The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-05-19
A BRIEF TRIP TO KAUAI

"Once more upon the waters" and on the
Kifauea, this time for a flying trip to the island
Of Kauai. But it was very natural that, &c we
went on board the old steamer on the afternoon
OF the llth instant and she proceeded out Of the
harbor the recollections should be fresh of our
last trip Z" To Lahaina and Back, with its dis
comforts and narrow escapes, some two
months before. But since then the Rilduea had
been thoroughly strengthened with new planks
and fastening, and that dreadfully treacherous
old staft-though we ought to commend it for
having held on SO well-had been replaced by a
new one; the veteran Marchant was on the
steamer was quite restored.
Leaving port at 5 O'Clock p. NJ. with the
usual trade winds blowing, under sail and mod
crate steam, we were off the bay of Nawiliwili at
5 O'Clock on the following morning, and before
6 had landed. This bay, on the s. E. end of the
island of Kauai, is quite capacious, has q good
anchorage and is sheltered by n considerable
bluff from the prevailing winds, though entirely
exposed and unsafe in s~outherly weather. A
reef runs parallel with the beach to within q
quarter Of a mile of the North side OF the bay,
within which there is a good harbor, occasional
ly used by coasters, and entered through a
passage in the reef at the South end. We were
told that the exp enditure of a moderate sum for
buoys, with perhaps a tride of blasting would
render this a safe and easily accessible harbor in
all weathers-a desidera tum for that side of the
island. The landing is good at Nawiliwili Gas
things go on these islands) for the surf is moder-
ate, and we find q plank wharf some seventy
five feet in length, upon which we climb from
the boat by a ladder of joist. There are u few
scattered houses at the beach. with storehouses
and retail shops-the last kept by the inevitable
Chinaman-and q good road leads to the elevat-
plateau above, on which are prominently
situated the Courthouse and look-up-evidences
of civilization, or at all events of the presence Of
law. eve remark here that good public roads
are the rule on Kauai, barring the mud in rainy
weather. and that this is owing to two circum-
the absence of rocks, and the presence
of faithful road supervisory
A couple of miles inland from Nawiliwili are
situated the mill buildings of the Lihue Planta-
ton, one of the most successful sugar estates on
the islands, whose works for irrigation are said
to extend over twenty miles in length. We did
not however visit the plantation, as our errand
to the island was to inspect the lands of Kealia
and Kappa, some fifteen miles to the Northward,
Captain James Makee and others are
about commencing a new sugar plantation.
There was no difficulty in procuring mounts
for our party of five, although the native horse
owners were sufficiently whimsical in their way
Of dealing. One demanded six dollars for the
use of his animal for the day, but readily con-
'ented to sell it outright for eight; not a bad
horse either, for he kept up with the best during
the more than thirty miles that we travelled
day.
The first three or four miles of our road lay
lands of Lihue Plantation, ON which
we're ONE fine looking fields of cane; an
immense field just plowed; through a gulch in
which nestled a comfortable looking overseer's
and a bakers dozen of laborers'
,ottages, all in a row and as like as a lot of peas
n a pod; until we came to the Wailua river
where it runs into the sea. 1t was about
orty feet wide at this point and some fifteen
leep, and is crossed by means of a scow. The
is an old German, who %rejoices in the
ame of Captain Hans, and who with his native
wife, who is fat and forty but not fair, probably
makes a decent living by ferrying man and horse
cross the stream for six and a quarter cents, or
hapaumi. From the river for some five miles
nOre the road runs near the sea, quite level, and
S pretty a wagon track as could be desired-the
streams to be met with being shallow
nd easily crossed.
"fTwas a goodIy scene