The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-08-08
PERSONALLY CONDUCTED.
A Stranger and Kamaaina Take in
Honolulu and Vicinity.
A Beautiful Drive Through Beauti-
full COuntry-Suuanu valley
seen I'm all It's Glory.

What. been in Honolulu since March
and never been up to Nuuanu Valley
Have you few hours to spare
Yes? Then well take drive, see the
Queen, and I'll show you a mountain
retreat that cant be beat"
My genial friend, w. S. Luce, full Of
excitement, went to the telephone, and
like King Richard, called for "a horse. -
The horse was brought. In truth it was
a noble steed, with cabriolet attach
ment AS we entered the pretty part Of
Nuuanu avenue Mr.. Luce called out:
There she is! There's the Queen!
Isn't she lovely?" l of course thought
that he meant the ex-Queen, and as a
stranger will do, gaZed around with
open mouth, looking for her, but glanc-
ing up at a stylish two-story frame
building saw over the doorway, "The
Queen" This was the Queen" that
Mr. Luce meant, and alighting / walked
around spacious veranda while Mr..
Luce unlocked the front door. Enter
ing the house, / found myself in a
large hall with high ceiling; to the left
and right of the doorway was a large
parIor and a room intended for an Of
flee. / saw right away that the building
was intended TO be run as an apartment
house, hotel or club house. 1t was per-
fectIy planned for any of these or for a
place of entertainment, as, for instance,
what we'd call in the States a road
house" There were nine other rooms
on this floor, besides Mushroom and
closets. A grand staircase led the way
up stairs, where we found the same
capacious hall extending through the
middle of the building, and twelve
rooms, single and en- suite, like those
below, also bath room and closets.
Every room opened upon beautiful
Yeranda, the double of the one below
Walking around this, l caught sight of
a little purling stream running pic
turesquely back of the house We de-
scended by the back stairway to the
basement, which we found to be one
large room, about 4Ox90 feet suitable |
for a general dining room Back of
this, detached from the main building, |
but connected by covered roadway. |
were situated the kitchen and servants |
quarters. The kitchen was fitted out |
with a large Montague French range, |
with hot water attachment and i'm
mense boiler.
Il didn't keep you long, did I?'' said |
Luce as we climbed back into the car
riage and drove along the beautiful !
road. See, this is called 'Nuuanu
Cemetery and this the Royal Gene
terry where the former kings are buri-
ed" l was enjoying myself thoroughly |
and took pleasure in the beautiful |
hedges on either side of us. We nearly
ran over "Dachshund" evidently own
ed by some "Berliner Bub,' and in the
midst of my laughter 1 suddenly stop
ped and said, "Ahi'
We had arrived in the most beautiful |
part of the valley, about three miles
from town, and the sunlight was play
ing with the emerald sheen of the
Set back from the road on
an elevation stood modern one-story
frame building with veranda running
around three sides OF it, one side being
protected from the weather by lights
of glass. To get to this house we had
to walk up a winding pathway from the
gate, upon which was lettered, Noun
tain Retreat" The walks and drive
ways were lined with hibiscus hedges,
while fruit and ornamental trees
and the manienie grass look
ed like green velvet. To the right and
back of the house stood a cottage
and windmill, while to the
left and back was the stable and coach
house. To the rear of all these a rivulet
trickled through the premises going
ION forever" never drying up and al
ways ready for use. Entering from the
front of the house, we found ourselves
in a large pGrlor running the entire
width of the house; back of this were
five bedrooms, large dining room, bath
rooms and closets, while in the right
wing was the kitchen and store rooms.
All the rooms were beautifully finished
off. and as the building is new. the
paint shone in all it's virgin purity.
Walking out to the piazza, we amused
ourselves with taking a view of the
town and peeps at the ocean; and re-
ally, when the time came to leave, il
was with the hope that 1 might soon
see the place again. On the return trip
MIR. Luce informed me that he was 60
ing TO auction off both these beautiful
places at his SaleSrOOmS on next Mon
day at noon. He was very enthusiastic
over the advantages they possess, but it
was an Outburst of genuine feeling, and
not in the way of business. It certainly
is a great chance, the terms being so
and everything being made
so easy for the prospective purchaser.
If 1 ever go on another exploring
trip around Honolulu, | hope I may be
personally conducted by Mr.. w. S.
Luce.