User:Talahuhta/George Freeth Group 1: Background & Early Life

Group 1: Background and Early Life (George Freeth Article)

Early Life - Mitch

George Freeth Jr. was born in 1883 in Honolulu [add month/day; Waikiki; put citation at end of sentence; source?] and grew up immersed in Hawaiian culture, which encouraged and nurtured time in the ocean. Aquatic sports were a large part of this, from boat races [clarify] to diving competitions, where Freeth began to develop the water skills that he would use throughout his life. [Rephrase this sentence for clarity; put notes at end of sentences] “I can not remember the day when I couldn’t swim. The first days I can remember were those spent at Waikiki Beach, four miles distant from Honolulu, Hawaii, where, with hundreds of native boys, I swam and dove a greater part of the time.” [Introduce quotation; source?] In addition to the aquatic nature of Hawaiian culture developing Freeth, he also grew up in the last years of the Hawaiian monarchy as American businessmen began to populate the island.[Most of these men were born and raised there] His mother’s family being rich in Hawaiian blood, this likely would have had an effect on his childhood.[stick to the facts.] Freeth’s youth also included a large amount of inconsistency [rephrase] and travel. His father moved the family frequently due to his changing businesses, eventually landing on the island of Laysan. Laysan was home to a large migrant seabird population that produced guano, which Freeth Senior’s company mined for fertilizer. Freeth traveled between Laysan and Honolulu from the ages of seven to eleven, primarily spending his summers on the small island.[clarify the time frame] There, he would interact with the Japanese workers that his father employed and swim with his siblings in the ocean.[Why is this important?] Laysan and its lagoon was his childhood place to play. After his father’s fertilizer company went bankrupt [reprhase], Freeth moved back to Honolulu. Freeth stayed in Honolulu until he was fourteen, when his father took him to Clipperton Island, which is located off the coast of Mexico. [Why did he go there?]

Topi Alahuhta, Early Life-Teenage Years

George Freeth spent most of his teenage years enthralled in athletic competitions. Some of these came during his short stint in California (1898) at the famous Sutro Baths in San Francisco. Freeth's name was often found in the local newspaper for his feats in various water sports. He participated and succeeded in competitive swimming, tub racing, and high diving. While Freeth competed in California, his mother began divorce proceedings against his father due to Freeth Sr's absence from home and inability to send money back to Freeth's mother. Freeth traveled between Hawaii and the mainland chasing work and success in athletic events during his young adult life.

Most of Freeth's achievements came while attending 'Iolani College in Honolulu (1900), Freeth worked as a painter at Honolulu Iron Works, a company his grandfather had ties with decades ago. Freeth competed on seemingly every sports team he could find. For the school itself, Freeth was the goalie of the soccer team and won the pole vault at the end-of-year school competition. He also found time to play for his painting company's soccer team on the side. 'Iolani's soccer team was so successful that they were set to play England (A local team in Honolulu) in the championship game in 1901. The game got canceled and by the time it could be rescheduled, George was already back in California putting on a show at the Sutro Baths. Freeth found time to row, play football, and swim all at the same time during his short stints in San Francisco (1899-1903). Freeth even took a trip up to Philadelphia to see his brother (1903). While in Philadelphia, Freeth won a diving tournament, showing his passion for competition and sports no matter where he was.

