The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-06-16
KAMRHAMEHA DAY AT THE PARK.

here and there 4 PEDESTRIAN poured out OF the
city towards Kapiolani Park, until by half-past
nine the city was pretty much deserted and wore
an aspect OF Sabbath-like peace and stiffness,
al shops and places Of business being closed and
everybody . out Of town" We have beard
various estimates made Of the number Of persons
who visited the park grounds during the day.
ranging from three thousand up to as high as
eight. but we believe the correct figure Will be
between five and six thousand. The arrange
ments made by the Committee Of the Park Asso-
citation for the accommodation Of visitors and for
the carrying out Of the programme Of spots.
were excellent, and elected favorable comments.
The hour appointed for the ceremony of formally
opening the Park was ten O'Clock, and with
Royal promptness 4 few minutes before that time
His Majesty the King, accompanied by Queen
Kapiolani, arrived on the grounds and were
received with military honors. Captain James
Makee, President Of Kapiolani Park Association,
conducted their Majesties to the pavilion pre-
pared for them, surmOunted by the Royal Stand
the King as follows
As the President of the Kapiolani Park Asso-
citation it is my honorable duty at this its formal
opening TO address Your Majesty.
1t has come to be generally recognized that
cities require for complete civilized life some
thing more than paved and lighted streets,
wharves, sewers, water-works, police, and such
other matters as are Of the first necessity. Men,
women and children need places Of open air,
public resort for refreshment and recreation by
the kindly influences of nature.
1t is true that Honolulu has not yet grown 10
be such a compact and great city as 20 leave no
III
as many ample private gardens, nor can we hope
that the extension Of the city will soon take up
the ground to Diamond Head, nevertheless il
seemed TO the members Of the Association that
the day had come for securing a large public
park for Honolulu. Time is needed to create
the most attractive features of a park. Avenues
of palms must be planted by one generation for
its successors.
In addressing Your Majesty on the behalf of
the Association, L do not fail TO remember that
you have been from the beginning a member Of
it and a chief promoter of the enterprise, that
the first suggestion Of the project received your
cordial support and that it is by Your Majesty's
gracious gift that these grounds have been
demised at nominal rent, from the crown domain.
While we are sensible that we are only at the
beginnings of our work we trust that it has
nevertheless come to a point when we may pro-
perly present it 10 Your Majesty, for formal
Inauguration as a Park.
In the possibilities Of the future we see here
far more than yet meets the eye. The site has
advantages which may be Offset against the
lack of certain features of park scenery, such as
variety of surface and running water. We have
overlooking US stern, sentinel Diamond Head, we
have these white-crested pillows ever beating on
our margin and no country and no park can
claim through all the twelve months such a fine
air as comes down to us from the green mount
aims inland. A new road soon to be opened will
make it near and Of easy access from the city.
4 fntfo q opH MARINE villas upin hFtnn htfbar in
its season the social life of the town. Here too
may we not hope at some time TO see biennial
exhibitions of the agriculture and manufactures,
the improved stock and whatever else the hopeful
era of reciprocity may have to show in this
Kingdom. The earnest wish and sincere inten-
ton of the gentlemen Of the Association is that
this place may always be kept free from every
thing which shall render it unworthy Of the
gentle lady whose name il bears, from every
thing which may debar families, children and
quiet people from frequent resort to il. This,
the Day Of the great Founder OF Your Majesty's
Throne, is an suspicious day for the dedication
to it's uses of an institution which is intended for
the public benefit. Ii has by gracious permis-
sion received the name of the Queen, a musical
and poetical name, which we trust will receive
nothing but honor by it's adoption here.
On behalf then Of the Association / HEREBY
PRESENT to Your Majesty this Kapiolani Park for
THE ACT OF FORMAL OPENING.
10 WHICH hle nAhJesty IepIeu
Mr.. President Of The PARK Association
1 am happy that Kamehameha Day of this
year 1877, is to be marked by the dedication Of
the first public park of the Kingdom.
Certainly no better use can be made OF some
portion of our new prosperity than in creatingi
on this breezy plain a resort and place Of Inno-
cent refresbment for all who wish TO leave the
dust of the town streets. -
l was greatly struck even in my winter jour
ray ~, tho TTpitad Cfaeaa NTH fka IarOo apaooa
set apart in and near cities for public grounds
and the care and expense put upon them, and
could well imagine the beautiful appearance they
would present when clothed in their summer
dress.
If we cannot vie in expense and in artificial
adornment with the parks Of Europe and
America, l see yet no reason why we should not
undertake to do what is proportionate TO our
means. Nor do l fear that the generosity and
taste of this community will fail to accomplish a
most creditable result. What has been done in
the few months that our Association has been in
existence, so that to-day we have these commo-
dIous premises for the celebration of this ami
versary, that you have been able to make such
a course, such walks and drives and the outlines
of a future park, when time shall have assisted
you, claims my admiration, and gives me assur-
ance that we have secured a new feature OF
attraction to the capital Of my Kingdom.
| trust that your hopes may be realized that
this may become the site Of agricultural and
Industrial exhibitions, that it may become the
frequent and general resort Of all our citizens
and visitors, and that we may, ~erelong, long,
see a marine suburb on yonder beach.
And now, Mr.. President, and gentlemen Of the
Association,
/ hereby declare this park opened for the uses
and purposes that you have expressed, and that
il be named KAPIoLANI PARK.
As His Majesty pronounced the closing words,
the national ensign was hoisted and the artillery
company in attendance with a battery of field
pieces fred a salute Of twenty-one guns.
At balf-past ton the buglo called to saddle, and
the sports of the day began. We give the events
in the order in which they occurred
THE KIss's PURsE-s25O-2 MILES.
L Cummins' b m CarOtta. ....s.. ......s..s..s.sss.s. i
Jas B0yds c < Deception. 2
Time-5.22. CarOtta made the first mile Ia zoo.
$3.50 PURse-TROTTIE TO WAGON.
J i ChayfeTs b 9 DtcS........ i
J HarrisOnis b 2 Emerald 80. ..dktanced
gsza-Q "a. huf EmzraLt hike Eadfv ana DfrE had the