The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-08-19

greater portion, no longer needed for the
cultivation Of food. These apparent mo-
rasses, which are noticeable feature in all
Hawaiian scenery, convey to the eyes of
strangers only the idea Of waste and worth
less land; yet TO the Hawaiian eye, and in
the market estimation. they are more valua-
bic than the dry and grassy lands; for these
watered tracts are either abandoned kalo
patches, or may be converted into such, for
the growing of that eseulent, which requires
an overhowed soil. Its home, naturally, is
the swamp, aud, like the rice, it must be grown
under water. There are thousands of acres
now unused for kalo, which may, in the fu-
ture, be devoted to rice, and vastly increase
the valuable exports of these Islands. They
are the basis of natural wealth, awaiting
utilization, and far more valuable than the
proud moutain peaks which tower so grandly
above them. Natures most useful gifts to
man often are covered with the most unat-
tractive exterior.
The seacoast of Waimanalo is an unbroken
beach of dazzling white sand, thrown up into
dunes, and strewed by the strong trade
winds many yards inland. There is a per-
petual struggle of the grass and the thrifty
shoots of the convolvulace with the wind
and sea, to cover these dunes with carpet
of green. In some places they have sue
ceeded to the very edge of the beach; in
others, they are vanquished yards distant-a
few long, advance creepers Of the convolvu-
lus alone holding the debatable ground.
Upon this beach breaks, with sullen roar,
monotone that ever sends its note towards
the vault of Heaven-a perpetual voice Of
Him who rules the sea, and rides upon the
storm. A narrow band of green, short
way out, gives place to the dark blue of the
deep seattle reefshoaled water, to those
greater depths which the sea-plummet reaches
only in the hands of the skillful and ingenious.
The coast-line probably breaks down with
all the suddenness and pitch that marks the
rise of the mountains on the land. The
rocky, barren islet of Manana lifts itself some
hundreds of feet out of the sea, at the east
ern termination of the beach, and the two
islets, Mokulua, at the western.
Trees are not feature in the landscape of
Waimanalo. The Kukui, Ohia, and the Pan
danus cluster in the rayines at the base of the
pail, and climb as far as soil is found to sus-
tain them, but the plain is desolate, except
around the homesteads which dot the land.
These are indicated by the groups of foliage
which have been planted and nursed by at
tentive hands. All the windward side of
Oahu lacks woodland and forest that can be
made serviceable. In inaccessible spots, in
the riffs of the mountains, adding beauty to
the scenery, and clothing rugged places in
emerald colors, clusters of trees may be
found which almost attain the dignity of
forests. They serve to delight the eye, but
do not add value to the lands. The prevail
ing trees are not the hard woods, useful for
fuel There are thousands of acres of good
cane land on Oahu, that only await the day
when coal can be laid down upon them at
cost, to become available as splen-
did sugar lands.
The cane grows luxuriantly on the plains
of Waimanalo, and there are hundreds of
acres having soil deep and rich, for this, or
otheragricultural products.
1t is in such scenery as Waimanalo that the
summer day-the detested of the sweltering
Of the town-becomes pleasant |
The summer was made for the |
country. The dawning light comes stealing |
over the land to renew the beauties of ma
ture, reduced by night to only grand out
ines of mountain and valley. The morning
sun lifts itself out of the sea, and brings, to
temper its too fervid heat, the freshening
rade winds, that have caught the salty flavor
IF the ocean.
The cloud-shadows chase each other over
he grassy plain, until the midday sun has
become shut out by the interposing canopy
IT clouds, and night at length comes on, as
lie sinks behind the mountain ridges.
" The far-stretcbed curtain Of retiring light
With fiery treasures fraught; that on the sight
Flash from its bullying sides where darkness lours
In fancy's eye chain Of moulderng towers
Or craggy coasts just rising into view,
Midst javelins dire and darts Of streaming bluel"