The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-12-01
PUBLISHED wEEKI.yp nv,
HENRY M. WHITNEY,.
MAUI.

of two
mountain masses, separated by an isthmus some
SIX miles IN width from sea to sea. and from s;~
10 ten miles In length. Eastern Maui is much
hlgher than w estern, consisting chiefly of Halea
kaia, (House of the Sum- l0, 200 feet high. and
It's immense slopes. 1t also includes much the
most arabic land, and here situated two fine
sugar Plantations, the East Maui Plantation nm
der the direction of A. III. Spencer, and the
brewer Plantation, l.. l.. Torbert, manager.
Others are projected, or in progress of planting
East Maui possesses some of the finest sugar lands
on the group. Here also are situated the i'm
mense kuld lands, or arabic plains, which a few
years ago supplied the Irish potatoes with which
brisk trade was carried on with California. and
from which at present the whalers are furnished
with most OF their supplies At Makawao are
the wheat lands of the group-at least here is the
spot where the cultivation of cereals has been
success. About 1000 acres under cultivation
with product of %, 600 bushels per annum.
The business is steadily increasing. The crater
oil Haieakala is deep gorge, about sixteen miles
In length, and open at the two ends. The bot
tom of it is two thousand and ninety three feet
below the summit of its walls. The inside is
bare of vegetation, and from its bottom arise
many large hills of scoria and sand.
The isthmus Of Waikapu lies but little above
the level of the sea, and is composed of dry sand
Since the goats and cattle have been allowed to
run there, they have destroyed the vines and
bushes which served to confne the sand on the
driven nearly to the leeward beach, and will soon
usurp the whole of the lower part of the sthmus.
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
ous- 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 fine
flavor. With these exceptions, most of West
Maui not inaccessibly mountainous, is grazing
land.
KAHoOLAwE
Is situated about "a miles w S. W. from La
haina, off the n w side of East Maui, about II
miles. 1t is used at present as sheep pasture.
Formerly it was a penal settlement Natives oc-
casionally go there for few months for
fishing purposes, or during the rainy season to
plant melons and sweet potatoes The island is
said to contain p, 600 acres, of which about 5000
is tat6e land.
Is a small, bare uninhabited rock in the chan
mel about midway between Kahoolawe and East
Maui.
LANAI
Lies opposite Lahana at a distance of from
eight to twelve miles. and is about sixteen miles
long by about eight wide. Though higher than
Kahoolawe, it is too low to receive a large guam
tity of rain, and though there are few good
lands upon it, the population is scanty. There
is but one permanent stream on the island, that
running down the valley of Maunalei, which
opens to the N E., directly facing Kaluaaha, on
Nolokai The Mormons have tried 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.
n
This island is long and narrow, the eastern end
much the highest point, rising into mountains
nearly three Thousand feet high, and sloping of
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 ANA pail "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 mountains beng
often impassible. The leeward side presents
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 pre-
sent scenery unsurpassed In magnIhcence- Inc
western end of the island is too low and dry TO be
worth much unless perhaps for sheep pasture
The reputation of M6lokai is apparently more in
dustrious and enterprising and also healthier than
tina. of most of the other islands OF the group.
Since 1853 the population has been gradually IN
crossing. There are one or two DAIRY iarins On
the island from which an excellent article OF out-
ter is sent to the Honolulu market, and OCCASION
alJv some very fine cattle. There is an indenta-
tion on the leeward side of the island at place
called KaIae which, at moderate expense, might
be converted into good harbor for coasters. At
present only very small vessels can get over .he
bar.
OAHU.
Commercially, Oahu is the most important
island of the group. 1t is formed by two ranges
of mountains, the highest OF whlch-hohanuainu
at the pass of Nuuanu-is about four thousahu
feet above the level of the sea. One OF THESE
eastern end of the island along near the windwara
sbore till it sinks into the low plain OF corai roch
q, Kabuku the other, or Waianae range. com
mencino on the leeward side OF Eva at Daroer
nont. and running some ten or tweiVe ih,iee w
wards the first range, with which IL maAso a"
angle, then turning with a sharP eiooW Wine ON
- down In Kaena point, leaving Waiiua Oh
tho 2;obt or windward side. The hrst range pre-
s.nts to windward for almost Its whole range.
,,erpendicuIar wall of rock several tnousinu reo'
bi9h. with comparatively level sno eA,enSS s. e
from its base to the sea, varying IN "ialn ,ron
nothing, at Makapuu pan, or .en sl ,s;te the
ID. Judd's land, to six or seven miles oPP9'. =;
nal; of Nuuanu Through this low land at IN
ttervals are thrown out from the pain r,tnSo "
araI rdoes or spurs of hills, usually ending a. or
near the sea with an extinct crater aS ~ -
r;bs from the backbone. The SOIL OF tne I, ioT
1aud Os msntoned is generally good, and pretty well
watered. r The climate, on the windwaro siae Sn
Ne ar tbe islands. is more moist and several de-
oress cooler than on the leeward slde: .,-
Honolulu, the seat of the HawaIlan an gIsesS g1seSa
ment and the commercial emporium Oh Sa sue of the
IL situated on the leeward or west slu1 y, ~
= ;s,and ou level plain directly opposite the beau.
tifaI valley of Nuuanu. The city has slowly ta' 3en
eonstantIy increased in size during the pas. zen
years. and it's population amounts to between eeN
SOOO and 5000 inhabitants, of whom low caS al
foreigners. 1t has fine caPac'ous narp oO0
a1s oy sIs e At time, and is perfectly safe in all
weathers. .,,,..;ns nresents a