Missionary William Ellis reported in 1825 that his “bones were preserved … & were considered sacred by the people” of Hawaii

On Friday, October 24, 2025, the Final Jeopardy clue fell under the category Relics. The clue was: “Missionary William Ellis reported in 1825 that his ‘bones were preserved … & were considered sacred by the people’ of Hawaii.”

Who is Captain James Cook?

Captain James Cook, the famed British explorer and navigator, met his end in Hawaii in 1779 during his third Pacific voyage. After a series of tense encounters with the native Hawaiians, Cook was killed in a confrontation at Kealakekua Bay. His death marked a significant moment not just in European exploration but also in the cultural history of the Hawaiian Islands.

The aftermath of Cook’s death is what directly relates to this Final Jeopardy clue. Following his death, Cook’s body was subject to traditional Hawaiian funerary rituals. This included dismemberment and the preservation of his bones—practices reserved for chiefs and other highly respected figures. While shocking to European sensibilities at the time, these actions were in line with Hawaiian religious customs, reflecting the spiritual importance they attributed to Cook.

William Ellis and His 1825 Report

William Ellis was a British missionary and writer who traveled extensively throughout the Pacific, including Hawaii. In 1825, during his travels with a missionary delegation, Ellis documented many aspects of Hawaiian life, religion, and society. His writings offer some of the earliest English-language accounts of the islands and their traditions following European contact.

Ellis’s report includes a mention of Captain Cook’s remains, noting that Cook’s bones were preserved and considered sacred by the Hawaiian people. This provides one of the clearest historical confirmations of the reverence with which Cook was treated, despite the violent nature of his death. Ellis’s observations, made nearly 50 years after Cook’s death, suggest that Cook had not faded from memory among the islanders and continued to occupy a unique spiritual and cultural space.

Hawaiian Views of Captain Cook

For the Hawaiian people, Cook was likely seen through a dual lens. Initially regarded as a figure of intrigue and perhaps mistaken for a deity—possibly Lono, the god associated with fertility and peace—Cook’s arrival coincided with religious festivals that increased this perception. However, when tensions escalated and Cook attempted to kidnap a Hawaiian chief, public opinion quickly turned. His subsequent death was the culmination of these strained relations.

Despite this, the treatment of his remains shows that Cook still held an elevated status. His bones were cleaned and preserved in a manner that indicated spiritual respect, not desecration. In Hawaiian belief systems, bones (known as iwi) carried great mana (spiritual power), and preserving them was a sign of honor. This adds depth to the clue, revealing how indigenous practices gave Cook’s legacy a unique and sacred place within local culture.

Legacy and Interpretations

The story of Captain Cook’s remains has been subject to various interpretations over the centuries. To Western historians, it’s often a tale of cultural misunderstanding and tragic consequences. To Hawaiians, it represents a moment of asserting sovereignty and preserving traditions in the face of colonial intrusion.

Ellis’s account in 1825 provides a bridge between these perspectives, documenting how Cook was not simply forgotten or vilified but instead integrated into Hawaii’s evolving historical and spiritual identity. His preserved bones symbolized both a relic of the past and a spiritual artifact, blurring the line between foreign intruder and revered figure.

Conclusion

The October 24 Final Jeopardy clue highlighted a compelling piece of Pacific history, combining exploration, cultural exchange, and religious reverence. Captain James Cook’s death in Hawaii and the subsequent treatment of his remains offer insight into how two vastly different worldviews collided and coexisted. William Ellis’s 1825 report serves as a rare historical record, capturing the enduring significance of Cook’s presence in the Hawaiian consciousness nearly half a century after his demise. Through the lens of this clue, viewers were given a glimpse into the complexities of early contact between Europeans and the indigenous peoples of the Pacific.