Historian discusses Walter Murray Gibson at Lyman Museum

Posted on April 19, 2013 by admin

Big Island historian Boyd Bond speaks at the Lyman Museum April 22. Credit: Gladys Suzuki.

Big Island historian Boyd Bond speaks at the Lyman Museum April 22.
Credit: Gladys Suzuki.

HILO, Hawai`i (April 15, 2013) — Big Island historian Boyd Bond visits the Lyman Museum at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 22 to discuss the life and times of Walter Murray Gibson, an adventurer with a lurid past when he arrived in Hawai`i in 1861.

Gibson came to the Islands as a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Using the Church’s money to buy land, he signed his own name to deeds and was quickly excommunicated, but in the process managed to acquire most of the island of Lāna`i. Familiar with the language of the Islands, Gibson established newspapers in Honolulu that supported King Kalākaua over wealthy sugar barons. He eventually made his way through the Legislature and Government to become Prime Minister of the Kingdom in 1886. On Monday, April 22, Boyd Bond relates a tale that will leave listeners asking: Had Gibson been playing Kalākaua for his own purposes, or had the King played him? A Q&A session follows the discussion.

Walter Murray Gibson, the subject of a Lyman Museum talk with historian Boyd Bond on April 22. Credit: Hawaii State Archives.

Walter Murray Gibson, the subject of a Lyman Museum talk with historian Boyd Bond on April 22.
Credit: Hawaii State Archives.

The Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum at 276 Haili Street in Hilo showcases the natural and cultural history of Hawai`i. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for evening public programs. Cost is $3; free to Lyman Museum members. Additional parking is available at Hilo Union School. For more information, visit www.lymanmuseum.org.