The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-02-25

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on the group. Here also are situated the i'm
mense kula lands, or arabic plains, which fe,
| years ago supplied the Irish potatoes with whic
| brisk trade was carried on with California an
from which at present the whalers are furnishes
with most of their supplies. At Makawao ar
the wheat lands of the group-at least here is tn
spot where the cultivation of cereals has been
success. About 1000 acres under cultivation
with product of 20, 900 bushels per annum
The business is steadily increasing.
The isthmus of Wakapu lies but little abov,
the level of the sea, and is composed of dry sand
Since the goats and cattle have been allowed t.
run there, they have destroyed the vines ant
bushes which served to confne the sand on th'
windward side, and the ssdunes - have beer
driven nearly to the leeward beach, and will soor
usurp the whole of the lower part of the isthmus
The wind here rushes across in fierce gusts be
tween the two divisions of the island, and renders
the navigation of the bay at times quite danger
Gus. On the western slope of the isthmus, and
towards the windward side, lie the cultivated
portions of Waikapu and Wailuku, which, with
the valleys behind them, are very fertile. The
level plain of Lahaina, composed of the alluvial
washed from the hills in the rear of the town, is
remarkably rich, and capable of producing
largely of most kinds of fruits and vegetables
Grapes grow rapidly, bear profusely, and are Of
a fine flavor With these exceptions, most OF
West Maui not inaccessibly mountainous, is
grazing land.
Is situated about "a miles W. S. W. from
Lahaina, off the n. W. side of East Maui. about
II miles. 1t is quite dry, but might perhaps
make sheep pasture. 1t has been but little used
hitherto, except occasionally in former years as a
penal settlement. Natives occasionally go over
there for a few months for fishing purposes, or
during the rainy season to plant melons and sweet
potatoes. The island is said to contain 25, 600
acres, of which about 5000 is table land.
MOLOKINI
small, bare uninhabited rock in the chan
mel about midway between Kahoolawe and East
Maui.
Lies opposite Lahaina al distance of from eight
to twelve miles, and is about l6 miles long by
about wide. Though higher than Kahoolawe,
it is too low to receive large quantity of rain,
and though there are few good lands upon It,,
the population is scanty. There is but one per-
manent stream on the isla nd, that running down
the valley of Maunalei, which opens to the n. E.,
directly facing Kaluaaha, Molokai. The
Mormons have tried for some time to make Lanai
their headquarters in the group, but with indif-
ferent success
1t is said that Lanai, if turned bottom up into
the crater of Haleakala, would about fill it.
MOLOKAI.
This island is long and narrow, the eastern end
much the highest point, rising into mountains
nearly three thousand feet high, and sloping off
gradually to the western point. The arabic land
on the windward side is narrow, and much of the
windward coast is formed by bold precipices OF
bare lava rock, rendered wild and jagged in ap-
pearance by frequent frightful gulches and raw
ines. The natives, in speaking of Molokai, term
it ka alma paL,-a land of precipices. Some of
the windward portions for large part of the year
can be approached only by sea. and that in good
weather, the foot-paths over the noun aims being
often impossible. The leeward side presents a
much more gentle slope to the sea and contains
some fine land both for culture and grazing.
Some of the valleys towards the eastern end
scenery unsurpassed in magnifcence. The western
end of the island is too low and dry to be worth
much, unless perhaps for sheep pasture. The
of Molokai is apparently more indus
trious and enterprising and also healthier than
that of most of the other islands of the group.
Since 1853 the population has been gradually in
creasing. There one or two dairy farms on
the island, from which excellent article of but
ter is sent to the Honolulu market, and OCCASION
ally some very fine cattle. There is an indenta-
ton on the leeward side of the island at place
called Kalae, which at a moderate expense might
be converted into good harbor for coasters. At
bresent only very small vessels can get over the
bar.
Commercially, Oahu is the most important
island of the group. 1t is formed by two ranges
of mountains, the highest of which-Konahuanu
at the pass of Nuuanu-is about four thousand
feet above the level of the sea. One of these
mountain ranges runs from Makapuu pointat the
eastern end of the island along near the windward
shore till it sinks pto the low plain of coral rock
at Kahuku the other, or Waianae range, COM
mencing on the lceward side of Eva at Barber's
point, and running some ten or twelve miles to-
wards the first range, with which it makes
angle, then turning with sharp elbow and rum
ming down to Kaena point, leaving Waialua on
the right or windward side The first range pre-
sents to windward for almost its whole length,
wall of rock several thousand feet
high, with comparatively level land extending
from its base to the sea, varying in width from
nothing, as at Makapuu pail, or ten rods, as at
DIR. Judds land, to six or seven miles opposite the
pail of Nuuanu. Through this low land at in
tervals are thrown out from the main range sew
eral ridges spurs of bills, usually ending at or
near the sea with an extinct crater as it were
ribs from the backbone. The soil of the low
land mentioned is generally good, and pr city well
watered. The climate, as on the windward side
of all the islands, is more moist and several de-
gress cooler than ON the leeward side.
Honolulu, the seat of the Hawaiian govern
ment and the commercial emporium of the islands,
is situated on the leeward or west side of the
: IL