The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-06-09
A Drive to Waikiki. and KapiOlani Park
a Honolulu, II. I.

world, who also are acquainted with that British
navigAtor's visit to the Island Of Oahu. Many
persons, however, particularly In foreign countries.
may not possess very definite information concern
ing the exact locality q Captain Nanocuver's an
ehorage On the shores q Oahu. I confess that.
prior % ny arrival IN Hobolulu. my own IDEAS On
the subject we're very indis,inet When sailing Into
the barber Of Hopoluiu. some time $50. from the
eastward, I deserted from the deck Of the ahip, .
grove Ct eocoa-nut trees. and vas Informed ~ .
Hawaiian sailor on beard that the name Of that To-
cality vas Waikiki, and that Ills Majesty the King
of the Hawaiian Islands had q marine residence In
the midst Of that oocoa-nut grove. ! made up my
mind TO pay a visit 70 Waikiki. on some future
occasion. Amer my landing In Oahu. ] found In
the course Of my readings In the work Of the HiSto-
riAn Of the Sandwich Islands. JArvea. that Waikiki
possessed especial interest for Briions. ~ one Of the
anchoragcs at these Islands Of the celebrated NaVi-
gator In question. IL was only a day or two ago,
however. that l bad an opportunity Of visiting this
historic and truly picturesque aud romantic locality
I had also another special motive for undertaking
the excursion. which was. 10 enjoy . sight OF the
newly laid down KApiolsni Park, and witness the
preparations for the approaching races there ON
KAmehameha Day, the national Havaiian holiday OF
June llth. Under these circumstances, l was both
houored aud happy to receive and Accepta very
courteous invitation to take . drive In company with
our Chief Editor to waikiki aid KapiOlani Park.
which was politely rendered by one Of the stewards
Of the Races. the Hon. Scott Cleshorn.
Accordingly. on a sunny afternoon OF a tropical
spring day In showery Ni~y. ous P~sty ~ shr~e.
drove out or Houoluiu. In = vehicle drawn by = pair
Of dashing horses. along King street. passing ~ the
walled park Of the Royal Residence. on the one
a NH1awt INauan WI the INV.
ernment on the other beyuDd Il. the stone
church Of Kawalahao. with the tomb Of King Luna
lilo and bis Sire farther. on. the Roman Catholic
graveyard. distinguishAble by its numerous crosses :
emerging upon the wide plain. underneath the bat
terry Of Punch-bowl hill, aud soon enjoying an open
view Of the sea on the right hand, aud the mountain
chain Of Oahu on the LEFT. I had no idea previous
" Of The extent and beauty Of the plain which
stretches from the foot Of the hills 20 the beach be-
tween Honolulu and Diamond Head, studded with the
pretty suburban residences Of the Aristooraey Of the
capital, occasionally c~ontras,ed with the humber
cots Of the native sons and daughters OF the soil.
Among others, the residence, embowered In luz
uriant tropical vegetation, Of ". B. Ms Commits
sioner and Consal General. IJor James WOOde-
house, was pointed out to me. as we dashed pleas
antly along. Turning of the mainroad 10 the right.
by n winding avenue, we entered the palm-groves OF
waikiki. which recalled TO my miad scenes OF Eas-
tern travel in my moro youthful days AZ enc time,
these groves boosted upwards Of 10000 graceful
stems with their waving tufted plumes, but their
number is now greatly diminished. Moe cottages,
isolated, or In groups, we're disoernible. In the midst
Of the palms and acacins, and other trees OF native
growth. In former days, before Honolulu existed.
the Kings Of Oahu resided at WAIKIKI Here ka-
mehameha the Great used TO sojourn At times, after
his conquest Of Oahu and foundation Of the United
Hawaiian Kingdom. Vancouver anchored IN Wal
kiki Bay, on March 7th, Of the year 1872. The
reigning King has q marine residence here. sur
rounded by palm-groves. aud enclosed by q white
paling, extending 20 the beach. l also saw the pref
" marine villa Of Her Majesty the Queen Dowagor
Emma, relict Of Kamehameha the Fourth. Of which
Her Majesty lately becnms possessed, BY the will OF
King Lunaiilo, who bequeathed !. 10 her, on tho de-
mise Of his father. Near tho shore. / noticed q
pretty little white church, with n tall taperinR
rounds the sacred edihce, In which church service 10
conducted In The Hawaiian tongue. The steeple
was struck down by lightning. some time ago but
has since been restored His Teigning MsJesiy,a
two sisters also own villas and lands az WAIKIKI.
