Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-04-18
rHE HAWAIItN ENHTBIT ar NEp
ORIEtNS.
rnH T,r' Of The Report Of The Ne,r Orleans
picdUu1e

consequence oi Tue ieClpioClly treaty Dy Whltn
its products pass free Of duty through the
custom houses OF this country, lend additional
interest to the geographical position, govern.
meut, population and products Of these far
away islands.
The Hawaiian Islands, eight in number. are
a chain Of islands in the Pacific Occpn, ,Ioo
are high, with mountain tops covered with
clouds, and their coasts fringed with coral
reefs, washed by the surf OF the ocean. Each
island has a central mountain, or chain OF
and are arid and bare from an elevation Of
some 5000 feet upwards. A belt Of land
along the eoas, lines forms the arabic and
inhabitable portion of the country. Although
of volcanic origin the originating fires have
long since been quenched, except in the huge
mountain OF Mauna Ioa, situated on the
southern coast Of the island Of Hawaii. In its
cralers may be seen volcanic fires in all their
OF nearly 1900 feet. The islands are separ.
ated from each other by channels Of the deep
sea, varying, at neares, points, from 7 to 6i
miles.
The largest Of the eigh, islands is Hawaii.
II contains 4,1io square miles. The smallest
island is kahoolawe. 1t contains 81 square
miles and a,tains an elevation of 500 feet.
The con6guration Of the land. as well as the
fac, that they are in the trade wind belt, and
have no other islands or continents nearer
than 1000 miles, gives them climate which
is claimed to be unequaled lor evenness and
salubrty. The extremes Of temperature are
81 and 90.
Shortly after the discovery Of the islands in
1915, by Captain Cook, Kamehameha, a chief
Of Hawaii, conquered all the other islands and
united them under one government. His
descendants reigned successively under the
official title of Kanehameha H., Ill, w.,
and V. until 1872, when the family became
extinct. The high chief Lunalilo succeeded,
but died within two years The Dowager
Queen Emma is the widow of Kamehameha
". She is still living, and resides in Homo
lulu
The present reigning king is his Majesty
kalakaua, who assembled the throne in 1874.
His consort is Queen kapiolani, withou, issue.
The Princess Liliuokalani, the elder sister Of
the king, is the wife OF Hon. John o. Dom
inis. She is the heir apparent, proclaimed as
such in 1877. The Princess Likelike, younger
sister. is the wife Of Hon. Archibald Cleghorn
has issue-a daughter--the Princess Kaiulani,
born in 1875.
The present form of government was organ
zed in 1916. 1t is that OF monarchy, lin ted
by written constitution. The king governs
through council of four executive ministers,
who are the heads Of the departments. The
Legislature-one branch OF which is elected by
the people-meets every two years in Homo
lulu.
The population of the islands at the close OF
1854 was placed at $1,000, of which 47,ooo
were natives, the remainder being immigrants
from various foreign countries, largely, Chi
nese.
The city OF Honolulu, the seat Of govern
men, and the principal port, located on the
island of Oahu, has a population Of 10000.
|, is the commercial and business centre, and
is well and compactly built.
The total foreign trade of the islands fol
1883 amounted to $I3,757,ooo, consisting
principally Of sugar, molasses, rice and wool.
The amount Of sugar exported that year was
I42, So, 900 pounds. The imports were S.
6a4 900, consisting Of manufactured goods OF
all kinds lumber, feed, animals, and various
other articles.
The cultivation of sugar cane forms one oi
the chief employments Of labor and capital.
There are upon the group sixty plantations,
with mills, and twenty.seven planters who
grow cane for sale to the mills, or, as is the
rule, have it made into sugar on shares.
About $1,000 acres are under cultivation.
The capital employed is estimated to be
| Sac. .ooo, 900.
Rice has become one Of the leading agricul-
tural products. 1, can be easily grown and
gives fair yield per acre-from a,ooo to 3,ooc
pounds.
The lands are productive in sweet and Irish
potatoes. in faro, the native food "par excel
lence" which is a species OF wild turnip, grown
under water, which they steam and pound
into paste Of the consistency Of mayonnaise
then called poi"
The ramie, jute and other hbrous shrubs
grow OF themselves. In the fibre OF the hau
and olona, native growths, the islands have
valuable plants.
The coffee produced is Of good quality. Il
has given way to other cultures. however.
which are more profitable !or expectation.
There is railroad Of twenty miles along
the coas, Of Hawaii and another Of twelve
miles on the coas, Of Maui.
The Hawaiian exhibit is located in the Main
Building. at LII 10. II is under the charge Of
the Hawaiian Commissioners, Hon. Samue
Parker and Hon. J. Mott Smith, and is undel
.he immediate attendance Of Mr.. George
Allen. l, is intended merely as illustrative O
the resources and industrial condition Of the
group, rather than q full display Of all theil
natural OF commercial products. The exhibit
contains many excellent specimens Of the
handieraf Of Hawaiian women. made from
hbres. seeds. shells and feathers found on ths
islands. There are hats made OF iwaiws
maiden hair fern, Pua, sugar cane blossom and
Of other hbres. There are a large collection
Of leis and necklaces made Of seeds and shells O
various kinds.
A pair of slippers made Of hako, sugar cane
leaf. arc exhibited. and also fans made Of cor
blossom. oocoanui palm leaf, and peacock
, feathers
The Kahih fans. used As an insignia o
rank, arc made Of rare and casily feathers. and
descend as heislooms in the families oi ths
Chiefs The State Kahilis arc very large spt
beautiful. arc mounted on elaborate Hsas. ter
os twelve feet in length. They are borne alof