Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-08
A RIVAL ! =. TO SUGAR
Wonderful Success Of Coffee Raising
in the Hawaiian Islands.
SErFLEMENlOF FORMER CROWN LANDS
Thousands Of Acres Of Rich Lands
Ready for Cultivation.
INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HlLO, Hawaiian Islands, December 10, 1897.
1t is by the steamship Kinau that one
goes from Honolulu to Hilo on the trip to
the greatest active volcano in the world
Kilauea-and at the same time to the new
coffee plantations, which promise to equal,
If not surpass the sugar industry of the
Hawaiian Islands AS roller, pitcher
and twister, the Kinau has no rival on the
Pacific. Were it not for her genial cap
tain, purser, steward and picturesque ma
tive crew, this erratic little craft would
have been long since mentally consigned to
the bottom of the sea, by suffering tourists
from all parts Of the globe.
1t is a two days trip from Honolulu to
Hilo The sail among the beautiful is
lands with their ever changing scenery,
is a delight to the eye, while the frequent
landings by the ships boats add a novel
interest and often excitement, unknown
to the ordinary manner of entering port,
where there are docks and wharves. Ha-
waiians are natural sailors, and strangely
quiet people. To the Ang1o-Saxon they
are a study Every one of the kinau's
barefoot crew is an athlete-tall, broad
shouldered, erect and strong. When at
rest they lounge on the deck in little half
sleepy groups, with an occasional drift
into undertone conversation, and though
possessed of a genuine sense Of humor 1t
never finds expression In loud boisterous
demonstration Apparently there is no
interest beyond the warmth of the brilliant
sunshine and their simple meal of poi and
fish. But the instant an order is given,
they respond with quick, noiseless ges-
lures, full of life, energy and thorough
knowledge of duty. 1t is not always pleas
ant or easy duty. for landings are often
q Qa n Sf OE cog
and rocky shores, and made at any time
of night, with no light save the ship Ian
terms. But the Hawaiian crews never
lose their heads through fear of danger or
excitement, and what is striking, pro-
family is seldom or never heard, even when
loading cattle, which is done in a curious
way, aften hard on the men and at much
disadvantage. This is not simply disci-
pine 1t is the Hawaiian character.
A Modern Little City.
Nature has done everything fer Hilo
situated on one of the most beautiful bays
in the world. having one of the finest har-
bors IN the Pacific. Hilo has a four-thou-
sand population, three thousand electric
lights, telephones lin nearly every house
and a complete system of up-to-date water
works. 1t Is a town of churches and
schools, public library, literary clubs, two
well-conducted newspapers, many hand
some private residences and a fine new
plan. The bicycle also is abroad in Hilo-
everybody. Anglo-Saxon. Hawaiians. Chi
liese, Japanese and Portuguese. all spin
the wheel, and women and children ride
more on horseback than anywhere else
1r the world There is good deal Of
wealth and culture, fine social life and a
delightful hospitality to strangers. Hlo
people have almost everything they desire
except direct line of steamships to San
Francisco, which they say would place
them on equal footing with Honolulu
There is no doubt that direct communities
ton with the ''coast'-all islanders call
San Francisco the "coast"-wouId give the
boom to Hilo that would soon make it a
formidable rival of Honolulu. 1t has the
extent of country back of it. which makes
the greater Fart of the sugar business and
also what may become a second greater
industry, In coffee. 1t Is above Hilo that
the government has opened up to settle
ment the coffee lands, formerly crown
lards, under the monarchy. Coffee is by
no means new on the Island of Hawaii. On
the leeward side of the island is the Kona
district, famous for Kona coffee, which to-
day brings the highest price in the mar
Ket, except Java and Mocha.
The New Coffee Industry.
But here on the windward side where
sugar left everything else behind, little
attention was given to coffee until four
years ago, when the government opened
these lanes, its policy being to encourage
'7S''iSihrhl ny SlIdii anu investors
of moderate means. There had been the
belief that coffee would not flourish near
the sea, nor at an elevation above ten
miles from Hilo. But actual experien, 20
proves that it will do well in this climate
and SOIL very nearly at sea level and
aso that some Of the most promising new
plantations are twenty-four miles above
HIlo, but six miles from the volcano an
elevation of 1000 feet above the sea. This
is the Olaa district. where the soil is very
rich, soft and porous, and especially adapt-
ed to coffee production. and at the same
time grows all tropical fruits and most
products of the temperate zone The
coffee lands are along the line of the New
volcano road, and the first big coffee
helds are the Peter Lee plantation, eleven
miles above Hilo.
The Coffee Belt.
Three years ago the peter Lee edict"
said here was the limit in altitude for cof-
fee But today there are fifty plantations
all higher, and Mr.. Lee, who is widely
known as the popular manager of the
Volcano House, now thinks the limit may
be fixed at the crater of kilauea While
there is difference of opinion as to the most
favorable conditions for the cultivation of
coffee. the majority of planters, when
clearing lands, leave an edge of forest as
protection for the trees against wind and
too much exposure. The Peter Lee planta-
ton, however. stands out in the OPEN
beautiful, healthy trees, less than three
years old, many of them now in good bear
ing There is also the question of shade
and partial clearing of lands. the former
holding the moisture in the soil, the latter
enriching it, claimed by some planters.
But the Capital Coffee Company plantation
is without shade and is clean cleared The
trees on this plantation are only sixteen
months old from the seed, and now stand
nearly four feet high Some of the best
plantations are owned by Japanese-notably
the Hoshina plantation, one of the finest in
Olaa. Grossman Brothers, two enterprising
young Americans, have a big plantation
eighteen mileSfrom Hilo-200 acres, and 100
in trees three years old. Coffee trees are
generally planted about six feet apart, SO
1t will be seen that 100 acres in trees is a
large plantation, and when in bearing the
fifth year. even with the moderate average
of two pounds to the tree yields a pile
Sears yield S eoo POUNDS 60 oe
and say the seventh year. when in full
bearing, this yield is doubled. However, as
the new plantations are yet under four
years growth the full bearing average NAV