The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-07-30
ON HALEAKALA.
The Description of a Trip Taken
by James W. Garvin.

first trip to Haleakala, on MAUI anu
such was my experience on that coca
sion that I will never forget IL. A
friend, Harold Giles, and had agreed
TO make the ascent of that famous Ola
mountain sometime and we decided
that it might as well be done ana
over with. We had visited every
valley and peak worth speaking OF
and always kept that Haleakala In
view as our last grand climb before
we left the Islands. We had lived
quite a while in WaIluku, and from
our veranda that grand, majestic,
weird-looking mountain, 10000 feet
high and gigantic in all its proper
lions seemed to be daring us to make
the ascent. To the people of West
Maui HaleakaIa stands out in bold
relief against the eastern sky. Shut
in as they are by their own high
range of mountains the sun sets to
them early in the afternoon and they
watch the receding light as 1t slowly
dies out upwards along the slope OF
the great mountain. 1t Is the only
place know of where the sun sets In
the east. The word Haleakala has
been translated House of the sun, Out
L understand it as House-where-
the-Sun-is-lighted. From Wailuku,
at a distance of about TWEEN
ty miles, it presents very
symmetrical, though barren, aspect.
On bright, clear day, it is observed
that it's sides are scored with deep
rayines, which, through a telescope,
are found to be filled with dense
tropicaI growth of scrub koa, kukui
and other trees. Generally in winter
Haleakala wears cap OF snow for a
few DAYS. When this cap comes we'll
down the sides and lasts for few
weeks, the natives assert that good
agricultural season may be expected.
The slopes of Haleakala are so gentle
that cultivation may be carried on
halfway up to the top. Anyone In
search of climate may locate himself
on this mountain at such an altitude
as to obtain the requisite temperature
from that of the tropics TO an almost
Arctic at the summit. Although the
side towards Wailuku has barren
appearance, being on the leeward,
that on the windward is densely
covered with gigantic ohia and koa
trees, and the ravines which are
deeper generally carry turbulent tor
rents. 1t is from these the water Is
drawn to irrigate the thousands OF
acres of cane in Haiku, Grove Ranch,
Hamakuapoko, Paia and the lands OF
the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar
Company. In the days when my
friend and L visited old Haleakala
there was but one of these plantations
(HaIku), and It's output was small.
As we rode across the plain which
SEPARATES West from East Maui we
might have discerned from the rank
growth of the grass, which was up to
our horses bellies, that some day the
whole would be one grand field OF
cane. We knew of the water supply,
and were familiar with irrigating sys-
TENS of other countries, but could not
have foreseen that a reciprocity treaty
with the United States would be made
and which has given such an impetus
TO the sugar industry.
Stopping at Mrs. Andrews place at
MakawaO we obtained n supply OF
provisions and her son as guide.
After a very pleasant ride of few
hours we found ourselves at the cave
near the top. Here we tethered our
horses and proceeded to collect lot of
scrub wood to keep fire going all
night. In the morning we We're on
top before sunrise and felt fully repaid
for our eXertiOns None but poet
should attempt to describe sunrise on
Haleakala. All the principal islands
of the group are visible. At times
they could be compared to huge toad
stools, as each of them carried its bon
net of clouds. The three mountains
of Hawaii protruded from the field of
fleecy clouds which covered the whole
island. After chasing goats for while
and gathering some good specimens
of the silver sword, beautiful plant
4, I'll, s.r 70 oil
my friend and the guide decided TO go
down into the crater.
The crater is somewhat triangular
shaped and its floor appeared To be
covered with cone shaped hills. | de-
termined not 10 make the descent az
my lungs were not very strong. 1t Is
very steep and sandy, and the two
men were soon at the bottom where
| could see them wandering about
among the hills.
Presently the clouds began to draw
into the crater from the kooiau gap
and the whole interior was covered at
a distance of probably thousand feet
below the rim or peak on which l
stood. 1t was n very peculiar sensa-
ton to be alone in the world. Grad
ualIy the clouds closed up toward me
until the space on which l stood aD-
peared TO be no larger than an Ordi-
nary hOusetOp.
After an hour or so, aud having
eaten my lunch and written my diary
and sung all the songs L knew, fearful
sense of loneliness seemed to crowd
upon me. l walked As far rs the
limits of my surroundings would al
low me. / whistled and called TO my
comrades. 1 loOsened boulders and
set them hustling toward the center
of the crater. All means of passing
time became exhausted, and l would
fain have followed my friends into the
crater, but knew that slight devla-
ton at the top would mean miles be-
meath. had read of the sense of lone
illness men experience who have none
of their kind to talk with, but they
had always the lower animals or a
varied scenery. l have since heard