James A. Wilder Explained

James Austin "Kimo" Wilder (May 22, 1868 – July 4, 1934) was an artist, writer, and scouting pioneer in Hawaii. Wilder was born on May 22, 1868, in Honolulu, Hawaii,^[1] the son of shipping magnate Samuel Gardner Wilder. He had five siblings.

Wilder attended Harvard University and Harvard Law School^[1] in 1893–1896. Wilder married Sarah Harnden September 12, 1899, in Alameda, California and had two children. His daughter Kinaʻu Wilder (1902–1992) married Charles B. McVay III and had son Kimo Wilder McVay (1927–2001), who managed Don Ho when he popularized the song Tiny Bubbles.^[2]

Background

He became an artist and founded the first Boy Scout troop in Hawaii^[3] with D. Howard Hitchcock, another artist who married Wilder's cousin.^[4]

Wilder was active in Hawaii Scouting and traveled to the eastern United States where he developed Seascouting for older teen scouts and the Pine Tree Patrol System.^[5] Seascouting was introduced in 1919.^[6]

The James A. Wilder Residence built in 1907 in Honolulu is historic.^[7]

In 1917, Wilder wrote a story titled Knights of the Square Table. This was adapted into a Conquest Pictures film of the same title, in which Wilder played a scoutmaster. The film is held by the Library of Congress.^[8]

He composed the song, A Sea Scout Chantey.^{[9] [10]}

He painted a portrait of Prince Kuhio that hangs in the 'Iolani Palace's throne room^[11] and painted U.S. Congressman William D. Thomas.

Wilder died on July 4, 1934, in Honolulu.^[1]

Bibliography

• Book: Jack-Knife Cookery.
• Book: The Pine Tree Patrol. ^[11]
• Book: Knights of the Square Table.

Notes and References

1. Book: Shavit, David. 1990. The United States in Asia: A Historical Dictionary. Wilder, James Austin. 526. Greenwood Publishing Group. 28 August 2019. 9780313267888.
2. News: Kimo McVay, Hawaii's Mr. Show Biz . John Berger . . June 30, 2001 . July 21, 2010 .
3. Web site: James Austin Wilder . Winston R. Davis . 2005 . Sea Scouts · Boy Scouts of America . July 21, 2010 .
4. Book: Men of Hawaii: being a biographical reference library, complete and authentic, of the men of note and substantial achievement in the Hawaiian Islands . . 1921 . John William Siddall . 425 .
5. Web site: The Friend. March 23, 1919. Google Books.
6. Web site: Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America: Letter from the Chief Scout Executive Transmitting the Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America ... as Required by Federal Charter. Boy Scouts of. America. March 23, 1920. U.S. Government Printing Office. Google Books.
7. Web site: 3935 Round Top Drive/ James A. Wilder Residence.
8. Book: Knights of the square table, or, The grail. March 23, 1917. 18255474.
9. . James Austin Wilder . . . . September 1934 . 22 . 8 . 17 . He [James Austin Wilder] wrote the Sea Scout Chantey….
10. Book: . 1939 . The Sea Scout Manual . 6 . . . 676 . A Sea Scout Shanty; Words and Music by JAMES A. WILDER; CHIEF SEA SCOUT; Boy Scouts of America.
11. Web site: - Chief Sea Scout James Austin Wilder. www.menofschiff.org.