The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-02-12
Ports of the Sandwich Island..-No. 4.

K-
mAnArsA (anoiently called LrrH, from the
short stay of Chiefs there) is pleasantly located
on the western snore of West Mani. and is in " est
long. 1862 Al and North lat. 240 81 5O". 1t
may be considered as the second port of the Ha-
waiian Islands, as, next to Honolulu, it is most
generally frequented by the whaling feet which
touch at the islands in the spring and fall for
recruits and refreshments.
This town was selected by Kamehameha III.
and his chiefs to be the seat of government of the
group, and it continued such till the troublesome
times of 1643, when he removed the royal resi-
dencc to Honolulu. Its public buildings are few.
1t has two churches, a hospital, a g palace, ;"
which from the anchorage looms up and appears
a stately building, but is fast going to ruin from
neglect. There are three ship chandlery stores,
some fifteen retail stores, and three practicing
physicians. The best seminary on the Islands
for the education of natives, is located about two
miles back of the village. 1t is under the charge
of capable foreign teachers, and is sustained by
the government. 1t numbers from sixty to eighty
students.
Perhaps there is no village on the group that
presents to the stranger a more striking tropical
appearance than does Lahaina. There is one
principal street, several miles in length intersected
with many others, lined with large kukui trees,
which cover the road, rendering it in places a
shady and cool bower. These trees remind one of
the noble branching elms of New Haven, though
the shade of the kukui is denser and cooler.
Numerous groves of cocOanuts and tall bananas
line the beach and envirOns, while grape and
other vines almost bury in their foliage many of
the cottages. There is no spot on these islands
equal to Lahaina for gardening or raising fruit
and vegetables of every description, owing to the
abundant supply of water.
The native inhabitants of Maui are far more
advanced in the knowledge of selfgovernment,
and also in agriculture, and consequently are
more independent than those of either of the
other islands of our group. This is owing
mainly to the influence of old Governor Hoapili,
who governed the island for some twenty years,
and who was thoroughly imbued with republican
ideas. Whenever he undertook any public work,
ne first called the common people together to
advise with them, telling them that the work,
if needed, was for their good and it is said that
he always yielded to the popular voice. The
successors of Hoapili have been intelligent gov
ernors, and, in a measure, carried out his popu-
lar views. Hence it is that far more attention is
paid bv the natives of Maui to agriculture, and
some of the common people have become indie
pendent.
The anchorage being an open roadstead, vessels
can always approach or leave it with any wind
that blows. No pilot is needed here. Vessels
generally approach through the channel between
Maui and Molokai, standing well over to Lanai,
as far as the trade viii carry them, then take the
sea breeze, which sets in during the forenoon, and
head for the town.
The anchorage is about ten miles in extent
along the shore and from within a cables length
of the reef in seven fathoms of water, to a distance
of three miles out with some twenty-five fathoms,
afording abundant room for as large a feet as
! can ever be collected here. The holding ground,