The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-10-08
KoNA. HAWAII.

Those best acquainted with the Hawa
iian Islands, when they want to exemp
lily the perfection of climatic conditions
are almost certain to point to Kona, the
region lying on the west or leeward side
of Hawaii, the largest and furthest south
of the group. The mildness OF its eli
mate is phenomenal. Storms and tenn.
pests there are none. Old residents,
speak of the ''southerly blows we used
to have" but to the "malihini" as the
natives call the later immigrant, storms
are unknown. Variations in tempera-
ture are scarcely perceptible the year
round, except to persons of very delicate
mould. Midsummer heat rarely touches
the nineties, while midwinter cold which
is felt only during the night and the early
hours of the day, is very similar to the
temperature of September morning in
the latitude of 10 deg. A prominent
citizen of one OF the cities on the Atlantic
coast, on being informed by an intend
ing emigrant to the Hawaiian Islands of
his purpose to fit, remarked: "Well,
you are going to the sweetest climate in
the world" This opinion is frequently
Endorsed by round-the-world tourists,
who stop off to do the inter-ocean King
dom and more especially its celebrated
volcano. And it goes without saying
hat 4 -
perature the choicest spot in this para
disc of the Pacific" is Kona, Hawaii.
The surface of kona, ike the most of
the island, is mountainous and of vol
canic origin. The people, with few ex-
ceptions, are found residing near the sea
beach and along the slopes of the mocn-
tains at elevations ranging from twelve
hundred to fifteen hundred feet above
sea level. The scoria from Mauna Loa,
900 feet high, the central volcanic
peak of the island and from Hualalai,
S,275 feet high, an extinct crater sum-
NIT in the northern part of the district,
is for the most part covered with dense
masses of tropical vegetation,-heavy
timber and ferns being the prevailing
growths. Old lava flows, from the
mountains to the sea, can be distinctly
traced, forming ridges of what is known |
as clinker. These clinker lands, covered |
with forest and masses of underground, |
make first-class coffee plantations, the |
only preparation of the soil that is re- |
quired being the clearing away OF the |
and thinning out the forest |
so as to give the coffee plant the proper
degree of shade. Kona coffee knows no /
superior anywhere. A fiourishing coffee /
plantation is carried on near Kealakekua
Bay, and the additional areas that might |
be turned In for the same purpose are
practically unlimited.
Diversified industries have, so far,
been pursued in kona more by being let
severely alone than otherwise. That
the lower slopes of the mountains are
not covered. with fields of coffee, sugar
cane, corn, bananas, millet and many
other products is not owing to disadvan-
tages of soil and climate. The reverse
has been fully demonstrated in num-
erous ventures, all on a small scale, in
these directions. In every instance
where cultivation of the articles named
has been attended to, the results have
been highly satisfactory. The corn
patches now In progress are not inferior
in any respect, except dimensions, to
the corn areas of Michigan, Ohio or Hi
nois- The crops Of the corn States
count one per annum. but in Kona, two
crops year can be raised as well as
0ne, the only question with the producer
being the question of exhaustion of the
soil which Of course has to be guarded
against in all agricultural operations.
Figures submitted to the planters at
heir meeting in October last in Homo
llu show total Of SO, 1S9.7S worth of
,orn imported into the kingdom during
he preceding year. 1t is difficult to
conceive any sound reason why the
,reater portion OF this corn might not be
aised In the kona district alone, other
han that the period of progressive in
lustry and enlightened enterprise in the
egions is only biding its time.
Sugar cane, the great staple of the
hawaiian Islands, may be said to have
cached this part of the islands only TO a
cry limited extent. That sugar cane
an be raised is proven, by the most un- !,
Of all evidence, namely, that ;
has grown well and is now growing :
nelly where It has been planted. Small I
rezs planted at different times and at s
ariOus points, have given as good results z
5 could be desired. A small plantation I
7as worked q few years ago BY Capt VIM.
hughes, and yielded handsome profits =
n the planters outlay, although his
I'LL was OF the crudest pattern, being
II By horsepower, and his boiling ap-
zrzt1s an old sorghum kettle. Hughes
zrTied on his little plantation for some
me until he found it necessary TO pro- :
1re additional land, but not being able J.
} come to terms with the proprietor Of !
e lands adjoining, abandoned the bust D
ess- Another plantation situated at c
le head Of KezlakekEa Bay and about
mile from the former, was started BY
rOthers O. the name Of Logan, about
Eenty years ago, and was given up on ]
count Of the high duties and the low
rice Of sugar At the time In San Fran
500. J
A new departure has been made in !
lgzr cane within the past year at Ho- Z
lzlOz above Kzi.uz. 4 company holds y
large Tract d land and has commenced y
JerztiOns- j good start has been made q
the planting Of over one hundred i
res 81 ezne, which Il nov IN q thriving u
,nditiOn- The crop indications, 50 far, =
2 excellent and all that seems To be =
7eGed 70 convert the slopes Of HOIuzlOa Al
10 hive q productive industry is the 2
rpznsiOl of the areas already planted. :,
bis, owing u the land not being preyi-
sly cultivated, viii require time. =
The planting q g1g2r cane on the :,
nail farm rzsiG u f<sfrU aarrf1Sef -,