The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-10-01
THE VOLCANO.
The New Route Described-A Delight
fuI Trip 49, Ever-ChanGing Scenery
and Terrestrial Fire Works.

'
lauea, which has been opened by Wilder
& Co., IS great boon to sightseers on
these Islands, and will be appreciated by
all tourists. By the old route to the
crater between eight and ten hours Of the
hardest possible kind OF travel was ahead
OF the tourist after landing from the
steamer at Hilo before reaching the
Volcano House. The road was certainly
picturesque, but the fatigue incident to
the journey was great drawback to what
otherwise would have been Il most enjoy
able ride over lava flows and through
outrageous forests. By the new route
the distance is only fourteen miles from
the landing at Keauhou to the Volcano
House, and it is easily travelled on horse
back in from two to three hours. The
ride Is through charming country, the
only difficulty being experienced at the
start, whence a gradual ascent Of four
miles to the pail is made After this
point is reached the grade is all that
could be desired Wilder & Co. intend
constructing wagon road on this open
trail, 50 that tourists viii be able to drive
most of the way at their own discretion.
The Volcano House, under its present
management, is also all that could be de
sired, and by the new timetable, which
comes into operation on October 18th
tourists Will be able to remain there two
days, instead OF one, as formerly, thus
affording greater facilities for inspecting
the stupendous natural phenomena Of
the Volcano Of Kilauea, without unneces-
sarily fatiguing visitors. The following
notes Of the last Volcano party's trip will
illustrate several OF the foregoing points.
They were furnished. to the ADVERTISER
by one of the party:
We left Honolulu on Tuesday at p.
m, and arrived at Lahaina, Maui, at
about II p. m. About fifteen minutes
sufficed to transact the steamer business
at this ancient, but now partially de
serted port From Lahaina to Maalaea,
the western landing for Spreckelsville,
was the next point touched and passen-
gers having been landed there the
steamer kept on her course to Maizena,,
the last port of call on Maui, known as
Makee's landing. The steamer left Ma
kena about 2 Il. IN. on Wednesday, and
crossed the Hawaii channel, arriving at
Mahukona, the landing for the Kohala
district, at midnight. Here considerable
enterprise is displayed by the construc-
ton and operating of about fifty miles OF
railroad through the sugar planta
tons After discharging cargo and land
ing passengers the steamer proceeded on
her way to Kawaihae, and remained
there about half an hour.
A start was made from this port about
10 a. IN. The route lay along the coast
of Kohala and IIilo districts. The day
was perfect, and the coast view one OF
the most delightful that could be i'm
agined. The navigation was close to
the shore, giving a good view of the dis
trict. The entire district seems to be
well cultivated, green cane being visible
to the edge OF precipitous cliffs
and up the narrow gorges and
valleys which opened to view
as we passed along. This part of the
trip presents an ever-changing panorama
in the contour of the coast, and an in
finite variety of color effects in the
natural tints and shading. Cascades
fall over the cliffs sheer into the sea at
attitudes of from 200 to 500 feet In the
distance the graceful slope of the great
Ill
OF this delightful sailing We reached TIilo
about dark.
Hilo bay is wor tn seeing. 1t is a
horseshoe indentation in the coast, and
will yet be great rendezvous of ship
ping when the resources of the rich dis
trict of which it is the natural outlet have
been developed. HiIo is now place of
considerable importance 1t has we'll
kept and commOdious hotel, under the
of host Arnold and his
amiable wife. Tourists will here find
luxuries, rest and all reasonable accom-
mediation. The hotel is very nicely sit
grounds. There are other places in Hilo 1
where travellers may be most comfortably /.
cared for IIilo itself is worth visit /.
1t is more decidedly tropical than Homo
lulu, or indeed any other town on these I
Islands Cocoanut and breadfruit trees .
grow luXuriantly; ferns, palms and flow I
ering trees and shrubs attain large size .
and are of rapid growth. There is abun- /
dance Of moisture in Hilo, but despite its .
reputation for rain, it did not trouble our
party in the least, being fine all the time
we were there, and we were told that
the rain maker had been on vacation
Tor some time previously. But the clear
Est and coolest and sweetest of mountain
streams rushed down the streets OF Hilo
bearing It's healing waters to the pellucid
2dy.
We left Hilo with regret ut midnight,
md skirting the coast towards the Puma
district, made keauhou about daylight
IN Thursday, and for the present ended
,ur sea journey, this being the new, or
Nilder's landing, for the Volcano. Our
party ate Il light breakfast on board, and
hen went ashore, where Mr.. Wilder had
in readiness for a start to the
Volcano House. There are always sad