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, inHonolulu,Hawaii,[1] the son of shipping magnateSamuel Gardner Wilder. He had five siblings.
Wilder attendedHarvard University andHarvard Law School[1] in 1893–1896. Wilder married Sarah Harnden September 12, 1899, inAlameda, California and had two children. His daughter Kinaʻu Wilder (1902–1992) marriedCharles B. McVay III and had sonKimo Wilder McVay (1927–2001), who managedDon Ho when he popularized the songTiny Bubbles.[2]
He became an artist and founded the firstBoy Scout troop in Hawaii[3] withD. 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 developedSeascouting 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 inHonolulu is historic.[7]
In 1917, Wilder wrote a story titledKnights of the Square Table. This was adapted into aConquest Pictures film of the same title, in which Wilder played a scoutmaster.[8] The film is held by theLibrary of Congress.[9]
He composed the song,A Sea Scout Chantey.[10][11]
He painted a portrait ofPrince Kuhio that hangs in the'Iolani Palace's throne room[12] and painted U.S. CongressmanWilliam D. Thomas.
Wilder died on July 4, 1934, in Honolulu.[1]
He [James Austin Wilder] wrote the Sea Scout Chantey…
A Sea Scout Shanty; Words and Music by JAMES A. WILDER; CHIEF SEA SCOUT; Boy Scouts of America
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