The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-21
4 WAT ER
FRONT PARK
Creation of One is
Planned.
FUN|T[D STATES MUST ACT
Kakaako Reservation Taken For Ma
val Purposes But May be
Returned.

Despite the fact that for five miles or
more Honolulu fronts on the sea, there is
no park, nor square nor public ground of
any description front on the ocean any
where within it's limits.
Two years ago the Legislature Of the
Republic, recognizing the advantage and
even necessity for such a park, set aside
eleven or more acres of land along the
reef in Kakaako, just at the mouth of
the harbor, to be in future laid out as
public waterfront park. 1t was Intended
TO establish here a marine geological Ia
boratory and marine aquarium, with
grounds about it and lawns and walks
and a band stan. Here the people could
Gene in the hot afternoons and enjoy the
breezes and the view over the ocean and
watch the sur. and the coming and going
of the ocean craft.
| But annexation to the United States
came a few weeks later and by the agree
ment between the Republics all the pub
lie lands of Hawaii were turned over to
the United States Government, to be done
with as it pleased. President Mckinley
Immediately set aside the little tract of
| and at the mouth of the harbor for the
use of the Navy in case it were needed.
and so the property was lost to Homo
lulu for the time being as public park
and no further steps toward making 1t
| such have been taken.
Since this property was reserved by
| the United States Government 1t has
never been used for any purposes what
ever, am. it appears now that 1t will not
! soon be made use of, so a movement is
on foot to secure from the Government a
recession Of the land to the city of Ho-
| nolulu, that il may be used as was origi-
nally intended. This movement is taking
definite shape already, and ii is expected
that the matter will be brought to the
direction of the President within short
| time.
From Commander Merry, in charge OF
the naval station here, an interesting
talk was obtained yesterday on the ques
ton.
IL do not believe that the United States
Government VIII have any occasion tC
make use of the land in question: hC
said, land it is quite likely that it viii
be returned to the city of Honolulu if i
proves TO be of no use to the Govern
ment. When il was first taken by tn,
Government it was upon my recommen
dation. The Government has about nine
acres of land along the waterfront for it,
docks, but there is not room there for {
dry dock If one were to be constructed
so 1 recommended the condemnation o.
this land. 1t was then as it still is, en-
tirely unimproyed and largely under wa
ter, protected only by the sea wall.
But Congress has authorized the ex
penditure of sl50,000 in improving Pear
Harbor and there is no doubt that wheI
To-
naval station established it will be a
Pearl Harbor, so the little stretch of lane
| st Kakaako will not be needed and if tn,
proper representations are made l hav,
no doubt that the Government will turn
the land over to the city to be used al
il wishes"
Superintendent McCandless of the Pub
lie Works Department said that he knew
little of the matter except that the ianC
had been set aside for a park by tn,
Government of the Republic and hat
then been reserved for naval purposes b,
the Government of the United States
The plan of securing 1t again for pari
is one that will have my cordial sup
port" he sad, land / hope that it will b,
carried. Honolulu ought to have a parl
on the shore, and the one proposed
would be nicely located and would prov
one of the attractive features of the city
In view of the interest that has beer
aroused in the question of late and tn
possibility that the park may become
reality in the not far distant future tn
act setting the land aside will be of in
terest, and is here reprinted in full:
ACT So
AN ACT TO ES1 4.DnISH A MARINE
PARK ON THE EAST SIDE OF HO
NOLOLU HA--IOR.
|
Republic of Hawaii:
Section l. The NJ mister of the Interio
is hereby authorized to reserve that por
ton of the reef lying southeasterly from
the entrance of .-4e harbor of the port o
Honolulu, hereinafter described in section