Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-03-28

The RaHtcay hide from Mchukopa Ia
Nim6- The scenery aiou0 The

had heard in Honolulu some things in dis
praise Of the Kohala Railway. But my ride
over it convinced me that injustice had been
done 1t excep. in two psrtioua,s-ruute OF line
and redunacy Of guleh curves.
am assured that the planters along the
line arc responsible for the location, fearing
tina, locomotive sparks would set FIRE to cane
fields and thereby also endanger the mills. 1t
is pity the sober second thought Of the dis
tict had not been exercised sooner. Every
one sees the disadvantage now-thal it is too
late II the road ran above the mills and near
enough to sidetrack all the outgoing sugar
and incoming supplies, the freight and
passenger needs Of the district would have
been well served and, probably, the passen.
ger traffic alone would have gone far towards
paying the running expenses Of the road.
As to the curves Longer bridges over many
Of the guches would have shortened thc-line
somewhat, and would have prevented wear Of
rails and Of rolling stock.
Apart from criticism made the roads Gems to
have been well surveyed and well constructed
II is spendidly ballastcd and the trains run
smoothly. So far as can Judge the road is
operated with efficiency and economy. Sup
erintendent Wight and the employees under
him are prompt, courteous and obliging.
The subject Of freghts generally-ss the sub
jcet affects Kohala--.w will well repay careful
consideration by railway, steamship and
paekc, owners and by the planters and mill
men interested.
konan clock) when clambored onto bale Of
telling. or bagging, OF something similar in box
| car No. 10 Of a Through" freight train. A
| good place for outlook, and a, times, for To-
connective smoke and most admirably adapted
for sun bathing. The wind, fortunately, nc.
comodated itself so admirably to the sinuosi.
ties OF the line and the sun, graciously,
| abated the fury Of its beams, so that the ride
was a delightful experimentation post to
| finish"
The first point Of interest is just beyond the
pile Of rocks, within pistol shot Of the landing,
where tradition says the Mahukonan chiefs
used to build signal fires to call or to answer
their friends or allies on Kiholo Point, Kona, OF
along the southern coast of Maui. We pass it
and, moment later wind snake.ik along a
beautifully constructed compound curve and
past a bluff that Conductor Williams calls
Pigeon Point. Here we cross trestlc and
below in a rocky cove the green water is
smooth as mill pond and clear as slightly
tinted glass, the sea MOSES on the stones
being plainly vizible two hundred feet away.
Hacna Village is just below, south and wesl
Of, and almost beside, Upolo Point, the moth
most headland Of Hawaii. Looking back one
sees most of the crinkled coast line in the long
broken curve from Upolo to Kiholo. Due
north the wrinkled on, line of Haleakala, with
Kahoolawe on its south. western quarter and
the Alenuihaha Channel broad band of un.
stable silver between US and them.
| Haena, at this distance, is a pretty hamlet
built beside a miniature bay. A grove o
feathery cocoa palms sets off the neat-lookine
dwelling houses and the church and school.
They all look clean and comfortable, and there
is a semblance Of thrift and prosperity about
the place.
| do well not to risk spelling the illusion by
a visit, am told. Haena's thrift and energy
are as deusive as its whitewash-on dit. 1t i:
a fishing village. have told you already that
fish abound. You know that the heart of Ko
hala is only few miles away. When tell
You that fresh fish is high-priced luxury in
Kohala, need tell you nothing more abou,
tiaena. AS the train passes, one has sudden
glimpse Of Mauna Kea, beautiful while it lasts
Glorious this open-car riding. One see:
broad effects, panoramas, not mere glimpse
views, seen iu.tively through slide. 1t is .
rocky courtsj this but it is becoming less so
One each side are little stone. walled enclosure.
some OF them seem TO be half an acre or less
others are much larger few may be ten acre
plets perhaps. care they pasture paddocks ?
ask. "No They are the old-time home
seads Of the Mabukonans built before tn,
irst Kamehamehas time when all thcs,
rocks had people Twin on 'em. Those PEN
were house lots, and sweet potato patches, anc
dry taro fields" So said Conductor Williams
pretty authentic history. Even in 1880 5.
hogs were sold shy the fathom" and there wer,
thousands in the district. Now there is not
human being to hundred acres in all thi
dreary landscape. could anything be mourn
fuller p
But l was wrong to call this landscap,
'dreary." II is not Far and near is beauty
Monotonous, yet grandly monotonous tn,
almost waveless sea and the line of cloud
when sky and ocean meet. Very striking yor
Haleakala, blouse Of the Sun |" Among tn,
rocks the grass is green, and above It SHOW
the glaucous leaves Of the Hawaiian II hope III
Hawaiian) thistle, with its airy white Aowe
that has gold dust powdered over its calix
There are not many field flowers that one car
make out from the train i; but the milk weet
with its small dandeon blossom and the tru,
dnndclion its cousin, and something tina. the,
tell me is Spanish Clover, yet that looks Xix,
the California yellow lupin, show occasionally
But not one tree-save clump Of pandanui
here and there on the near hillside and som,
scattering timber in distant gulches.
But, ere have taken the mental notes fo
even this much Of this letter, we are four mile
from Mahukona and are passing the Mo,mo,
Church. II is weather beaten and unhand
some; but looks as II il nigh, last some tim,
yet. On the hill above are the buildings Of al
old plantation, now the stock ranch of DR.
Wight Of Kohala. Here is another fishin,
village, Honoipu. 1t is less picturesque thar
Haena. A mile and half further and W,
pass the great Heiau Of Hawi, built by IA
mehamcha l, late in the last century OF earl,
in this. did not visit il /; but Father Bond o
Kchala vouches for the following measure
men,s length, gas feet, width, las feet
hisht of walls recently "A feet