The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-04-06
STEAMER KrSAU, April +, 1898.

Mr.. EDITOR: | am returning to
Honolulu from my sixth visit to the
Volcano of KilaUea, my first visit
having been made in December, 1883.
1t is with great satisfaction / record
the fact that, while every visit has
been a source of much pleasure, this
one has proved far more delightful
than any previous one. The reasons
for this are many, and chief among
them are the increased facilities for
comfortable transit to and from the
Volcano, the superior accOmmoda-
tions in the way of rooms, meals, and
baths at the Volcano House, and the
condition of the active lake of fire
itself.
To begin with the steamer Kinau, /
have to own that there were no sur
prises for me either going or return
ing. The service on this excellent
steamer has invariably been of such
high grade that do not expect or de-
sire any Improvement. The officers and
employees so ably execute the desires
of the Wilder Steamship Company,
that the passenger on the Kinau is a
person to be envied. Our first sur
prise was at Hilo where we found Mr..
Vierra presiding over new and far
more cOmmodious hotel and at his
hands we received the most courteous
and kindly attention.
March 30lh will be pleasant date
for all of our party OF Raymond d
Whitcomb people, as we had added to
the delight of beautiful HilO the
charm of Il carriage drive to the novel
japanese village at Wainaku Planta-
ton, and also q visit to Cocoanut ISL
and. In the evening in response to
the kind invitation of Mrs. Judge
Austin, president of the Ladies' Aid
Society of the Foreign Church, our
party attended the sOciable in the
church parlors and spent most de-
lightful evening, our Hilo friends
fully making up in genuine hospital
ity what we lacked in boots and
gowns suitable for such an occasion,
so that for once at least in our lives
we enjoyed q social treat without
being dressed as deliberately as our
old time friend McGiniy, who is gen.
orally credited with going down
dressed in his best suit of Clothes"
Our journey from Hilo to the Vol
another surprise, twenty and one
half miles being driven over the ex-
cellent macadamiZed Government
road, leaving only nine and one-half
miles to be toiled over on horseback.
The attention of the Minister of
the Interior, and of all concerned,
is most respectfully called to the
necessity of speedily completing the
Volcano Road. As IL scheme of inter
nal development and improvement
this road is wise and timely enter
prise; but as an inducement to tourist
travel alone, it deserves the heartiest
support of every public-spirited citi-
zen of these islands, and instead OF
leaving the enterprise to progress as
slowly as 1t has the past two years
the road should be finished in n very
few months. 1t is eXcellently built
and when completed it will prove the
most beautiful driveway in any cOun-
try, and at the same time furnish 8
charming and easy route to the great
est Volcano on earth.
Our visit to Halemaumau Saturday
afternoon and evening was the crown
ing feature of our long journey of 5000
miles. 1t would be presumption fol
one not inspired to attempt i'll an art
icle like this to describe this marvel
Gus lake of fire. / have no idea of Sc
doing. 1t is so grand, so beautiful, sc
unlike all other natural wonders that
those who fail to see it must forever re-
main ignorant of one Of the most pro
found impressions of which our ma
lures are capable. / can only speaE
of some changes since my last visit
wear ago. The vast amount OF activity
may appear more readily Wnen L say
that the entire crater of Halemaumat
covering an area of over 100 acres, has
filled up at the rate of over ten feet {
month, or 125 feet during the pas
wear, and the lake of molten lava to
day covers nearly fifteen acres.
Thanks to the enterprise of Pete
Lee, the able manager for the Volcano
House Company, we were able &c
mount our horses at the door of thu
hotel and ride with perfect ease and
safety over trail directly to the edg
of Halemaumau, three miles, wher'
we found not only q most eXcellen
house for our comfort, but also well
built stable for our horses. A tele
phone is the latest addition to thi
house, and you can now talk to you
friends in any part of Hawaii and re
port every new "fop'' which Madam
Pele gives to the seethiug cauldrOi
IlSt below you. Il lSGL llhc
menting the Volcano House COmpan.
on the enterprise they have shown
and on the fact that their business
being so ably conducted by such ma
as Mr.. Lee. He in turn is fortunate /
having the competent services of MI
Charles Brewster as chief steward {
the Volcano House.
Many courtesies were shown tn
members of our party by promlnei
citizens of Hilo, aud our stay in thu
charming city will furnish mateTl'
for many pleasant memories: VI
party was also highly favored in ha'
ing with us on this trip Mr.. J. }. Wi
Iiams and Mr.. w. ii. CharlOck, WI
have been untiring in their efforts
make the trip a delightful one, an
they have the sincere thanks OF II
tourists for their many kind service
HENRY c. LYON.
The more Chamberlain's COug