The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-08-12
A Trip to the Volcano.

tropical but exceedingly moist town.
THE KISAU.
comfortable vessel, with clean, nice cabins Goo9
table, at whose head presides purser Beckley and
the most reliable of shippers IN Captain Ming. Inc
servants are attentive, the table good. All that
the KinnH needs is bath room, and as an inter-
island coaster she would be perfection.
oFF WE GO.
The usual crowd lined the wharf at Honolulu as
the whistle blew, and amid waving of handker-
chiefs hats and veils the excursion party started
II was a pleasant run to IAhaina, when was
reached at 11:3O. There was a short wait here and
one of the party took the opportunity OF running
ashore where he had exactly three minutes on the
landing stage, amid n motley crowd, who were
hand shaking and kissing the newly arrived, VINO
were shouting for luggage and haggiing Win ooat
men, while the dull roar of the breakers mace
deep bass 10 the many shril treblesY queer scene
IN the dim light of a half obscured moon, and
swept away from sight as If it were a dream. II
truly seems but a dream, that three minutes, and
then out into the tossing sea agaIn-the water
black and threatening, With angry breakers on
either side, showing wEite and CiancinG against a
leaden sky while heavy rollers came racing IN
through the narrow passage. The Iahalna boat
boys, however, are probably the most skllItul IN
the world, and watching their time, and then ply
ing their oars with great rapidity the passage was
passed and the safety Of the open roadstead was
reached Few people realize, who travel constantly
in and out by these boats how much skill and
nerve is required by the boats crew. Things al
ways 60 well-but let a fault be made and away
goes boat, crew, passengers and ail-andth break
ers of Lahaina would be by no means pleasant
bath, let alone the chances OF a hungry shark or
two. Maalaea and Makena we're passed in the
dark hours of the morning and remain black,
misty shadow in the memory. A few hOnrs more,
tossing in the ever rough Hawaii channel, and as
day dawns the steamer nears that gem Of scenic
beauty
KAwAIHAR BAI.
s'see Naples and then die" might well De applied
by Hawaiians to hawaihae Bay. II Is not only
the most beautiful on these islands, but IT presents
one of the most lovely scenes in the world. Here
you get the first view of Hawaii's three massive
domes; to the left rises Mauna kea, with peak
somewhat rugged in outline, but with dome shaped
sides rising TO height of 1900 feet. 10 the left
is Hualalai only 5000 feet high but from its near
/ ness appearing TO tower as high as Mauna kea.
Its southern slopes run out into the so called Fish
erman's Point. In the center, making grand
sweep between the two mountains, rises the GigaD-
| tic Mauna Boa, vast lava bubble; dim and blue
| in the extreme distance At its summit is Mokua-
weoweo, the crater which sent forth stream of
molten lava fifty miles long and nearly over
whemed Hilo, while on its southern slope is the
ever active crater of Kilauea, which is the OBJ
jective point of the present trip. The beach low
and sweeps in graceful curye-hele and there
hecks of white foam, and the glintlng sails OF
feet of canoes bringing the produce of hUna to
| the main landing. The water of the bay stretches
away in every varying hue of blue, from the light
est azure TO the deepest indigo, marking where the
trades sweep past the northern headland. Add
| n lew lUuhee anu CoCUd ldlllh NEAR lut DtdClf
rolling upland towards the mighty domes, varying
in hues of green, purple, and even of black, mark
ing a once celebrated lava flow, throw over all the
rosy flush of dawn and you have indeed a scene to
/ remember.
| MAHUKoSA.
From kawaihae TO Mahukona is pleasant run
/ in the calm water near TO the Kohala shore giving
little glimpses of the rich pasture lands on the
higher slopes, dotted here and there with house,
conspicuous being that of Puhui Ranch. sharp
turn brings the vessel 10 Mahukona, the port of
the rich district Of kohala. Mr.. s. G. Wilder has
very complete arrangements for landing and ship
| ping freight. 1t IS quite busy scene when the
steamer is in, and the train preparing 20 leave. II
Is almost impossible TO realize that this is Hawaii
/ AIR. Wight the manager of the line has his hands
full, but he gives general satisfaction and though
an immense amount of freight IS handled the mis-
takes are few and far between. The KiRaH lay at
/ Mahukona, discharging till sundown. The party
went ashore strolled around the railway buildings
picked up shells, hshed and otherwise strove to kill
/ time which hung somewhat heavy on their hands
But they we're rewarded, Just before the vessel
sailed with view of a most magnificent
| SUNSET.