When George Freeth was 19 years old, he returned to Honolulu for a four year period (1903). He would do so to learn the art of surfing, something that had decreased in popularity in Hawaii the past few decades. Freeth is credited with returning standing on surfboards to popularity in Hawaii. Christian missionaries disapproved of the art of surfing in Hawaii following their arrival in 1820. Surfing naturally works better when wearing less clothing, something the missionaries frowned upon. Freeth started by putting his weight on his knees while surfing, then progressing to a sort of crouched position and eventually to standing upright. It did not take long for Freeth to advance to incredible acrobatic feats from there. Local youth quickly learned from Freeth's skills, exhibitions could soon be held for surfing. Freeth continued participating in numerous sports while in Honolulu, mainly his strength of swimming and diving. Freeth is often credited as the best diver on the island at this time in history. Though his athletics rarely interrupted each other, he did on one occasion injure his hand playing football. This impeded his ability in a diving exhibition, showing how Freeth was determined to compete and show up for people no matter what. It is worth noting that Freeth's best sports while in Honolulu as a teenager all involved the water. This would greatly influence Freeth's fame in Hawaii. He was a champion diver as well as the man credited for returning surfing to the spotlight. A combination of impressive diving, swimming, and surfing skills learned in Hawaii are exactly what Freeth used to reinvent the idea of lifeguarding. Freeth's determination in all aspects of athletics would help him become a famed lifesaver.

Aashish - Origin, Sibling

George Freeth Jr. was born in Waikiki, Hawai'i, during the final years of the Hawaiian monarchy, at a time when the islands were experiencing significant political and cultural changes. During the final years of the Hawaiian monarchy, particularly in the late 19th century, Hawai'i experienced significant

These changes set the stage for ongoing struggles related to identity, sovereignty, and cultural preservation in Hawai'i. His father, George Douglas Freeth Sr.,[put in his birth/death dates] came from a distinguished English military family and moved to Hawai'i,[when?] where he worked in guano mining and other ventures.

Freeth's had four brothers including him [omit] and they were [omit and use a colon for a list] William Armstrong Wehekalani Freeth (1880-1970), Charles James Holt Freeth(1882-1950), Alexander Freeth(1885-1888)[ start a new sentence here] and have two younger sisters they were [use a colon] Edith Majorie Freeth(1889-Death), Dorothy Muriel Freeth(1891-Death). Edith also know as "Maggie" who was later married at Saint Andrew's Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican Church of Hawai'i. [why is this important to add?] His family background reflected both the British influence from his father’s side and the Hawaiian traditions from his mother’s lineage, which played a significant role in shaping his cultural identity. [combine this idea with your last sentence of the previous paragraph]

Although much of Freeth’s later life was centered around his work in surfing and lifeguarding, the influence of his siblings and parents remained a significant part of his personal history. His mixed heritage and family connections shaped the man he would become, bridging the gap between both cultures. [Again you're repeating the same ideas]

Julie - Family Background, Parents

George Douglas Freeth Jr. came from a culturally rich and diverse background, reflecting Polynesian and British influences. His family roots intertwined with the history of Hawai'i during the late 19th century, at a time of great political change.

Freeth’s mother, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kaili Green,(1853-1941) was the daughter of William Lowthian Green, a prominent English politician in Hawai'i, who played a significant role in Hawaiian politics , particularly as minister of foreign affairs during King Kalakaua's reign, and her mother, Elizabeth Lepeka Kahalaikulani Grimes (c.1832-1889), was of Native Hawaiian descent. This gave Freeth a unique blend of two heritages by allowing him to bridge two distinct cultures. His English heritage connected him to Western ideals of modernity and innovations, while his Native Hawaiian roots tied him to the traditions of the Hawaiians, including surfing, which he helped revive and promote. This unique cultural mix positioned Freeth as both a preserver of Hawaiian traditions and an innovator in introducing those traditions.

Father's Background: George Douglas Freeth Sr.(1854-1914) came from a distinguished British military lineage. His father, James Holt Freeth (1817-1904), and his great-grandfather, Sir James Freeth (1786-1867), were both high-ranking generals in the British army. Although stories suggest Irish heritage, Freeth Sr. was born in Hythe, Kent, England, and only spent a few years in Ireland during childhood.

Freeth Sr. was involved in various ventures, including guano mining on Laysan Island, a remote part of the Hawaiian island chain. He also briefly ran a business as a contractor in Honolulu.

William Lowthian Green’s most important contribution was negotiating the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States in 1875, ensuring that sugar remained a dominant industry in Hawai'i.