The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-29
The. volcano excursion Trip.

ED. P. c. ADvERTIsER-Sir: I, with four
other ladies' have just returned from an ex-
cursion trip to the volcano, and we all of
US had such a splendid time, and the vol
canO itself is such a magnificent sight, that
1 cannot rest satisfied until have told you
something about it.
When Mr.. Wilder advertised the first Of
the refund trips, and let the public know
that he could take tourists to the volcano
a nd return for $50, number of us arranged
to go. We went on board the Kinau last
Tuesday afternoon, and found nice, conve-
nient state rooms ready US, where those
who are always seasick found that seclusion
which our ''sisters, cousins and aunts'' in
''Pinafore" sought, and so Of the trip up to
Hawaii I cannot say great deal. I did
catch an occasional glimpse out of the little
round window of my room, of the scenery
on the windward side of the island, now
seeing bit of waterfall wagering in the
air. or a strip of seabeach wildly tossing in
the clouds apparently. The steamer
stopped regularly as all the ports named
in the little pamphlet describing the routes
the morning Of Thursday.
As we came near the anchorage the
whistle sounded one toot for each passen-
ger going to the volcano, so that the men
ashore in charge If the horses might know
how many to bring down. There were
nineteen of US, including Mr.. Wilder and
Capt. King, who, just for this one time, con-
scented to leave his vessel for little while.
We all had excellent horses, and 1 found
the Mexican saddle and the ''man" fashion of
riding was the true way to go.
The road for the first four miles was over
an open country, and then we went on
through the forest for ten miles. num-
Der of Cinnamon have been employed for
some time in fixing this road. and it is now
simply splendid. The woods are lovely
beyond expression, and we ladies were wild
to stop and get some Of the beautiful ferns
thst grew in profusioR on all sides. But
this We did not have time to do, and as we
all felt somewhat jaded by our seasickness,
we rode on quite slowly, reaching the Vol
cano House at 10 o'clock. We found every
thing in readiness for US, there being
plenty of easy chairs, lounges and other
conveniences for taking good rest. This
we thoroughly enjoyed until dinner time,
and then met again around table set with
an abundance of nice food. Mr.. Maybe
who has charge of the Volcano House, had
shown some of US where the "Ohelos'' IA
nice sweet berry, were growing, and we
gathered quantity of them for dessert. In
the cool, bracing air at the volcano our ap-
petites returned, and a hearty meal pre-
pared us for the trip into the crater.
About o. clock p. m. we started down the
road leading to the crater, taking with US
shawls and wraps, for the night promised to
be clear and cold. / despair of being able
to give you any idea of the strangeness and
wildness of the volcano scenery, all the more
that found all my preconceived ideas on
the subject utterly at fault. I recognized
the great walls of the crater as shown in
several sketches l have seen; but when we
reached the lakes of FIRE, after a walk of
some three miles, found myself gazing at
something that the most vivid Imagination
would find it hard to describe.
have heard it said that the brilliant dis
play of color and light shown in Mr.. Tav-
erniers pictures must be exaggerated, but
can now say that, if anything, the artist
has toned down the effects somewhat We
ladies decided that the colors and tints were
superior to any thing in reds, crimsons,
magentas, scarlets and other high colors we
had ever seen. We were really frightened
at the display, and when we had visited
both lakes and the Little Beggar," we
began to think of the trip back over the
lava, which, now that it was night, showed
plenty of red fame-cracks, with some tim
idity, But our guide knew where to go, and
the moon gave plenty of light to make our
surroundings visible. We stepped over
plenty of marrow cracks of great depth, in
which we could see the molten lava far
down, and in some places the black lava we
were walking on was red hot six inches be-
low the surface.
We reached the Volcano House again
about haf-past eleven, and went to bed,
feeling tired, but satisfied at having seen
the crater. 1 counted no less than six
double blankets on my bed, and very COM
Portable they were. Before retiring we had
q nice supper, and the next morning at half
past eight We all sat down to splendid
breakfast. The ride back to Keauhou that
morning was very pleasant, and when we
reached there at $50 O'Clock p m, we found
the Kinau waiting for us. Then we sailed
around the lee side of Hawaii, and the water
being smooth as it always is there, we en-
ioyed the scenery very much We touched
at KealakeakUs, Kailua and Kawaihae, and
arrived at Mahpkona, where we took the
cars and rode inland for couple of hours
stopping at a restaurant near Judge Harris
mill, and enjoying good breakfast. Then
back to the Kinau, and across the channel
to Maui, and so down to Oahu, reaching
Honolulu again at six O'Clock Sunday morn
ing.
The whole trip was a delightful one, and
was made doubly pleasant by the care and
attention of Mr.. Wilder who was always
preparing some new pleasure for us. l feel
that all the ladies in the party viii join with
me in saying that the gentlemen who were
with us did everything they could to make
the trip delightful one, and that particu-
larly in the crater their help and care was
invaluable. To them, on behalf of my lady
companions on the trip, would extend my
thanks. MA.