Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-04-28

Maalaea Bay, winch nrSt stopping
place we reached at II:I5 P. M. Here
we met and exchanged news with the
KinaN, en- route for Honolulu. This
place of Mumuku haunts Qand squalls)
was now but gently rippled by a cool
ing breeze and the full moons rays
lent lake-like charm to the midnight
scene AT I2 o'clock we continued
our way passing by Makena and shap.
ing our course for Kailua, Hawaii; but
ere the channel is reached the remain
ing passengers--de deeming discretion the
better part of valor"-sought the arms
of Morpheus lest Neptune should
claim his tribute.
Early dawn reveals the low, rocky,
though sheltered Kona coast, with the
triad of venerable mountains, Kea, Loa
and Hualalai sitting majestically over
their devastating lava-hoods of untold
ages. Rising SO gradually as they do
from the sea they lose, perhaps, none
of their immensity of base, but it
seems difficult to realize their heights
being, respectively, 13,So5, 1900 and
8,a75 feet above the level of the sea.
With cloudless sunrise, the clear cut
outline of these grand domes against
the morning sky, impressed me with a
sense of their immensity that seemed
to have been forgotten or unrealized in
former visits to Hawaii. 1t may be
that the approach toward the central
west coast conveys this idea differently
than from any other point
Before reaching Kailua two thriving
villages, Kahonaiki and Honokohau,
were pointed out on the slope of Hua-
lalai, in the belt of vegetation, as the
headquarters of the coffee growers of
the district. l was pleased to be cor
rected- on this point, having labored
under the impression that the famed
coffee of this district came from the
mountain slope between Kailu and
Kaawaloa, with its principal plantations
on the table land above the latter port
Captain Bates, however, told US that
Kailua is the shipping point of the
bulk Of all the coffee grown in the dis
trict At 7 o'clock A. NJ. we reach its
quiet little bay and drop anchor. All
the residents of the village-and mes
sengers from neighboring hamlets-
flock to the beach to meet the boats,
which bring mail, passengers and
freight.
This historic spot, residence of an
cient Kings, strategetic point of rival
chiefs and birth place of Christianity
in Hawaii, claims more than passing
notice. Over twenty years have passed
since l last saw Kailua, yet find it
with more of an air of thrift and solid
ity than at my former visit. The
houses at that time seemed more
scattered and i'll kept, while Kailua of
to-day shows the benefits Of her
repaired parent church; the late Prin-
cess Ruth's residence, renovated and
enlarged; the first foreign built house
(Sam Rice's) still in substantial order;
and to the right, little distance back,
the old Thurston homestead, with its
odd shape and old fashioned windows
The site of the old fort is
still pointed out, but the late
Simon Kaai's house, that stood
just outside the wall at the left
OF the town, has lately been torn down.
Nearly all the buildings are of stone, of
which nature has provided an abun-
dance near at hand on all sides. Mr..
]. w. Smith, an old resident of the
district, pointing out stone wall back
Of the village, running along the coast,
says, tradition relates it, and the natives
affirm it to be fact, that the whole
extent Of it, twelve miles, was built in a
day by order sof old Governor Adams
(Kuakini) The wall commences at a
point north OF Kailua and runs along
the coast, at about the same distance
from the shore, to near Kaawaloa, and
was built to prevent animals from en-
croaching upon, and injuring, the cult
vated patches of the people who were
near the shore. OF course stones were
handy, but still, twelve miles-63, 600
feet-to be built in one day, of hight
to withstand animals, would take prob
ably more able-bodied Hawaiians than
Hawaii can to-day claim. But, if fact,
it is another evidence to corroborate
Cooks impression OF the populousness
of the Islands.
At the hour of our stay ]. K. Solo
mona, ed Lietenant Of the Household
troops, died at Kailua, without any
ailment save carbuncle on
the hip. Superstition in the native
mind, however, was not slow to account
for the sudden death as is shown by
the following story which was given the
purser during his brief stay ashore:
"The grandfather of Solomona was said
to have knowledge of the place where
reposed the bones of Kamehameha the
Great, the secrecy of which, so far, he
had guarded well. Solomona was ap-
Piled to in order to obtain the informa-
ton for the Board of Gene
alogy, probably; but such services
required a consideration for himself
and the old man, and in course OF
time position in the grand army and
sum of money is alleged to have been
settled upon, with which dignity and
wealth the aspirant tor military display
visited Kena in company with depu-
tation Of said army and in due time
seeks TO secure the hitherto well-kept
eecret The old man Of Grst disdains