiian soldiers civil war real known combatants served easier english speaking americans hawaiian language names registered 19th century term sandwich islands noted place origin october april fought richmond campaign better known siege campaign hawaiian named 28th regiment united states colored troops came son american missionary native armstrong wrote encounter letter home later published hawaiian missionary newspaper friend yesterday orderly holding horse asked said hawaii proved blood came islands year lived near judge smith left islands july enjoyed seeing good private 41st regiment colored troops private 28th pioneer corps good men glad seen survived months trench warfare richmond campaign fought 41st battle court house present surrender confederate general house april 41st regiment mustered service november texas discharged december philadelphia service present existing records history 41st regiment historians speculate possible service noted different recorded muster rolls regiment returned office unit disbanded war returned died march buried eighteen native unmarked grave section lot cemetery honolulu hawaii territorial period civil war service recorded precursor included records deceased veterans listed location burial place memorials years burial site remained unmarked hawaiian group affiliated organization civil war round table consisting started effort grave marker member group discovered records containing listed service war location burial place manning went site grave disappointed giving reason significance service manning stated represents hawaiian men men hawaii served civil war knew getting took risk work risk took owe recognize service group petitioned marker department denied request approve request policy change enacted required request memorials request denial local monument maker donated granite marker marker formally dedicated unveiled october members dressed period costumes took dedication ceremony cemetery ceremony marked military honors gun salute unit civil war hawaiian minister presided dedication ceremony accordance traditional hawaiian customs consecrated marker adorned sacred branch representing noble qualities bravery courage marker inscribed regiment death date text hawaiian english brave honorable soldier hawaiian veterans civil war honored honolulu bronze memorial plaque erected recognition civil war documented served union confederacy researchers identified documented hawaiian hawaii born combatants historical records exact number remains unclear lack records identified native hawaiian combatants including buried hawaii known according hawaiian news reporter come represents men hawaii took arms america civil war forgotten
J. R. Kealoha