The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-06-27
KAPIOLANI PARK.
Chief Pleasure Ground Of
Honolulu.
Description Of Improvements Effected
and in Contemplation Grand Pos
SibilitieS Of a Liberal Policy,

Mr.. w. NJ. Giffard on Wednes-
day drove the representative Of the
BULLETIN out to kapiolani Park to
give him a view Of the improvements
made there within the past few
years. AT the entrance of the Park
Mr.. McCullum, park ranger, was
called for at his lodge, and the trio
set forth on tour of exploration.
While taking stroll first among the
beautiful islets and ponds, the
ranger gave some particulars of what
had been done in road making and
forestry. During the past two years
two and half miles of rock road 80
feet wide had been built, skirting
the park boundaries and with the in
ternal drives making total of
about five miles completed. Five
thousand ironwood trees have been
set out, chiefly in lining avenues
and encircling the racing track. A
large number of other exotic trees
have been planted, including ban
yans, imported varieties of cocoa
nut, araucania, caoutchouc, cy-
press, etc. There is nursery near
the rangers lodge for propagating
trees from seeds. The great draw
back in this department is the lack
of water system, in consequence
of which is incurred the prodieious
labor of watering the innumerable
young trees, after their final plant
ing throughout the great area, by
hand out of buckets. This defci-
ency cannot be remedied without
the granting of enhanced appropria-
tions by the Legislature. The park
roads are daily wstered by sprink-
ling carts.
Near the nursery wire net coop
is visited, which contains a number
of peacocks and japanese phea-.
SAINT cock. The latter is . beautiful
bird, belonging to Hon. w. G. lr-
win, but unfortunately has lost his
mate since coming here. Another
consignment of the species is, how
ever, expected by future japanese
steamer. Passing along the banks
of the concentric stream or canal at
this side of the park, foot bridge
leads to the lovely Makee island
and is crossed by the party. This
is very favorable and favorite pic
mic ground than which, well shaded
as it is with trees of many kinds and
covered with deep and luXuriant
carpet of grass, no prettier or plea
SAINT can be found within reach OF
the city. The beautiful croton
shrub is planted between the bor-
dering row of trees, and requiring
much watering it is creditable to the
ranger that the plants are kept quite
healthy. This and several other
slets have been reclaimed from
swamps within the past four or five
years. The surrounding water, ex
cept where it is adorned with varie
gated lilies, is robbed of its charm:
by prevailing coat of limu moss
that some means is necessary for re
moving. Perhaps the substanc,
could be utilized as fertilizer TO
the market, as it is now used t,
some extent in nourishing the youn!
park trees. Among other pictur
esque objects assisted in the produc
ton by art are conical mound GOV
cred with verdure, standing in tn
midst of a circular pond and a rock
cry jutting into the canal and wei
stocked with papyrus, or Moses
bulrushes. Specimens of the Mon
tereyt cyprus and the umbrella tire
are observed in. passing. Befor
leaving this section a suggestion ia
vorably canvassed by the trio of ex
plorers may be mentioned, whic
was that in addition to the necessit
of cleaning the limu off it would b
an attraction to place swans on th
water. The adaptability of til
stream for pleasure skiffs was ais
remarked, it being even now ayaiie
of for that purpose to limited e,
tent.
Returning to the road Mr.. Giffar
divulges an important intention {
, the Park Association with regard t
the race track. The high boar
fence now surrounding it, which ha
, been somewhat of a grievance to IL
, public and an especial bete moir {
legislators in discussing the appr'
priation, is to be taken down.
will be replaced with a low palm
and hedge Of some suitable shru
i, in addition to the complete row I
ironwood now planted all the wa
round. Within the inner circun
ference of the track, where there
s perfectly level surface, it is su,
gested that a first-class recreatic
| ground can be made for baseba
. games and other holiday sport
4 When street car accommodation
increased so as to be equal to carr
ing the people, the park will u
. doubtedly become the popular re
: devious for outdoor amusements.
8 Coming back to the exploring b
. siness, the party mounts Mr.. Gi
fard's brake and rolls over we
made driveway, runningE norther
! between the race track and the ives
ern boundary Of the park till
! meets the new Government road
: Moliili. Mr.. McCullum draws q
l tention to a brood of mudhens