The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-12
WANT TO BE AMERICANS.
THE FEELING IN HAWAIIANS 80
YEARS AGO.
A Returning American Citizen Tells
Some Interesting Things Abeut
the Hawaiian Islands and
Its Industries.

"Had we had 400 men behind US in
1864, 80 years ago, the Hawaiian islands
would now be q part Of the United
States"
The speaker was v. Knudsen. a gen.
tleman who is at the Westminster upon
his return from the islands on the last
steamer. It was to HERALD reporter
that the remark was made. He stated
that he went to the islands 30 odd years
ago and at the time he referred TO he
and % other delegates had been called
together to form o new constitution.
King Kamehameha V was at that time
the ruler, and had destroyed the old
constitution, so to speak, and insisted
upon new one more to his peculiar
fancy. In addition to the king and his
immediate adviser, there were present
at the convention 20 mobiles and 20 del.
egetes from the various sections, among
the latter of whom were Mr.. Kundsen,
DR.. Judd, whose son ia now the chief
Justice, q German and number of
Americans, most OF whom were born of
missionary parents, sent there in early
days. The convention, or q large por-
ton, endeavored TO hold the King in
check. and stood out for q long time In
the hope of getting a constitution which
would be agreeable to all sides. Several
OF the Americana even made o CANVASS
of the settlements to see what could be
done, but as they only numbered a
handful they had to submit. The same
constitution adopted stood until the fall
of the monarchy 10 1898.
King Kamehameha V was the sue
cessof in straight line Of Ksmehameha
l, who brought the whole group of
Islands under one dynasty. He was a
bold and courageous man and greatly
superior to the common native. He
arose superior TO his surroundings in
1903 and conquered all the tribes upon
the other islands. From that time for
ward more enlightened period pre-
vailed.
Mr. Kundsen speaks in glowing terms
OF the ielands and their resources, but
he save it should be under the wing OF
the United States. The people there all
want it, except the natives, and as
nearly everything is American, it seems
but natural that the United States
should take the islands.
He does net think that the tariff will
have much effect on the sugar industry
DIG way OF uuubu6Ts W Aou tu0 thIlu OI
30 cents a pound was levied few years
ago he attended meeting of sugar
planters in Louisiana, and at that
time they made showing that the
Hawaiian island people were making
more money. despite the duty, than the
Louisiana people.
Mr.. Knudsen and his son own 1900
acres of sugar cane land. He sage that
the land pays as high as 500 an acre.
Nearly every plantation has its own
sugar mill. The help employed is nearly
all Japanese. save the Americans who
act as overseers. The natives are good
people to work. but as rule they are
very independent and most of them
have independent holdings of their own.
lie speaks very kindly OF the natives,
however, and says they are kind,
agreeable people and much attached
to Americans. Owing to the fact that
nearly all the land 6t for sugar lies be-
tween the mountains and the sea, and is
limited il extent, there is but little
more, If any, land which can be devoted
to this industry. The bulk of the land
10 mountainous.
MIR. Knudsen says that he has re-
turned to the United States expecting to
remain. He has home near Redlands,
where his wife and come Of his children
reside, and he likes Southern California
very much.