The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-06
FRIDAY November 9Th.
M0LOKAI.
Description Of the Leper Colony on
this Island.
Social Condition OF the Lepers-TheIr
Mods az Living, RatiOns. Etc
Contagious or NOn.oOntagiOus
-COnelasGon.

The Island of Molol1ai is the fifth largest
of the Hawaiian Group and contains 200,
900 acres. The northerly coast line is very
bold, PERCEPTIONS cliffs or pals coming
down to the waters edge except about mid
way between the eastern and western
points, where an irregular tongue of land
projects from the cliffs, enclosing about
six thousand acres. There is evidence in
the general confguration of this piece of
land, and in its formation that it is not
caused by subsistence, but is in fact later
formation, the result of independent vol
eanic action The Titanic forces that pro-
duced the stupendous pals OF the main
land had long been extinct before the
crater of Kahukoo became vent for the
subterranean furnaces, and threw out lava
and scoria boulders to form the little penin-
sula of Kalawao. In short this peninsula
or tongue of land is q modern addition to
the ancient and grander structure of Nature
adjoining, completed when her energies
were unimpaired, and before her construc-
i've forces had become paFalyzed with in
cessant use.
The crater of Kahukoo is the highest
point.of this peninsula, and being close to
the ancient coast line, it forms a central
ridge dividing the peninsula of Kalawao,
formed by the volcanic mud elected from
it, into two divisions, the eastern slope
giving its name TO the entire district while
the western slope is called after the steamer
landing, Kalaupapa. OF course both are
ancient Hawaiian names; but Kalawao
was the name of the district, Kalaupapa be-
ing local name. The soil is very fertile. 1t
was originally OVERLAND with scOria boul-
ders. Underneath this SOIL which is SIM
ply volcanic ashes and decomposed lava,
lies bed of hard volcanic rock that crops
out occasionally, and forms a solid barrier
against the sea along its northerly and
easterly aspects at least one hundred feet
high. There is access to the beach at the
extreme eastern point of Kalawao, where
it joins the ancient shore line, and at Kalau-
papa which, being more sheltered from the
sea and wind, does not need such an effec-
tive natural breakwater. But except at
the points named the peninsula of Kala-
wac stands full hundred feet above the
ocean along its shore line. The shelter
and protection it gives to the main land
along its entire breadth is evidenced by
the luxuriant vegetation on the face of the
pals back Of it and in the gulches, where
oranges and figs grow to perfection, as well
as valuable timber trees. But for its ameli-
Grating influence the pals in rear of Kala-
wac peninsula would be as bare and weather
beaten as those on either side of it.
Kalawao was an old ahupuaa belonging
to the ancient chiefs of Molokai, and as its
name impIies-"hOg" and "dress'-was
probably held subject to a yearly tribute
to the superior chief of lard hog and a
robe. 1t was evidently the seat of a dense
population, and the old natives speak
of it IS being famous for its production of
sweet potatoes and hogs. Indeed, there is
no doubt whatever that it could supply the
entire population of these Islands to-day
with these food commodities were it ap-
plied to that use. 1t is heavily grassed
with Bermuda or maneanea grass, and
could easily carry 10000 sheep. The
ancient population have left traces
of their occupation in numerous stone
walls, stone fences and break winds there
being certainly not less than from thirty to
forty miles of such fences. Every little
holding or kuleana was securely fenced
off with stones gathered from the surface
of the ground. Where the exposure Is
open to the strong trade wind, miles upon
miles of low parallel stone windrOws ex-
tend across the land about four feet apart,
to shelter the sweet potato plants; and so
dense was the population and so precious
appears to have been the land, that little
clearances, about a yard square, are car
ried along the rocky sides of the crater of
Kahukoo to its very summit. Yet this
busy, industrial population has disap-
peared. About forty of the ancient land
holders remain and wage perpetual lingual