Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1850-03-02
Tar HIcHwArs OF HAwAn xE,.

L
| Physical highways mean, not moral. The
road to market, not 10 debauehsry and death.
You may find them all along from Kau to
kohaIa, and they are SO all same same /" every
where, crooked, narrow, rough, break-neck,
y'liainous ways--a shame and disgrace both
to government and people. Advances for
'rard have been made by the nation in every
thing else, and for this we would .sthank
God and take courage" but in the matter Of
road-matSn5 or even path-lnaking the ad-
rance has been backwards. There is NOT
enough of enterprise in our island rulers to
repair the wear caused by the continual
tramping of animals, brute ard human, upon
the toierable surface which nature provided
for our use
Within ten years there has been a single
attempt to repair some portions of the public
highways; but the attempt and the result
were purely a la Hawaii, i. e., the officer in
whose charge the business was, by law left.
felt the dignity of his office too sensibly to
allow him to meddle with so trifling an affair.
and hence the path was left in a condition
fifty per cent worse than when taken in hand.
Since that time, we have, with no little la
Dor, surveyed and laid out proper paths or
roads, at the solicitation of the authorities:
and moreover have petitioned for action wear
after year and offered our services gratis TO
the chief dignitary Of our Island, to super
intend and direct native labor in this depart
ment, all from an earnest desire to see a lit
tie waking up to the practical ut lity of de-
cent highways, among the native population.
but 50 far, as has been seen, our authorities
have been SO thoroughly absorbed in private
business or in public affairs, which does not
appear, that not the first element of even a
decent regard to the necessities Of the COM
munity, have stirred within them, much less
a atolerable spirit of public enterprise And
what renders this less endurablc to His Mai
esty's naturalized subjects. is the fact that
tnere IS annually squandered means amply
sufficient to provide us with roads which
would prove OF immense comfort and adyan-
tage to the immediate population of the dis
trictan bring credit to the nation.
feel ON this subject, Mr.. Editor. as YOU.
too. would feel, had your shins been broken
as many times as mine have been, in travel
ing these public rms, or had your kino been
soused as often as mine has been by slipping
from the s' stepping stones " across our
streams, which stones, by the way, always
seem provided with a fresh coating of greasy
matter, whenever business calls us to tempt |
them, so that it is little less than miracle |
If one SUI ;eeds in getting over without the |
usual ablution!
You may say. for our comfort in our path
less dilemma, '' Excite spirit of enterprise
among the people. and make your roads with
voluntary labor, and right good is your ad-
vice, only not good for the present exigency,
nasmuch as the government or its laws
stand IN our way, by holding the people good
or twelve days of labor per annum on the
highways, and as the amount of labor would
amply suffice, if judiciously employed, for
i'll of our wants, there seems little motive to
lrge voluntary movement Besides. peo-
lie will hardly contribute rolunfarY service
o an enterprise, whilst whip is at their
'ack, compelling them. after the completion
# that enterprise and the supply Of their own
necessities, to travel ten or fifteen miles and
abor twelve additional days in making roads
or others, as they have been coerced TO do
'uch is not human nature
AS matters now stand, the highway tax is /.
dead loss, both to government aud people. i
government has assumed the work and i'm
osed the tax, whilst in fact, it neither does
he work, nor relinquishes the tax to be used {.
= voluntary effort-a regular dog-in-the- =
ranger policy. This, however should be
aid Of the highest authority of the island, .
nd not of the government y
Pray, Mr.. Editor, give US lift in this bu-
mess. Stir up the minds of the powers
,at be, to the Importance of mending the
ays Of the nation, and then comfort your ?
elf with the nice roads your weary feet will
ejoice in, when you next make the tour of :
lis big island. Yours,
ALAMAIKAI.