The sky displayed various shades from brilliant
orange 10 a tender violet Far out on the horizon
lay bank of clouds, tinteo in part by the setting
sun rays, and in part showing cody white against
the brilliant color. Above the clouds rose the toy
Of Haeakala faint, shadowy, almost unreal, n sort
of mountain ghost looming across the width of the
Hawaii channel. The foreground was bathed in
| light, the windows of the houses on shore became
very flamelets of fire, as the orb of day plunged
| beneath the western wave the hiHaH hove up an.
chor and plunged on her course along Hamakua
/ and HilO.
ooAsrNG.
| Day dawn saw the vessel at Laupahoehoe-
| from thence to Hilo the passengers were afforded
very fairy scene The abrupt frOwning cliffs sur.
mounted by emerald hued cane fields and rolling
forest land, seemed to frown upon the locker on
and yet gave gentle smile, as it we're as every few
yards or So laughing merry thread of water
bounded INTO the sea. Water falls! very wealth
of water falls-there is probably no such beauti
ful sight in the world is shown along this coast
The sun was but just rising, and his heightened
rays cast a rainbow which travelled with the ship
and ever and anon the silver streaks of water woulC
be COlOred with the rainbow tints The sight was
we'll worthy journey to see.
| HILo.
And then Hio bay burst upon us: very beautiful
1t looked with Its calm waters, its fringe of cocoa
nuts, its nesting houses, Its fields upon fields OF
cane, Its distant woods rolling towards tho giant
mountain slopes. Hilo is poem-from the ship
A memory which will ever cling to the minds of al
who have seen II. Ashore, however, tbs common
place-its streets are muddy, its climate that of
holhonse but there are beautiful things to see out
side the town, and the townspeople are as hospit
able our island people always are and treat the
stranger with great kindness. Rainbow Falls ant
the lava How OF loSO-l are the chief points of in
forest, and both are well worth a visit. People
are apt to tire of water falls every place vaunts
its own, but the surroundings Of Rainbow Falls
arc so picturesque, that the fall apart the scent
repays the eXertiOn of getting there, SUNDAY al
| Hilo was quiet, calm day-and the passenger.
did little calling, little sight seeing and goot
deal of resting. Late Sunday night, we left Hilo
and We ran down TO the eastern point of the Isl
and, the water was rather lumpy and many pas
senger paid his or her particular tribute to Father
Neptune.
KEAuHoU.
At sunrise the steamer anchored at Keauhor
landing, and gave twenty-five whistles indicating
| the number of horses that would be required Iht
| boats were quickly out, hasty breakfast des
patched, and at six a. m, the whole party were OF
! shore and mounted. The road for four miles as
cends the steep wall of a former crater The roat
is plainly marked by piles of stones and is easily
followed-riding over this in the early morning i
by no means unpleasant. Reaching the top of the
pail one plunGes at once into the woods. The roat
is very good, nicely shaded, cool There are oh
iects of interest in the gigantic ferns, the oheo
berries the bright little BIRDS the glimpses of dis
tant Mouna Loa with its blue sides its tiny can OF
snow. The ten miles are thus easily and pleasantly
ridden over, the way does not seem long and weari
| some. Mr.. Wilder has improved the road Creatl,
and he now has men at.work upon it. In time the
path through the woods will be fit for carriages.
THE VOLCANO HOUSE.
The party gradually reached their destination
the last sauntering in in four hours and half
| Rooms were assigned, and most of us retired tC
take a rest, first doing ample justice to a gocd
meal The Volcano House, which overlooks the
crater. Is comfortable and roomy, the attendance
| Is good and the meals plentiful and well cooked
| II was an agreeable surprise to many of the Wis
| ltors who expected tougher accommodation. Al
four dinner was served, and az five the whole part,
twenty nine in ALL including guides and servants
descended into the
CRATER
1t Is not our intention to attenpt any descrip
| ton of this great wonder of nature. Even word
painting such Miss Birds fails to do it Justice
Once seen 1t becomes something that can never be
forgotten, unique experience. Walking over the
crater hoor by daylight is easy enough, and an
hour and a halfs walk brought US to Haiemaumau
| where we spent some hours watching the ever
changing aspect of the lake Of fire, and its cease
less fire fountains. Then came an inspection OF
the Little Beggar." a small crater, up to whose
very edge we can walk and gaze into the bowels oI
the earth Lastly the New Lake was visited aud the
| wonderful lighting and coloring of the lava and
hames made us hnEer till late. The return, in
The dark, dimly lighted by lanterns, is hard work
and all were delighted to reach fei-ru f,i,ia once
more In spite however, of the hard work. there
was not one oil the party who felt disappointed
! The magnlhcence of the scene far exceeded auy.
| thing they had previously conceived, either from
description or painting. On our return 4 nice boi
supper awaited MS. and 1t must have been near rly
a. m. before the adventures of the night had beer
talked over and all had retired. Sleep IS thorouohly
enjoyable at the Volcano Houge The air is COO
ana bracing, a blanket two is a necessity and
they have very good ones on every bed.
THE SECOND DAY
| Was devoted TO walks in the vicinity examination
oi the sulphur haths, visit to Kilauea Xxi an ex
tlnct crater; and to rest. In the evening part,
OF si1 made second descent into the crater, re
tnrning at midnight. They reported more active
than the previous night.