The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-09-04
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY Y, SEPTEMBER 4.
Around East Maui.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

HAIKU, August 20, 1863.
The district of Hama, which forms the extrem
eastern portion of East Maui, possesses 4 small Blu
excellent harbor, formed by n bay, well sheltered
from the northeast trades and from the stormy
southcrs, but exposed to the north winds. a piel
might now, and riH one day, be constructed on the
southerly side of this harbor, which would serve fol
steamers as well as schooners, and become an attrac.
ton for vessels, which now seldom visit it
There are pretty good roads for eight miles south Of
the village and for six miles north of it, through
what may be termed n good agricultural district,
i. e., capable of being made such, and of sustaining
n population Of ten thousand or more, where now il
has not as many hundreds. Whenever such i'm
proyements are furnished at this port, as will attract
a steamer, this district, now very difficult of access,
will possess an industrious and teeming population
for its climate and soil are inviting.
Leaving Hama.
The road to Koolau, after a few miles, enters the
forest, which soon becomes dense, and, except through
the highway, is almost impenetrable, stretching from
as far up the mountain sides as the eye can reach, to
the seashore, and the traveller rides for miles through
q perfect bower of trees and vines. In some places
the pandanus or lauhala, forms the principal
tree Of these forests. giving them n peculiar and
beautiful appearance as viewed from some Of the
ridges up which the traveller ascends. Some of these
trees, as they grow here in the forest. are really
beautiful, rising from the ground in one straight
symmetrical column, like an iron shaft. without a
limb or joint, forty feet in height, TO where the screw
leaves branch out. A little higher up the ohia, or
native apple, abounds, and in some places forms,
like the pandanus, almost the only tree to be seen.
! Here, in this wilderness of Koolau, Maui, is to he
found
The Largest Apple Orchard In the Werld.
The ohia or native wild apple, grows in great
abundance, stretching from the sea TO far up the
mountain. The trees vary from forty to fifty feet in
height, and in the harvest season from July to Sep
tember, are covered with fruit. We passed through
these forests just at the season when the trees were
loaded and the fruit was ripening. And such q
sight For miles around US, mp the mountain, and
towards the seashorc, was one vast field of apple
trees. literally red with the ripe fruit, and their
branches bending to the ground with the bounteous
harvest Birds of gorgeous colors, of mingled red,
blue, green, yellow and black, were Fasting ON the
fruiA and-making the forests ring with their happy
choruses. The crop of these apple orchards, which
nature has planted so generously i'll this wild and
solitary waste. would fill u fleet of one hundred
steamers of the size Of the Idaho. Some idea Of the
quantity may be estimated, when We state that they
stretch over 4 country from five to ten miles wide
anu tWtht AAAASS hoAEs anu th1h SOhS VI al hi5
trees bear at least fifty barrels of fruit. We have
seen many a large fruit orchard in California and
the Eastern States. but the largest of them-not ex-
cepting Gen. Bidwell's At Chico, or Mr.. Briggs near
Marysville-is n small patch compared with this
grand apple orchard of nature. The fruit furnishes
to the traveller an excellent repast, which appeases
both hunger and thirst No commercial use can
now be made of it, as il can not be kept, when ripe,
more than three or four days. 1t makes n very
relishing sweet pickle, and it is possible, that by
cutting and drying, it may be preserved, as are ap-
pies and peaches, for cooking. At present, the vast
crop serves only TO feed millions of birds, or, when
over ripe, to cover the ground, and furnish new and
richer soil for future crops.
Native Village and Roads.
After riding ten or twelve miles from Hama,
through the dense forests described, with occasional
beautiful views, from the ridges, of the surrounding
scenery, We enter a pretty little village, Nahiku,
with its churches. valley, stream and waterfall-the
first met since leaving Hama. From here ON, the
country becomes more broken, the valleys deeper,
the pals or p~recipices steep and in some places
rather dangerous, especially during wet weather.
Not far from here, We found the carcass of q pack
horse which had slidden or fallen from the edge of the
road a hundred and fifty feet to its base. But gen.
orally these accidents may be avoided by keeping on
the inner side Of the road. As We proceed the road
leads higher up among the forests, where we can see
the ocean horizon fifty miles from the ~seashore, then
down a deep valley, thousands of feet, then up and
down again, over ridges and through deep canons.
This may appropriately be called
The Switzerland Of Hawaii,
And nothing can be more enchanting than its wild
and eyer-changing panorama Zach valley Mai zoe
enter seems more charming than the one just passed,
new and more fascinating scenery, some
more singular precipice or mountain spur, some
more beautiful waterfall or cascade, is ever attract
ing the eye. From the seashore to the mountain
summit stretch dense forests Of tropical growth, in
places u perfect jungle, the dark green of the
orange, kos, pandanus and ohia forming n marked
contrast to the bright silvery leaf Of the tutui. One
VI the most beautiful valleys is that Of waiohuli, !
about eight miles west Of Nahiku. Several streams
come rushing down from the mountain, and their
courses can be traced far up by the frequent water
and cascades, which appear very picturesque
among the dense foliage around them On ap
the valley of Wailuaiki, We encountered
Inc first shower met on our trip. Right merrily the
poured down, and We sought shelter in q way
hamlet, till a cessation enabled us to remount
,ur mules and hurry on, with the hope of reaching
kianae, the largest village on this side of the island,
,ome two miles distant. But it was of no use, the
sindows OF heaven were open, and We were forced
gain to stop at wailuanui,-a valley with a cluster
houses near the mouth Of the stream of the same
,ame. Although it had been raining barely an
,our. the stream was swollen and rapidly rising,
,ut somewhat rashly we dashed into it. and were
,orne by the flood some distance towards the breakers
md sen, before gaining the opposite bank. Here We :
ought refuge in a neat native house, whose land ,
ord, a well-to-do native, named Hiniau, invited US :
n. and urged us to stop for the night. rs it would be .
TO cross the next stream, which was con- i.
idered dangerous when swollen. This We found 20 !
e correct, as the river forms n narrow gorge, where
he road passes, and the water tumbles through it Y
rom ten to twelve feet deep, compelling travellers to =
top till it subsidies, which il generally does as rapidly q
$ il rises. Our host, who was an eccentric genius, !
ecidedly loquacious and somewhat OF q jester as we i.
Dund, was full of praise of the resources of the {
- a L. lanso uLicl, he called hnLe mall [