The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-03-10
TO LAHAINA R0ADS-AND BACK
@ AGAIN.

than as a way-port, but circumstances over
which we had no control constituted it our
IS Point Turnagain." We embarked in company
with a goodly number of passengers on Monday
last on the steamer Kilaued, for Hilo and the
| Circuit of Hawaii. For our individual self, We
intended to make the most of a rarely enjoyed
weeks vacation, by getting several mouthfnls
of fresh air interviewing the Development Com
missioners at Hilo in regard to their opinion of
the rich and undeyeloped district of Hamakua :;
and lastly, on the SO home stretch, - to visit the
scene of the late submarine eruption at Keala-
kekua, if perchance the goddess Pele might really
be at work in making a new harbor there. Ma
turally enough we contemplated the collection
of sufficient material for several chapters of inter-
island travel and q leading article or two on
public improvements. In all these expectations
we were disappointed except in the matter of
fresh air, of which we got iather more, on the
whole, than was agreeable.
The breeze was fresh from the South-West
when we left port, and although some of the
weather-wise prognosticated it would prove only
local, it freshened to half a gale outside of Dia-
mond Head, with a heavy chopping sea, that
speedily brought all but old sailors-and that
disagreeable, cynical style of old traveller who
is never sea-sick-to u state of mental indifer-
ence to proceedings IN general and a gloomy con-
temptation of So true inwardness." In all our
previous trips on the Rikausa, we never knew
the staid old boat to kick and plunge and shy
about SO like an unbroken colt, as she did during
the night of Monday last through the channels
of Haaluea and Pailolo to Lahaina Roads. The
wind blew a real gale, intensified in occasional
squalls of rain. By halfpast 8 O'Clock in the
morning we were off the entrance of the reef
and opposite the lights of the town and lay by,
head to wind. The earliest peep of day showed
a whale boat from shore, manned by the wild,
shouting, amphibious Lahaina boat-boys. There
were several of these boats, and they made in all
FIVE trims from the steamer to the shn-A. taking
the mails for Maui and as many passengers
bound to that island as dared venture their lives
in the really dangerous transit. For the wind
was blowing almost directly on shore, and there
was a continuous line of huge, foaming Kissing
rollers, all the way from Ukumehame to Kama
pail. From the steamer it looked as though
Lahaina was being engulfed in a tidal wave, only
the tops of trees being visible as the waves
swelled, Numbered and subsidized. 1t was an ex-
citing spectacle to see the boats loaded with pas
cCURCI6 SIObo thO ACufO 4OA AuA OhNO
as we watched them with eager interest the cry
arose from our deck Ia make =" She's
gone - as q boat stood right on end for an in
slant and disappeared in foam to reappear again
directly and still safely heading for the shore.
But it was very risky business, landing through
the surf at Lahaina last Tuesday morning.
Some old residents of Maui declined the risk and
returnd to Honolulu. Among those who did
land were Miss Boardman, Messrs. G. Arm
strong, II. Cornwell, G. W. and E. @. Macfar-
lane, and some thirty natives. Old residents of
the islands viii not need to be reminded that
many boats have been upset and lives sacrificed in
times past in rash and unskilfal attempts to cross
the breakers at Lahaina in stormy weather.
1t was given out, that as soon as all who
desired to land at Lahaina had left, the vessel
would be headed back for Honolulu. Some
thought this a strange decision, for why could
we not keep right on TO leeward of Maui and
Hawaii, and SO to Hilo. But Capt. Marchant
knew better than bis passengers, that the passage
of the channel of Alenuihala (between Maui
and Hawaii) in such a gale would be a serious
risk for the old steamer, and be knew besides
what no one but himself and Engineer Campbell
knew-that the Kiiaued was even then leaking
like a seiye In fact, as we since learned,
while lying to off Lahaina to disembark pas
sengers, it was deemed unsafe to stop the engine
for a few moments time, because the cessation of
the working of the pumps resulted in such an
accumulation of water below that it threatened
to Put out the fires under the boilers. Here,
indeed, was a danger that threatened the lives
of all on board. During the passage to Lahaina,
and throughout the return to port, the steamer
was leaking at such a rate that it required the
greater portion of power. her engine possessed
to keep the water from drowning the fires. The
contest was between the two elements-water
and fre-and had the latter suceumbed to the
former, the Kilauea and her living freight would
in ali human probability have gone to the
bottom. Throughout all the long thirty-nine
hours, from shortly after We left the dock at
Honolulu on Monday evening until We returned
on Wednesday morning, the Captain and the
Engineer were on the anxious watch, on the
bridge and in the engine room, the sole custodi-
ans of a secret, to impart which TO the passen-
gers would have simply created a panic, and
perhaps something worse. These officers GER
tainly deserve the highest credit for their cool
ness, courage and skill, exhibited under trying
circumstances.
There were sufficiently comical sides to the
picture presented in the cabin of the KiLaueG
during the cruise Ito those who had the stomach
to appreciate them) which will doubtless here
after furnish the bases of amusing and laughable
anecdotes manipulated by the wits of the party
and there were actually those among US who
declared that they enjoyed themselves very much
on this remarkable trip But while memory
holds her seat, there is one recollection of
the voyage that will remain ~indelibly fixed on