The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-10-06
NOTES OF THE EEK.


THE RIDES ABOUT Observation-Disclosures the resi-
dents of the metropolis of Hawaii are sadly of for
good carriage drives of any extent out Of town,
there are some excursions up the vallies and hills
in this vicinity which will repay the effort required
tn make them. Probably few even of our oldest
residents have visited all the points Of interest
that can be named, from some of which very fine
landscape views can be obtained. Strangers. espe-
cially. who have but a short time To spend here,
can with proper information. see more of eur island
scenery in two weeks. than many Of our residents
have seen during ten years. For the information
of all. We will mention Il few of The most inviting
points of interest:
PuachbouI HH. Just back of the town, is an eX-
tinct crater, the highest point of which is about
COO feet above the sea. 1t is OF easy ascent. on
any side. for pedestrians vino are used to climbing.
On tine west side. Chat toward the sea- there is Il
good foot path. which terminates near the flagstaff.
On the east side (thc rear of tic hilD is a bride
path. where cqucstrians can easily ascend into the
bowl. The best view is obtained from the west
and highest point, that opposite or nearest to the
royal school. from which Il fine panoramic view OF
the city is obtained, as well as of the surrounding
country from Diamond Head to the Waianac noun
tains. On a calm morning or afternoon, a visit to
the top of Iunchbowi viii well repay the effort
and requires Only ABOUT an hOlr Tor the tNClIslJl.
Diamond Hegd is an extinct crater. very similar
in its formation to Punclbowl. but with a more
symmetrical bowl. The highest point is about
LOCO feet above the SEA. On the east or rear side
Of the hill. is u bridIepath. leading to its top. As
a natural curiosity it is well worth Il visit, though
the view from it is by no means so fine as from
Punchbowl. The excursion Will require some three
hours. to ride all over the hill. Another pleasant
horseback ride is around the base of the hill. along
the sea-shore, and thence back TO the mountain
road, returning past the telegraph station. On
the west side. at the base of the hill. is the site of
an old heidU. where the priests of kamchameha
the Great and his predecessors are said to have
performed their sacrifices. Very few remains OF
the old temple are now to be found. Directly
south of the hill. near a cluster of huts is a singu-
lar chaUs cliff, which is said to contain fossils of
recent species. Directly under the ella is a spring
of fresh water, pouring into the sea. At high tide
the spring is submerged at low water. it furnishes
the natives their daily beverage. The volume Of
water discharging at times is very large, equal
perhaps to five hundred gallons a minute. The
ride to the top or around Diamond Head will re-
quire the best part of three hours.
Coco Head. about nine miles from Honolulu, is
the southeast point of the island. The road is
good. nut there is nothing of particular interest to
w GtNi lhNtNs ~ NNtAt ~ NNTr W 'hA1t y "
good carriage drive to Coco Head, and if ever
done, we predict there will be an - Ocean House =
erected there, which will become a favorite fishing
and bathing resort. 1t requires about four hours
to ride out and back.
Mrnoa Valley affords a pleasant afternoon ride,
when the weather is dry. so That the head of the
valley can be reached. Beyond the governors
country seat the road is apt to be muddy. but of
late it has been p~assabie. Above this point show
crs are quite frequent. But choosing a dry and
clear day. when the sides of the valley can be seen
free from overhanging clouds, the trip up Manoa
will be found charming. Near the head OF his
valley was formerly the oldest coffee plantation on
this island, and near by is still the burial ground of
the Chinese.
Mount 1aHtqigs is the name given to the high
green peak directly in rear of Punchbowl Hill. 1t
is covered with tail grass, and trees are scattered
here and there over its sides. There are two routes
To ascend it-one by following the r.Ige that runs
up from Punchbowl, which Is the easiest road to
the summit. The other is by way of Punahou,
much more circuitous and longer. After pass
ing the college premises, the path strikes
oil from the Manoa road, runs around the left base
of ~Round-hill,' and ascends to the duck
pond. - a sheet of water on the mountain ridge be
tween Manoa and Mlkiki vallies. Near this point.
4 llt III b-tNf Nl'Hh VI AfAitA ' i4ltH II DidlLit
extending from its head to the sea. She valley lies
before you like a map. dotted with its houses
and numerous taro patches. From the duck
pond referred to, the road leads through the
forest across the head Of Makiki and Papakolea
yalljcs. Unless the weather has been dry. the road
here is apt to be bad. and though quite rough. it Is
the pleasanteSt part Of the excursion. 1t Is 50
steep in several places. as to render it necessary to
dismount. \ guide, or some person who has been
over the route before, should b. secured. Having
reached the side Of =. Tantalus. the ascent. though
very steep. i easily performed. and the excursion
its are soon at the summit. which Is between three
and four thousand feet above the sea. As may
readily be imagined. the view j. charming and
last occasion having been last Saturday. The at
mosphcrc was then clear and beautiful. with not 4
cloud resting on any Of the mountains from Coco
Head TO Waialua. nor on the Waianac mountains.
The air was cool and braciHg. The prospect from
here Is probably more extensive than that to be
had from any other point on Oahu. Besides a view
of the fine central mountain range Of Oahu. it
spreads out in one broad panorama the plains be-
tween Waialua aud the Waianae mountains, Pearl
river and Bay. BARRIERS Point, Honolulu and its
vicinity. the IIarbor AMI Shipping. Waikiki. Dia-
uoaI Head and the district beyond. The mean
driinE sLors l. distinctly traced from far around
BARRIERS Point. with it, white surf. and beyond. the
broad ocean stretches lik' am inclined plane. On