The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-08-10
AS SEEN By A VISITOR.
THE VOLCANO TRIP VIA HILO
DESCRIBED.
various scenes Along the Route--yivid
Pen Pictures "Details About
the Crater, etc.


as | wendell my way to the Wilder
Steamship Cnmplny's wharf en- route to
the famous Kilauea volcano on Hawaii.
The usual noise and hustle pertaining to
leaving was gone through. Laborers of
many nationalities .iostled each other as
they carried their burdens up the gang
planks. n gong was sounded by a
steward, farewels were waved to those
from the wharf
In the water score and more of
Kanaka heads on the brown, copper
colored bodies of youths darted through
the waves shouting for ''nickle' and
such diving of heals when the request
was complied with followed a minute
later by the broad grin of the successful
swimmer as he held aloft the coin. Out
of the harbor the ship sails, encounter
ing a breeze which is cooling and
delightful in comparison to the hot air
of town. Passing historic Diamond
Head with its cocoanut trees waving in
the breeze, the channel is encountered
and choppv waves cause retreat to the
stateruoni.
The passage to Hilo is a tedious one,
local freight causing many stoppages at
points OIL both Maui and Hawaii At
none OF the places Of landing does one
find piers, the heavy surf boats always
ia ht, ola ,,fa l,
noise OF machinery. About thirty-siX
hours is taken in the run from Honolulu
to Hilo tie distance beng 275 miles.
Hilo ranks next to Honolulu in popula-
ton and contains about 10000 inhabit-
ants. 1t is the most tropical place on
the Islands on account OF the frequent,
almost daily ranfalls. 1t is much used
as a summer retreat, its beautiful cres-
cent bay, lovely homes, quiet shaded
streets and the fragrant odors of a
thousand different flowers, make it a
veritable Paradise.
Leaving Hllo on Monday morning
by cont ortable stage coach, the vol
cano is reached in the afternoon. The
driver was good natured Scotchmau
and has been ON the route for ten years
Besides driving he has the care of letters
and huge box of fresh meat in the
shape of beeGsteaks, each one bearing q
tag with the owners name. These were
handed to persons or dropped into little
boxes strung upon fences along the way
the supply of meat to the vari u'
coffee planters. S 'on we encounter the
sugar cane fields, reaching for miles i
their wavy emerald green. In some q
the fields Japanese or Chinese laborer
are cutting down the ripened cane will
wonderful rapidity, going straigh
across the fields; others bundle it NJ
and it is carried to the V shaped flume
where the water PUSHES it alun!
to the mills on the sea shore
Leaving the cane fields behind.
forest of tropical growth is encountered
the yellow guavas ready to eat if orr
CHOOSES, the uhia tree with its scarle
tufts of blossom, the ia-ia a parasitic
vine, VIII Ddidul7, Dicdu liup ai'
many others In the boughs ant
hollows of many of these trees bird mes
ferns nestled and tree ferns lowered il
the air.
Passing this forest a rolling plain
encountered and here commences tn
coffee plantations which run along eac'
side of the road for fourteen miles q
more. Hating at noon time for luuc
at the Mountain house Il splendid vie'
is encountered from the Veranda
Leaving this behind the last part of til
Journey is commenced. The fnres
Jungle is more. dense and the asceu
more steep, but one is interested in tn
drive and the journey is not tedious.
Our driver is quite communicatiV
on the road. When within two mile
of our journeys end we come to lh
Jail, little settlement of woole
houses into which the prisol
ers are confined at nigh
In the day time they work on this roa
which has been some years under COZ
struciion. lie prisoners are most
made up OF Chinese and japanese iabo
ers who have viol ited their contra,
with the sugar plantations. The me
are well treated and very few attempt
escape.
On my arrival at the Volcano llou'
which is situated on a grassy plateau.
found very comfortable host cry, b
wood fire was blazing in an old iashio
ed fire place. Outside fern trees rose
quite a height, plots OF flowers aboundt
with roses, geraniums, violets, pans
and the best callas have ever seen.
West OF the hotel the sulphur banl
are situated and out OF innumerab
crevices the hit sulphur rolls out
clouds, pipes from these banks conv'
the hot steam to the bathing house. III
heat arising from the sulphur fumes
plainly percep,ible through ones sho
and the hand can only be held for
moment near the crevices.
In front of the hotel lies the bed
Klauea, nine miles in circumferen,
1t is a dense black bowl surrounded
an amphitheatre of hills. Away to I
right lies Mauna l4oa soaring upwar
for over 1900 feet, the white snC
glis enirg from the top From ma
places OF the bed of Kiluuea VIII
vapor arose IN the air through I
assures. aud away to the extreme =
two largA volumes of smoke pointed q
the abode of Madam Pele.
A party was just about to start on q
arrival and, at er II warm cup of tea
was ready Ia jim the ranks, numberi
twenty lone in all, about bali Of
number bsing On horseback. Armi