HAWAI'I POST ®

Main Page

Services

Area served

Stamps

First Day Covers

Stamp Booklets

Ordering Stamps

Future Issues

Standing Order

Postmarks

Contact us

About us

Privacy

Links

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

--

December 2nd 2008. 150th Anniversary of the Annexation of Johnston Atoll by the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

Three stamps and a mini-sheet were issued on December 2nd 2008 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Annexation of Johnston Atoll by the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

The Johnston group of islands consists of four islands, the main one being Johnston Atoll. The others are much smaller and include Sand Island, Akau Island and Hikina Island. The islands are about 720 miles southwest of Honolulu. Akau and Hikina were man-made by the U.S. military in the late 20th century, using dredged coral.

The U.S. ship "Sally" was grounded on a reef near Johnston Atoll on September 2nd 1796, but Captain Joseph Pierpoint did not name his discovery. The British ship H.M.S. "Cornwallis" landed there on December 14th 1807 and the atoll was named after its Captain Charles Johnston.

On March 19th 1858, the Captain of the U.S. ship "Palestine" claimed the atoll in the name of the United States. Three months later on June 14th 1858, the Hawaiian ship "Kalama" landed on Johnston. Captain Watson took down the American flag, and put up the Kingdom of Hawai'i flag. The atoll was renamed Kalama Island.

However, the Captain of the "Palestine" returned on July 27 1858 and put up the American flag again, leaving two crew members behind. The same day, July 27 1858, King Kamehameha IV declared the annexation of the islands by the Kingdom of Hawai'i. Guano extraction was started and continued intermittently until 1920.

In 1898, when Hawai'i was annexed by the U.S.A., Johnston Atoll was left out of the annexation. On June 29th 1926, President Calvin Coolidge issued an Executive Order placing the islands under the Department of Agriculture as a "refuge and breeding ground for native birds." However, on December 29th 1934 President Franklin Roosevelt issued an Executive Order placing the islands under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy.

In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese also bombed Johnston. From 1942 onward the U.S. military gradually expanded its presence on the atoll. From the 1950's through the 1960's, it was a used as a Nuclear Bomb test site. Two bombs misfired and exploded directly over the atoll causing years of effort in removing the contaminated top soil.

In January 1971, "Operation Red Hat" was commenced by the U.S. Army in which chemical weapons were transferred to the atoll from military bases in Japan and Europe. From 1990 to 2000, the destruction by incineration of thousands of chemical weapons took place by JACADS (Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System). During this time, about 1,000 U.S. military and Government contractors worked on the Atoll. Commercial flights operated by Continental Airlines/Air Micronesia out of Honolulu landed at Johnston, but only those with permits were allowed to disembark. The flights then continued on to Majuro in the Marshall Islands and other destinations.

In April 2001, JACADS and the base was closed and the demolition of all above-ground structures of Johnston Atoll began. Only the airport runway was left untouched for future use as an emergency landing strip. The demolition was completed in 2003 and the islands were then handed over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Currently, the islands are known as the "Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge" and are uninhabited. Permission to visit the islands is by permit only and then only usually granted to scientists and researchers.

The $2.50 stamp (above left) pays for extra charges, such as additional weight. It shows an aerial view of Johnston Atoll from the east, prior to 2001.

The $6 stamp (above middle) prepays the Overnight rate. It shows a map of Johnston Atoll with an outline of the airport runway, taxiways and the seaplane landing area.

The $9 stamp (above right) prepays the Same Day rate. It shows a 1960's view of the Airport Control Tower and Post Office (APO 105) on Johnston Atoll. Both structures have now been demolished. A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane can be seen taking off, lower right.

...
a

...
...... The $9 mini-sheet (above) prepays the Same Day rate. It shows a map of the Pacific Ocean and the location of Johnston Atoll. The left insert shows the carved wooden sign at the entrance to the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The right insert shows a view of the JACADS (Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System) before it was completely demolished in 2001.

aaaa

......

A Booklet was issued consisting of 3 booklet panes. Each pane consists of 2 stamps and has a white margin all around. "Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i" is printed horizontally on the bottom margin and "© 2008 Hawai'i Post" is printed vertically on the lower right side margin of each pane. The Booklet cover shows some souvenirs from Johnston Atoll, including a road sign, USCG & Fire Department patches and an unofficial license plate.

. . .

The special postmark for this issue shows a Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor), and is inspired by the same bird on the sign at the entrance to the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (see the left insert on the mini-sheet above).

Click here to order stamps.

WE ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS ON ALL ORDERS

Click here to place a Standing Order for all future issues

Technical details of the stamps:
Colors: Multicolored
Size: Stamps - 48mm x 32mm.
S
tamp sheet size: 30 (6 across, 5 down)
Perforation: Perf 12. Mini-sheet - Imperf.
Stamps design: Enelani.
Layout & Pre-press: Enelani.
Printer: Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Printing Method: 4-color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) printing process.
Sheet margin markings: HAWAI'I POST (top middle), "Traffic Light" showing 4 colors used in printing (lower left side), © 2008 Hawai'i Post (lower right side) & Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i. (bottom middle)
Paper: GPA coated white stock with water-activated gum on the back.


Return to list of stamp issues

For details on upcoming stamp issues click here


 

copyright 2000-2008 hawaii-post.com
all rights reserved
"Hawaii Post" is a registered Service Mark