The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-31
THE HAWAIIAN CRATERs.
Both Largest Dead and Living Volca-
noes in the World Are There.

noes In the NOrlu Are mere.
Katherine Pope. writing in the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat.
Some of the happiest days of my life were
spent on a tableland looked down upon by
the three great mountains of Hawaii,
Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Hualalai, in
height 1860, 1896 and s,275 feet. wonder
If there is another place in the world more
beautiful than those great ranch lands.
whence one gets a view of rose-colored Kea.
somber and ghostly Loa, and the lower
crags of Hualalai. Perhaps Mauna Loa,
from the Volcano House on the brink of
the crater of Kilauea, is better. One does
not realize at Kilauet that one is on the
side OF Mauna Loa, is 1900 feet above sea
level for the summit is miles away. and.
seemingly. miles up in the clouds. From
the hosiery Mauna Loa looks quiet and
ghostly; unless touched by the red light Of
the sun, when it becomes a mountain of
fire.
Late news tells us it is now veritable
mountain Of fire; that a noise heard at the
Volcano House. twenty miles away, an
nounoed a terrific explosion had occurred.
and that the light of the fountains of fire
can be seen for forty miles around. We
wait further news with much interest and
some anxiety; three great lava streams,
travelling in different directions, down the
sides of that huge mountain, surely will
work havoc to some of the smiling country
ruined land that marks the old flows. When
one thinks of the fine growth Of young
coffee trees; of the wide ranch lands. where
roam wild horses, cattle and sheep; OF the
wonderful tropic forests jungled with fern,
chua and pandanus trees: when one thinks
of friends that live on these coffee and
ranch lands, one wishes there was a cable
to bring daily news from old Mokuaweo-
weo. the summit crater of Mauna Loa.
The ascent of Mauna Loa is a very hard
trip for both man and mule. and more have
of the climb; although parties in which
were both men and women, have got TO
whose rim is of ice. and which measures
9.47 miles. Travel to kilauea, which is the
largest active volcano in the world. can be
riage road all the way, and very comfort
able inn at the end of the journey. One
can ride to the very edge of the lake of fire
within the crater, so there is no hardship
connected with a visit 20 Kilauea. But the
old inhabitants can tell many a tale of how
it was in their day.
THE VOLCANO GODS.
There are many superstitions In regard to
the volcanoes of Hawaii. Besides the active
crater Of Kilauea. and the now active Mo-
kuaweoweo, there are very many extinct
craters on the islands. On the Island of
Maui. at an elevation of 10000 feet, is the
crater Of Haleakala, with a circumference
OF twenty miles. the largest crater in the
world. Travellers find Haleakala wonder
fully interesting and wonderfully beautiful.
Near Honolulu. on Oahu are the old craters
OF Diamond Head and Punch Bowl, from
whose tops we hope no more fires will be
thrown up. for on their sides many little
homes cluster.
Pele, the goddess OF volcanoes, with her
six sisters and her brother, was said to have
emgrated from Kahiki tSamoa) in ancient
fvnn iPGf m hat tfx-ad
on Oahu (all whose craters are now ex-
tinct). then 10 have moved TO Molokai then
TO Haleakala. and finally TO have settled in
Hawaii. Mr.. Ellis reports the natives be-
lieved the conical craters were their houses
where they often amused themselves by
playing draughts; the roaring of the fur
naces end the cracking OF the flames was
the music OF their dance and the red fiery
surge was the surf in which they played.