[url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4nkCmFIqbSEC][b]MEMOIRS
OF
HENRY OBOOKIAH,
A NATIVE OF OWHYHEE,
AND A MEMBER OF
THE FOREIGN MISSION SCHOOL;
THO DIED AT CORNWALL, CONN. FEB. 17,1818
AGED 26 YEARS.
{[url=http://www.obookiah.com/index.html]text version available in three sections here
Henry Obookiah died at the age of 26, but the seed he planted in the hearts of American missionary candidates for the people of Hawaii bore much fruit. Several books have been published on the transformation of Hawaii that occurred after this young man went to be with the Holy Father.
He wept at the foot of the cross for the sake of his people, caught up in idolatry and without anyone to take them the Gospel. His prayers were answered powerfully!
Here are some books that recount what transpired after his death:
[url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JflExHO7PaUC]The Transformation of Hawaii
[url=http://books.google.com/books?id=T4hIAAAAMAAJ]The Hand of God in History, or, Divine Providence Historically Illustrated...
Has an entire chapter devoted to Henry.
[url=http://books.google.com/books?id=IhoEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA665&dq=Henry+Obookiah+hawaii&as_brr=1#PPA665,M1]Missionary Review of the World
But what most interests Christians in the Hawaiian Islands is the religions history of the people, beside which few narratives are more fascinating and tlirilling. News had reached America, and especially New England through the home-coming of the Nan tucket fishermen and others, concerning the islands and its native population, and the story of these people's spiritual needs had deeply stirred some compassionate hearts. Nothing in the way of definite action took place, however, until one day in New Haven a native Hawaiian youth was found sitting upon the steps of one of the college buildings weeping bitterly. Being questioned as to the cause of his sorrow, he confessed that he had Jeft his far-away home in pursuit of an education and that he had come to New Haven to obtain it, but had no one to instruct him. Mr. Dwight, a student of the college, was at once interested and undertook to help him, and afterwards Samuel J. Mills, of Williams College fame, having come to Yale, became deeply interested in his welfare.This Hawaiian youth was Henry Obookiah, and his presence in New England, and especially his subsequent conversion and prayers, were to form the providential link between the Christians in America and the savage tribes in Hawaii. Obookiah, after his conversion, began at once his preparation for missionary work in the islands, and greatly roused the interest of the churches as he plead his people's cause. Suddenly Obookiah died. But the interest he had aroused did not die; on the contrary, the passing away of the earnest youth deepened and extended interest, and finally the American Board of Foreign Missions took definite action to evangelize the islands. Hiram Bingham volunteered to go in Obookiah's place; Asa Thurston agreed to go with him; and others, including two Hawaiian Christian youths who had come to America for an education, joined them. In October, 1819, a farewell meeting was held in Boston in connection with the going forth of a party of seventeen persons. This party immediately set sail, and in March, 1820, their ship Thaddeus dropped her anchor in Hilo Bay.