Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-07
HAWAII.
Pertinent Facts About It's People
Products and History.

Pertinent Facts About It's People,
Products and History.
There are twelve islands IN the
Hawaiian group, Of which the largest
are Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai,
Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, Kahoolawe,
Total area of the islands is $40
square miles. Of this Hawaii alone oc-
cupies 4,210 square miles. The others
are, necessarily, very small.
IN 1884 the population was S0,57S.
In 1890 it was $1,000. In 1896, accord
ing to the census, the population had
increased to 10000. Of the population
in 1896 31,019 were natives, S,425
were haIf-castes, 21,616 Chinese, 24,4O7
Japanese, 1871 Portuguese, 3,OS6
Americans, $3.50 British, 1882 Ger
mans, 37S Norwegians, 101 French,
Ass Polynesians and 600 other for
eigners.
The islands were discovered by Cap
tain Cook more than a century ago.
At that time they had a native popu-
1ation Of 100000. These natives are
closely allied to the Maories of New
Zealand
The capital of the country is Hon
olulu, with a population Of 1920. 1t
is situated on the island of Oahu.
Exports from the islands in 1896
were: Sugar, s14,932, 900; rice, 1885,
900; bananas, $685. 900. The imports
are chiefly groceries and provisions,
clothing, grain, timber, machinery,
hardware and cotton goods.
Ninety-two per cent. of all the trade
Of the islands is with the United
States.
Revenues to the government of Ha-
wall in 1896 aggregated $1,997,81S and
the expenditures S1,904,191.
Steamship navigation connects the
islands with the American continent,
Australasia and China. In the islands
Of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu there are
seventy-one miles of railroad and $50
miles Of telegraph.
Nearly every private house in Homo
lulu has d telephone.
Until 1884 gold and silver coins OF
all nations passed current. After that
year only gold money of the United
States has been legal tender for sums
more than $40. Paper money is not
in use.
Under King Kamehamena l., during
the end Of last century and the early
part of this, all the islands were united
IN one kingdom. The second King
Kamehameha and his queen died in
England in 1923. Under Kamehameha
III. the kingdom was recognized by
the United States, France, England
and other governments. Hawaii (this
name standing for all the islands,
became constitutional in 1910. Kane
hameha ". died in 1853, and his bro
Their, the fifth monarch of the name,
died in 1872. Prince LunaIilo sue
ceeded and died in 1872 and KaIakaua
was elected king. He was succeeded
in 1891 by his sister, Liliuokalani.
Since that year Hawaiian history is
familial to Americans.
On July 4, 1894, the present re-
public was proclaimed and last year
the Hawaiian legislature voted for an
nexation to the United States.
Sanford B. Dole was elected presi-
dent in 1894 for a term of six years.
The climate of Hawaii is one of the
mildest and most hea1thful in the
world. So equable is it that there is
no word for weather in the native
language. The mean temperature is
Is degrees Fahrenheit.
The origin Of the islands is volcanic.
They are very mountainous and the
valleys are extremely fertile. The up
lands are better adapted for sheep
raising than for tillage The noun
tains are covered with dense forests.
Our winter is the rainy season in
Hawaii. A more bracing climate NAV
be found in the mountains. An hours
ride from the capital will give a lower
temperature.
Three mountains tower above the
sea from the island of Hawaii. They
are Mauna Kea, 1888 feet; Mauna
Loa, an active volcano, 1880 feet.
and Mauna Hualalai 1922 feet. Vege-
tation extends to a height of 1900
feet on Mauna Kea.
Hawaii, the island, is subject to
but they are slight and
seldom do any damage. The vol
canoes, spouting for ages, have COW
cred large areas Of the land with
lava, upon which the natives raise
a fine quality Of sweet potato. Mauna
Loa has had numerous eruptions-
the last in 1873.
Herds Of wild cattle roam in the
forests of this island.
There was never better hunting than
in the Sandwich islands. Wild swine
are in abundance.
Cocoanuts, bananas, bread fruit,
taro and kalO are indigenous. From
the last named is made the famous
poi" the favorite food of the is
anders.
Productions are sugar, rice, coffee, |
cotton, sandaIwood, tobacco, arrow |
root, corn, wheat, tapioca, oranges,
emons, bananas, tamarinds, bread |
rult, guavas, potatoes, yams, fungus, |
WOOL, hides, tallow and many kinds |
If wood.
Years ago the original inhabitants
were all cannibals. This practice
vas abandoned early in the present
century. The islanders proved easily
civilized and, in fact, turned out
much better Christians than their
:ivilizers at home.
Nobody ever thinks of stealing in