The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-16
rowing AND OTHER SPORTS
INVITATION TO FOREIGN OARS
MEN TO VISIT HAWAII.
Championship Regatta for 1S97-Cycl-
ing Is Favorite Sport Now-Tennis
skotiation-Terrill Heard From.

BY all odds the most important
sporting event of the week has been
the meeting of the Rowing Associa-
ton, and the determination by that
body to hold the championship races
in September, either on the Saturday
preceding or following the date fixed
by the Legislature as Regatta Day
The meeting was attended by all of
the delegates appointed from both
clubs, and was characterized by a
spirit of enthusiasm that gives prom
Use of a season of exceptionally good
sport on the water. there is intense
rivalry between the two clubs, and be-
tween the several members of each or
ganlLation who are anxious to compete
for bonors in the championship events,
but in neither instance is it other than
gentlemanly and sportsmanlille. 1t is
of the kind that leads the public at
large, unconsciously, perhaps, to take
an interest in the sport, and to lend
to it hearty support and patronage.
Honolulu ought to have a world wide
reputation in acquatics. Its geograph.
ical location, surrounded by water in
a zone of perpetual summer, has made
rowing its national pastime. Its
young men naturally seek the water,
and spend much of their leisure time
in or on it. In the days of the old
Monarchy this was recognized, and the
sport was fostered by the Government.
King Kalakaua's regattas are recalled
with pleasure by many who partci-
pated in them. The new Government,
too, has given recognition to the ma
tional sport by appointing one ma
tional holiday in each year, which is
to be devoted to acquatic sports.
To gain international distinction is
! but a step. OF men of brains and mus
Gle there are plenty in the clubs now
organized, and they are not lacking in
ambition. They have the advantage
over their brethren in other parts of
the world of being able to have the
year around. And the uay is not far
distant when they will prove to the
world that they have taken advantage
of their opportunities. They do not
| know their own prowess now, for time
comparisons, the only method by
which they can now measure their
strength with crews in other parts of
the world, cannot be satisfactorily
made with lapstreak boats against pa
per shells. The clubs have come to a
realization of this, and now the lap
strcaks are all to give place to racing
shells of the best make. Even then the
real strength of the local crews will
be an unknown quantity, until it is
actually measured in bona fide con.
test against that of a tried foreign
team.
The talk of an international regatta
is not idle. There are a number o.
=. splendid clubs on the Coast, forming
what is known as the North Pacifi,
Association of Amateur Oarsmen, whC
, are more than anxious to accept tn,
cluDS III bllelT DTOIUtTnOOtl
They are located at Portland, Seattle
, Victoria and Vancouver and hold an
: nual regattas at one OF the four places
, The recently increased Transportation
facilities between Honolulu and thes
ports has made feasible a plan to in
clude the local clubs in the circuit
In fact, so favorably has the matte
been considered that the next steame
will carry an invitation to the Severa
clubs in the North Pacific Coast organ
ization to take part in the regatta mex
September. Through the correspond
ence thus opened 1t is hoped to form
5 an alliance that may bring the loca
+. oarsmen in close touch with the worl
$ of acquatics.