The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-06-15
KAMEHAMEHA DAY AT THE PARK

From an early hour in the morning of Tuesday
the llth, the populace of Honolulu began to
pour out of the city on to the road leading to Kapio-
lani Park, to witness the races. In vehicles of
all sorts and shapes, on horses, mules or donkevs-
no matter, so long as they had four legs-and on
foot, men, women and children were off to have
q good time at the races. The 60 express-wagons,'
of which there are so many in Honolulu of late
conveying passengers to the background at two
dollars a head-some of them realized as high as
fifty dollars for the days work. Until the pro-
posed road to the Park is laid out and opeued-
which we hope to see before another year comes
round-the last half mile is through the loose sand
of the beach, and is very heavy going. Most of
the passengers were consequently obliged to walk
this portion of the way, which doubtless quite
forcibly brought to their attention the necessity
for the new road. This, it will be remembered,
is to be an extension of King street, and will enter
the Park grounds on the upper corner. 1t is to be
hoped that the Legislature will appropriate O round
sum for the construction of this road, so much
needed for the proper development t. of the Park.
By the published programme, the races were
to commence at 10 O'Clock sharp, but a delay &C.
CURED on account of the non appearance of the
band, which did not leave the city until the hour
mentioned, on the little steamer Robbie. The present
writer also preferred the trip on the tight little
steamer, which occupied about half an hour. In
Guiding those in a boat towed astern, there were
over fifty passengers on this trip, and the Robbie
made q number during the day, always with q
good fare. We not only escaped the dust and
jolting of the journey by land. but got a good
sniff of wholesome sea air and enjoyed q fine view
of Nuuanu, Manoa and Palolo valleys. There is
a break In the reef at about the middle of the Park
grounds, forming a good boat harbor. This, as
may not be generally known, was where Captains
Cook and Vancouver used to land, for Honolulu
harbor was not known until a number of years
after the first visit of Europeans to the Islands.
Our little steamer, being of light draft anchored
within half a dozen yards of the clean white beach,
on which the passengers were landed by means of
a whaleboat
The grounds presented a lively appearance, with
flags flying over the Kings, the judges and the
grand stands, and the crowd of several thousands
of all classes, moving among the various booths
and tents, or standing at or sitting on the fences
that enclosed the race course, or scattered in
groups over the plain. The commodious stands
we're well-built and rooted over and provided with
seats, where numerous ladies and children we're
accommodated. On the Kings stand we noticed
His Majesty and II. R.. H.. the Heiress Apparent,
several Foreign Representatives. and the ladies
f the Court. Still Canother stand was occupied by
members of the Legislative Assembly and their
wives. In the rear of the stands were the refresh
nent booths.-an airy and well-arranged lanai |
y Friel & Bush, where tea and coffee and lemon |
de, cold meats. bread and butter and pastry were
rovided in excellent style the Bonanza by
'rowell, with ice-cream and ginger pop and
lstly a wagon where Won Ohlhafen dispended &" TO-
90 plates of pork and beans'' and potato salad. !
hus the great crowd was amply fed and refreshed.
fact, all the arrangements reflect no little credit
pom the care and forethought of the committees
the Park Association who had the details in
1arge. I
The races commenced at a little before eleven .
clock, with the t%rotting race to harness for the
amehameha Plate, $500. There were but two
Kansas Maid'' and Champagne and
e race-one mile-resulted as follows -
nsa .-........212 L
Time, 269, 25S3, 255.
The Kings Purse, 5000. Two mile dash. Second
rise to save stakes. This was a very pretty race,