The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-06-02
Continued from Thid page

SUBSIDIZED sugar OF the united states. |
SO far, only the natural cane lands |
have been utilized; that is, such as can
be watered by living streams. An ex-
ception is made in the Eva plantation,
on Oahu, which is irrigated from
artesian wells What then is possible |
when all the higher lands, now and
since the beginning used as pasture
lands, are brought under the benign in
huence of pillow and artesian, or even
pumped, water, which may be secured
almost anywhere in any quantity
"Artesian wells are coming into gen
eral use all over Oahu and in some of
the other islands. AT any point, so far
noted on Oahu, artesian water can be
secured, and flows to a uniform eleva-
ton of As feet above sea level. Above
that elevation pumps are required IT.
rlgatlon is necessary, as there are dry
seasons still the rainfall is considerable
throughout the group, except on the
Kona coast of the island Of Hawaii,
where it seldom rains below 5000 feet
elevation, but the area is small 1t is
here, in the rain belt, where the famous
Kona coffee is grown. The Kona
coffee known to commerce is gathered
principally from the bushes growing
wild in the higher gulches and on the
the mountain sides above 5000 feet
altitude, and is, of course, inferior to
the cultivated berry now grown to con
siderable extent, but none of the pro-
duct leaves Hawaii, as Kona coffee
brings s. to 10 cents at home in com
petition with superior lava and Costa
RiCa.
"A product that must become of
considerable importance in the Islands
is the pineapple, The Hawaiian pine
of commerce is being rooted out, and
the smooth-eaved Florida pine and
the African pines are taking its place
with the greatest satisfaction to grower
as well as consumer Already there
are half dozen or more large pine
apple plantations where these varieties
are being cultivated and always with
the highest results. The fruit from the
exotic is large, finely favored, hand
some and peculiarly sound, while it
attains maturity earlier than in its native
home. 1t may retrOgrade, but the in
dicatlons point to greater perfection by
careful attention.
1" The eight habitable islands of the
Hawaiian group have combined area
of $3.50 square miles-over 4, 900, 900
acres. Hawaii is almost double the
size of all the other islands, with 4,2Io
square miles; Maui, 100, Oahu, 600;
Kauai 500; Molokai, 27o, and the
islands of Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe,
with a combined area of $40 square
miles, make up the balance
The three latter islands are owned
by individuals and used for sheep and
cattle ranches, as much of the area OF
the other islands are; in fact, much of
the greater portion of all the islands is
fit for nothing else, while the three last
noted have no arabic land on them
except in very small garden patches
Still there are immense tracts on the
larger islands that are not only arabic
but must come under the subsection Of
pillow and pruning knife with the settle
ment of political questions. Business
will then begin such a boom through
the induction of outside capital as only
California and the new middle West
has experienced; for the Oahu railway
will be extended around the island, and
similar Improvements will be made on
the three other large islands. The
hills will be covered with orchards OF
deCiduouS and citrus fruits vineyards
and coffee and pineapple plantations,
Cocoanut groves and rice fields will
cover every foot of the lower lands not
utilized for other purposes
Pearl Harbor, II miles west Of
Honolulu, must become, with the ad
vent of anneXation-which must also
come, and soon-the great harbor fol
the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu will
no doubt remain the capital city, the
social center, the home of the elite; but
the commerce OF the Islands must 90
to Pearl harbor, as must the naval
station, for there will come all the
inter-sland traffic where yard room for
railways and warehouses is unlimited
and a harbOr safe from the severest
'konas, or even a tidal wave, may be
secured to ships. Pearl harbor is large
enough to harbor the fleets of the
world, and the Government surveys as
we'll as surveys by American and
English naval officers determine that
six months work with good dredges at
an expenditure of million or two
dollars will clear a channel through the
reef for the largest vessels a1oat
OF course | visited Kilauea,
said Mr. Dudley "Who does not
visit the Volcano when in Hawaii
Describe it? Thousands better able
than myself have attempted with pen
and brush to descibe Kilauea, but all
have signally failed, as they must, for
nothing short of personal visit to the
volcano will satisfy any one who is a
student of nature or interested in
natures wonders 1t was the grandest
sight | ever Witnessed lake of seeth
ing, molten lava, that is so clear OF
Yapors as to allow one to descend into
the very crater and walk upon its hard
Il Il.