The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-06-08
FROM SURVEYOR-GENERAL
THE TRIGoNoMER1CAL SURVEY
OF KAU.
Hard Work Done by the surveyors
ing Geological Survey of Islands.


Surveyor General Alexander in his
report to the Minister of the Interior,
presents a number of matters which
have engaged the attention of his de-
partment during the past two years,
which are of much general interest both
from the scientific point of view and
from the commercial.
one of the most important matters
was the work done towards the com
pletion of the triponometrical survey of
Kau. Professor Alexander thus des-
cribes it.
THE trigonometrical survey of the
Island of Hawaii was taken up again
in the latter part of August 1898. by Mr..
J. S. Emerson in the District of kau,
and was carried on by him to the end of
the year with untiring zeal and palms.
taking accuracy. Landing at Punaluu
August 81 1898, he proceeded to Puma,
where he engaged his trusty veteran,
Keanaha, after which they visited fit-
teen stations, including a new one at
Haao, between the volcano of kilauea
and Ia Lac or South Point, setting sig
nails wherever they were needed.
HE then occupied successfully a Sc
ries of stations along the Wind-swept
coast of Kau, from Lac Kamilo to the
South Point, with the 12-inch theodolite.
Returning inland he occupied Anu
Umi,' four miles due north of the Point,
and then the lofty summit of Akihi,
nine miles farther up the slope of Maui
ma Loa, and east of the source of the
lava flow of 1887. The 12-inch theodo-
lite was carried up and down that steep
hill by the hercuean Keanaha alone.
Next the Kipaepae station on the shore
below Naalehu was occupied through a
heavy rain storm. Between the 10th
and 27th of November, Mr. Emerson
/ 10 1ah
southeast side of Mauna Loa, north of
! Ainapo where he selected a new sta
ton called Keapoomuku which COM
pletes the network of the triangulauon
stations of eastern Hawaii, at an ele-
walton of 5000 or 5000 feet, and built
! frst-class signal on the spot. 1t COM
mands view of nearly every survey
station from Kulani Hill and Kapoho
! in Puma around to Pun Enuhe in Puma
! luu The first of December found Mr..
! Emerson, at work at Kamehame, on the
shore three miles east of Punaluu, AFTER
which he was Frustrated by illness for
| several days, probably the consequence
| of oVerwork and exposure
! 1.-THE continued rainy and foggy
| weather prevented him from occupying
! the lofty summit of Kaiolena, but he
! succeeded in making complete sets OF
| observations al Haao station, ana on
| Kapuna Hill east of Waiohinu, in spite
! n,
| His next move was expected to be to
Pun Enuhe, north of Punaluu. A brief
spell of clear weather induced him 10
make a push to KaihOlena, but steady
rain again set in, and compelled re-
! treat He returned to Honolulu Janu-
airy n.
1.-THE measurements made during this
campaign were remarkably accurate
under the circumstances, the closing err
ror of each triangle, as observed, rarely
| exceeding A.. The accounts of the party
also showed a strict regard for eceno-
my.
After reducing the results of this
! campaign in Kau, Mr. Emerson found
that the general triangulation of the
whole Island of Hawaii closed as well
as could have been expected, consider
ing that the chain of triangles is still
| incomplete, some of the stations not
having been occupied, and some of the
triangles having been measured with a
| 4-inch transit. The closing error now
| stands at so feet in distance, and g. IN
azimuth.
Mr.. Emerson then proceeded to ar
range and put in proper form the rec
ords of the entire triangulation of the
Island of Hawaii, and to enter them
in suitable books
OF work to be taken up soon in all
probability, Professor Alexander thus
speaks
1.-THE superintendent of the United
States coast and geodetic survey pro-
poses to extend it's operations to this
Territory at an early date. The work
of making a trigonometrical survey OF
the islands of Kauai and Niihau, and
that of making an accurate geodetic
connection between the islands of Ha-
wall and Maui will no doubt be exc
cuted under the auspices of that bu-
reau. The class of work, however, OF
which there is the most immediate need
is the photographic survey of the most
important harbors and bays of the IS
lands. l have already spoken of the
operations commenced by the Path
finder in December, 1899.
1.-The superintendent proposes to es-
tablsh a sub office in Honolulu similar
to that maintained in San Francisco
1t is expected that a division of the
, personnel and material of the present
survey will be made between the United
States coast and geodetic survey anc
the local survey of this Territory. Sucl
an arrangement will no doubt promote
the general efficiency and accuracy OF
the work.
: 1.-THE director of the United States
geological survey also proposes to com
mence the geological survey of these
Islands at an early date, basing his to-
2 biographical maps upon our triangula'
ton"