The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-06-08
HONOLULU ESTHETICS.

Notwithstanding that a few Of the
private residences of Honolulu are
large and imposing, and the grounds
kept in tirst-class order, strangers are
often heard to remark "Oh! that's a
common place, other towns are sup
piled with suburban residences
equally good if not better" Homo
lulu has not yet developed a unique
architecture; nor, esthetically con-
sidered, are the buildings either bet
ter or more beautiful than those of
rural towns In California. 1t is true
that there is general absence of
chimneys here, which are general in
towns of civilized countries, and
often add to the appearance of a
house, but this is all that Is really
remarkable in the buildings, both
public and private. Under tropical
conditions we have imported the
architectural designs of the tenn
perate zone; and, although this fact
attests that we are part and parcel of
the civilized world, yet in this respect
we have little to show in our build
ings that is unique or characteristic
of our cline.
Neatness and snugness in our
abodes, are often sacrificed to large
bulk; and it is we'll known that
genuine comfort is not enhanced by
huge size of Observation-Disclosures.
On the other hand the residence
grounds of our more wealthy classes,
are most superb in their adornments
and kept In the best of order; but
the same conditions also prevail in
other countries among the same
classes. We are not finding fault
with the civilized conditions of Ho-
nolulu, but only aim to point out
that we generally overvalue the at
fractions which the city has to stran-
gers. We are a pleasure loving
people, similar to the denizens of all
tropical countries, but we cling to
pleasures and sports that belong to
and are natural in colder chimes. In
the sufocating heat of Queensland
Christmas the English cOlonist eats
his heavy plum pudding, and in the
tropical cline of Hawaii nei the
American clings to the heavy dishes
of New England, and builds his
habitations similar to the blizzard
resisting structures of America.
Honolulu is not so unique a city
as strangers expect to see, although
the beauty of its perennial verdure
pleases them; and our object in
drawing attention to these matters
is that, although the facts are we'll
known, they should be formulated
in such a shape as to draw attention.
We hold that the press should not
always applaud public vanity; but
should, at times, draw attention to
matters that are not valued by every
body alike.
So far as we are personally con-
cerned, we are perfectly satisfied
with the buildings of Honolulu as
they are; but, from the remarks made
by strangers, we have felt bound to
state the above facts from a stran-
gers standpoint. The matter is
doubtless important; and suggestions
for making the city and its surround
ings more unique and attractive to
tourists, are now in order.
We do not forget that Honolulu
has in its neighborhood the pail,
Waikiki beach, Pearl harbor, and
numerous other resorts; but these
could be added to by many suburban
attractions that strangers, and es-
pecially tourists, would appreciate
to the pecuniary advantage of the
city and Kingdom generally.