# Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Hawaii

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​HAWAII, a territory of the United States of America, consisting of a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean; 2,000 miles from San Francisco; area, 6,449 square miles; capital Honolulu.
Topography.—The surface of the islands is exceedingly mountainous and of volcanic origin, with numerous active and quiescent volcanoes. The most prominent physical features of the group are the mountain peaks of Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa, both 14,000 feet in height. Kilauea, on the Mauna Loa ​mountain in Hawaii, is the largest active volcano in the world, and has an oval-shaped crater, 9 miles in circumference, and 6,000 feet above sea-level. On the island of Maui is the dormant crater of Mount Haleakala, from 25 to 30 miles in circumference, and 3,000 feet deep, standing 10,000 feet above sea-level. On account of its insular formation the coast line is extensive, but there are few good harbors, Pearl Harbor at Honolulu being the only important one. The rivers are few and unimportant, being mere mountain streams.
Climate, Soil and Productions.— Though the islands are entirely within the tropics the climate is mild, tempered by the N. E. trade winds, blowing nine months of the year. The rainfall in the mountain region is quite abundant, but on the coast slopes rain seldom falls. The soil is very fertile, being formed by the disintegration of the volcanic rocks and decay of vegetable matter. There is abundance of good pasturage, and cattle and sheep raising are important industries. The N. E. mountain slopes are covered with dense forests, and sugar cane, Indian corn, coffee, and wheat are cultivated on the plains. Tropical and semi-tropical fruits are grown on a large scale.
The two chief crops of the islands are sugar and pineapples, and the production of these has been greatly increased in recent years. The sugar yield in 1919 was about 600,000 tons, and the yield of pineapples, about 5,000,000 cases. The yield of sugar for the year 1920 was estimated at 568,671 tons, and that of pineapples, 6,000 cases. A large area has been made available for crops by irrigation. Extensive irrigation systems have been developed on the four main islands. A considerable area has been set aside as forest reserve. There were in 1920 about 74 of these reservations with a total area of 818,739 acres.
Commerce.—The imports for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1920, amounted to $63,283,647, compared with $50,743,899 for 1919. The exports amounted to $104,799,804, compared with $88,250,021 for 1919. The greater part of trade has been done with the United States. The imports to the United States in 1920 amounted to $53,669,174, and the exports to $101,194,733. The chief exports were sugar valued at $78,589,467; fruits and nuts, $18,509,028; and raw coffee, $521,316.
Communications.—Traffic with the mainland is conducted through lines of steamships operating direct passenger service in San Francisco and Honolulu. Five steamers were employed in 1920. This was augmented in 1921 by the addition of two additional steamers for service between New York and Honolulu, by way of the Panama Canal and San Francisco. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company operates three large steamers between San Francisco and Oriental ports, with stop-overs at Honolulu. Ten large freight steamers have also been put on this service. There is also a Manila-East India service with two passenger and freight steamers which stop at Honolulu. Preparations were made in 1920 to greatly increase this service by the addition of more boats. The Japanese company operates a fleet of vessels between China, Japan, Honolulu, and San Francisco. The Oceanic Steamship Company operates steamers between San Francisco and Australia, touching at Honolulu. There are other lines operating from Canada to Australia and Australasia, and from China to San Francisco, touching at Honolulu. Most of the inter-island traffic is conducted by the Inter-island Steam Navigation Company, which operates a fleet of 11 steamers. There are about 350 miles of steam railway in the islands. These carried in 1920, 2,054,568 passengers. Many of the large plantations operate their own railroads. In addition to the cable system across the Pacific, which has been in operation for a number of years, there are three wireless plants in operation.
Education.—In 1920 there were maintained on the islands, 173 public schools with 1,161 teachers and 38,295 pupils, and 59 private schools, with 384 teachers and 7,406 pupils. The number of pupils of all races in private and public schools was 45,701, compared with 43,271 in 1919. The University of Hawaii was established in 1920. This institution developed from the College of Hawaii. There were registered in 1920 242 students. There are in the territory two industrial schools, one for boys and one for girls.
Finance.—The total revenue collected by the Territory in 1920 amounted to $10,925,406, and the total expenditures aggregated $10,949,897. There was a balance on hand June 30, 1920, of $506,334. The assessment of personal and real property in 1920 aggregated $287,006,792. The total bonded debt in 1920 was $9,394,000.
Banking.—There were in 1920 two banks in operation. The total deposits amounted to $52,783,114, of which $15,807,778 were savings deposits.
Population.—The population of ​Hawaii, according to the census of 1914, was 255,912, compared with 191,909 in 1910. According to the 1921 census, the population was 255,912, divided as follows: American, British, German, and Russian, 25,000; Chinese, 22,600; Filipinos, 23,400; Hawaiian, 22,000; Japanese, 113,500; and Portuguese, 24,800. The remainder was made up of Coreans, mixed Hawaiians, Porto Ricans, Spanish, and others.
History.—The Hawaiian Islands were discovered by the Spaniards under Gaetano in 1549, and examined by Captain Cook in 1778, and during the greater part of the 19th century formed an independent kingdom, recognized as such by the United States, Great Britain, France, and other governments. In 1893 the reigning queen, Liliuokalani, was deposed and a provisional government formed. This provisional government resolved itself into a Republic in 1894, with two Houses and a President. Several attempts were made toward the annexation of Hawaii to the United States, and on July 7, 1898, the Congress of the United States passed a resolution to that effect. On Aug. 12, 1898, Hawaii was formally annexed to the United States. The islands, now known as the Territory of Hawaii, are governed by a governor appointed by the President. All whites, natives of Hawaii, and persons of African descent who were citizens of Hawaii before the annexation, are citizens of the United States. The president of the provisional and republican governments, and also the first governor after annexation was Sanford B. Dole.
On June 14, 1900, Hawaii was organized as a Territory. Mr. Sanford B. Dole was succeeded as Governor by George R. Carter. He served until 1907. In 1909 the United States Government decided to establish a large military station at Hawaii and work was begun on the fortifications and other necessary work. The organic act was amended in important details in 1910. Especially important changes were made in the land laws. Dredging of Pearl Harbor Channel, which had gone on for many years, was completed in 1912, The legislature of 1913 adopted measures of electoral reform.
Hawaii is the largest military outpost of the United States and was much affected by the declaration of war between the United States and Germany. The National Guard was brought to the maximum point of enlistment and efficiency and took over the policing of the islands. Eight German vessels and gunboats, which had been interned at Honolulu at the outbreak of the war, were seized by the United States Navy, following the declaration of war with Germany. On June 1, 1918, the first and second regiments of the National Guard were drafted into Federal service. The Territory suffered the greatest storm in its history during 1918. Much damage was done to property. A special session of the Legislature provided for the rebuilding of bridges and other public works. The great Pearl Harbor dry dock was opened in August, 1919. The Secretary of the Navy and others were present.
In 1920 the islands were unusually prosperous, due largely to the high price of sugar. A commission was appointed by the Legislature to ask Congress to amend the Territorial Organic Act in relation to the land laws. There were strikes during 1920 which lasted from Feb. 1 to June 30. These affected the large plantations. In April, 1920, there was celebrated the centennial of the landing in Hawaii of the first Christian missionaries. During the ceremonies the Prince of Wales was a guest for several days.
* Copyright, L. L. Poates Eng. Co., 1921
© Publishers' Photo Service :
SURF RIDING AT WAIKIKI BEACH, HONOLULU. AT THE LEFT IS DIAMOND HEAD :