The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-10-09
UP MAUNA L0A.
A Trip Which Will Become Very
Popular.

\ trip that few make, but which
should, and in time will he one of the
most popular in the islands, is that
up Mauna Loa. Although it is sell
dom in very active state, never when
Kilauea is, yet from the interest of
the trip, the glorious view, the fact
that it is one of the highest active
volcanoes in the world, all make it
trip that would be enjoyed by every
one.
The journey is not long one, nor
particularly hard. Naturally, one can
not get all the comforts that one gets
at the Volcano House, but there are
no other Inconvenience than those
that any camping.out party would ex-
perience.
The trip occupies three days. An
early start is made from the Volcano
House and by night the "half-way"
house is reached. Here the night must
be spent, and those who have come from
the warm air below are surprised to
find that a cold wave has struck the
Hawaiian Islands, where everyone
seems to think that perpetual summer
reigns. In the winter months, the Their
mOmeter often goes below the freezing
point at the half way house, which is
considerably above the timber line,
it being, in fact, the last place that
food for the horses can be had. J. NJ.
Monsarrat, the manager of Kappa
pala ranch, has built a small house
here, at a considerable expense, as all
the material had to be "packed from
Punaluu, and after spending the night
here, another early start is taken next
morning, and the summit is reached
about ten o'clock. The crater is in the
center of long plateau about three
miles long. The crater itself is nearly
four hundred feet deep, the walls be
ing nearly perpendicular. A smoky
steam rises from it continually, and
those who venture to make the
descent find that its floor is warm,
sometimes hot, but that it can be
walked on with safety, except, of
course, during its active periods.
The view from the summit is one of
unparalleled grandeur. Below, the
country is spread out to one like a
panorama-sugar plantations, small
towns, and the sea beyond, all in
seeming miniature, but so plainly
visible that houses can be distin-
guished. On the other side, old Mau-
ma Loa, which is only one hundred
and fifty feet higher than Mauna Kea,
but which effectually shuts off the
view on that side. Beneath, directly
under one, is the crater, which, with
periodical outbursts, has been smould-
ering and smoking away for 10 one
knows bow many centuries.
The trip, as said before, is not hard
one. The trail, although somewhat
is still an easy one on the sides, though
start, it leads through beautiful for
ests of Kaa, which would make
q lumber dealer green with envy;
over long stretches of ancient
pahoehoe, and aa, or old lava, which
may have been thrown out of the angry
volcano centuries ago, but which is
still hard and rough as the day it
cooled.
There is, for those who like it, fine
hunting on the way up. Wild cattle,
wild pigs, turkeys and quail abound,
and a sportsman can keep himself
busy by slaughtering them.
There are many indications, to those
who know them, that in short time
Mauna Loa will again be active. The
crater of Kilauea is gradually subsid-
ing and becoming less active. If it
should become entirely dead, there is
little doubt that Mauna Loa will
again commence to spit forth fire and
birthstone, and if it does, it will afford
one of the grandest sights to those who
take the tip that it is possible to inn
agine.