Samuel Mahuka Spencer (18 Jul 1874–28 Feb [1] 1960) was a Hawaiʻi island politician.

Spencer Beach Park on the South Kohala Coast

Spencer was born in the area in 1875, and died on February 28, 1960.[2] He was named for Samual Mahuka who was a judge in the area from 1893 to 1901.[3] He served as the chairman and executive officer of the Hawaii County Board of Supervisors 1924–1944, and some minor offices in the Territory of Hawaii.[4]

Park

In 2003 the park was renamed to include the original name of the beach, ʻŌhai ʻula.[5] The beach could have been named for the red Sesbania tomentosa trees that originally grew in the area,[6] or the royal poinciana tree Delonix regia.[7]

The Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park in the Kohala area of the Big Island of Hawaii is a favorite camping and snorkeling location. On July 18, 1935 Spencer planted one of the banyan trees lining the "Hilo Walk of Fame" on Banyan Drive. As county chairman Spencer was responsible for some of the access improvements to the Waipiʻo Valley. Some refer to him as a former postmaster in the area, but no record exists. Sources claiming the post office for Waimea, Hawaii County, Hawaii is called "Kamuela", the equivalent of Samuel in the Hawaiian language[8][9] for Spencer lack a primary source. The beach is a terminus for a segment of the Southern Cross Cable, the major submarine communications cable connecting to the island.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Hawaii Tribune Herald Feb 29 1960; also Spencer's own headstone
  2. ↑ John R. K. Clark, Beaches of the Big Island, Published by University of Hawaii Press, 1985, ISBN 978-0-8248-0976-8
  3. ↑ "Mahuka, Samuel H. office record". state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  4. ↑ "Spencer, Samuel M. office record". state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  5. ↑ "Ordinace number 2003-135". County of Hawaii. October 16, 2003. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  6. ↑ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert; Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of ohaiula ". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  7. ↑ Lloyd J. Soehren (2010). "lookup of ohaiula ". in Hawaiian Place Names. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  8. ↑ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert; Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of Kamuela ". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  9. ↑ Lloyd J. Soehren (2010). "lookup of Kamuela ". in Hawaiian Place Names. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Southern Cross Cable Network". web site. Archived from the original on 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  • "Spencer Beach Park". Hawaii Beach Safety. Hawaii Lifeguard Association and the University of Hawaii. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
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