Our party drove 20 the badiome marine real
dence OF II. r.. ii the Princess Miriam LIksliks,
married TO the Hon. A. Scott Cioghorn. IL 10 aitua-
ted farther inland from the beach, beyond the
Kings villa. The pleasure-grounds are baud
somely laid out. with aower-beds. hlled with rare
and fragrant plants, conspicuous amidst which are
the deep red flowers Of the hfbfseut, contrasting
pleasantly With the vivid green OF the acacia, the
Old familiar Indian banyan. the Hawaiian Ha1,
and other arboresOents. The villa. toto which our
party entered awhile. contains interesting portraits
Of departed and living members Of the royal family
Of Hawaii nei. A " grasS-bouse, LadicIring adhH
me a most unequivoeal surprise, AZ. judging iron.
the name, I had taken such a place 10 ressmble some
what an Australian " ample ~ but was ast0Is shed
10 meet instead with snch n charming and elegantly
furnished boudoir, whose Wals we're constructed
entirely Of plated grass-hsDco the name-and tho
roof Of thaich. 1 also had an opportunity Of seeing
the cultivation Of toe RaiO. in which n chinese was
apUaUo1 ua a. his Euaoa In mnf0r e 0uW UaRNw kayfnn
walked from the villa along q causeway beside q
faro patch to some distance In the rear. 20 a locality
where a new road from the city 10 Kapiolani Park 10
expected 10 Iass.
Amer an agreeable half hours visit 10 the pleas
fairgrounds and marine villa Of II r. II. the Prin-
cess Miriam Likehke, our party drove Of 10 Kapio-
lani Park. The road lay over the sands along the
beach, into which the wheels OF the vehicle often
sank 20 the axle-trees. and AZ places IL was necessary
to drive through the water, which came up 90 high
altogether the approach 10 the iDcipient Park In
detestable. Another aud better approach 10 the
Park is highly desirable. On entering abe Park.
nearly an insular piece Of ground vas pointed out.
as having been planted for q grove. When the trees,
(Which are already a foot or more Ia height) shall
have grown, il will bcautlfy the Park exceedingly.
Our party drove quite round the race-course, which
is in excellent condition for running. Between two
and three thousand trees Of the A,garoba, Euoaiyp-
tus and other species, have been planted along the
sides Of the numerous winding avenues into which
the Park has been laid out, which occupied an area
Of several acres on the plain stretching from the
beach TO the FOOT OF the extinct volcano OF Lsaht or
Diamond Head, towering above II like a grim old
Titan. | have seen many beautiful Parks, In all
parts Of the world. but have never before met with
a Park Boosting Of an extinct volcano, az n proml-
nent feature in the gorgeous landscape.
This Park is only in its Infancy, and its trees are
tiny plants bat a few inches over ground. The day
viii come when IL will constitute one Of the most
charming and attractive scenes In the environs Of
Honolulu, and its unselGsh originAtors deserve the
gratitude Of coming generations. / heard that His
Hawaiian Majesty King Kalakaua made . free gift
Of the land for the park-a wise and noble act.
Some gentlemen with patches Of worKmen were
actively engaged in making preparations for the race
day, and ! was shown the cite where q oommOdious.
grand stand is 10 be erected. 30 as 10 afford all pos
sible convenience 10 the ladies and gentlemen who
desire 30 witness the exciting sport.
0nr nnriu hnrfnn alinhlnd auhiIn lrorn lhn n.rraann