The National tribune., 1900-06-28
CAPITAL OF HAWAII.
City of Honolulu and Its Sur.
roundings.
O. F. SAMPSON.

sisners to the Islands ask is, How can
best see Honolulu and surrounding coun-
try?" To this there are many answers.
/ will suppose our visitor to have first
landed at the Oceanic Line Wharf. He
will there find the pneumatic-tired bus,
and by paying % cents he can ride to the
hotel OF his choice.
After good nights rest in the best
climate known, he rises with vigor and
prepares for his first day of real enjoy
Inent i'll a tropical land. First, he will
drive, or take the tram-car, TO the Wal
Xxi for a good bath, if he is experienced
In travel. A. the Waikiki one finds re-
sorts of worldwide fame, and may safely
choose the Waikiki or Lanai q, baths for his his
plunge. Here, at the Waikiki especially,
enc NAV tccome wonderfully refreshed
from the rCughness and trials of the ocean
voyage, even with its modern accommoda-
siOns In the sights Of peculiar interest
the visitor viii. soon become amused and
astonished. After his plunge for half an
hour in the best of water, round which
nature has done wonders beyond compari-
ron. yea. even realization, he leaves his
hath witt. a vow that he will visit the
place each day.
As he turns away his eyes perchance
meet nnotLcr sight that fills his being With
wonderment He has seen for the first
time the rativo canoe tproal and its brown
occupant as il lists along its outward way
with its human freight, or speeds home
ward like sea gull. while the visitor may
see a familiar foreign face eager with the
excitement Of the ride. The joy thus
openly expressed by the eXcursionists be-
speak the pleasure to be gotten from such
q ride. and he wishes to indulge in the
pastime; so hailing native with the re-
ouired outfit, he quickly makes a bargain
whereby for a dollar. or such matter.
he will receive an hours excitement.
Out, out, out over the white-capped
breaker, of Diamond Head skips our par
ty. Spray daSheS in our faces and we
are tossed as a cork, but our confidence
is steadfast in the Captain and crew.
Diamond Head is past; our leader points
us 10 III" great military depot and signal
station OF UGcle Sam upon its crest, and
lea wing: behind us the Bay of WdiclrI We
ag;.in rid" the rolling deep. Back To our
finish we 20 round the coral reef to our
harbpr. Thanking our employee for our
Journey, We assure him we VIII be on
hard for ride to Pearl Harbor on the
following day.
DIAMOND HEAD.
From here We may now climb "Dia-
mond Head" OF, as the native prefers to
call il, Nit. Leihi'' (Mount of Fire. and
few extinct volcanoes are as faithfully re
membered as this one. Every liner upon
entering Honolulu Harbor must sail round
this noted mound Of lava, whose peak re-
Bembles massive inverted bowl OF irreg-
ular broken edges. How many tired feet
and aching heads must have labored upon
this peak, which reaches about T35 feet
above where We touched land upon our re
turn from our canoe journey.
We turn to our right at the foot and
follow well-beaten lava road for nearly
three miles round this massive hill, until
finally we reach an old and yet freshly
troGden foot-path which winds its way up.
ward to the edge OF that great bowl we
are SO desirous of seeing. Up, up, we go,
view the new sights round us-cocoanut
groves, palm foliage below and at the foot
OF our walk, while away in the northeast
we can See large plantations of rice; but
custnG our eyes above, we are reminded
that cur journey isn't yet half over, and
20 once more we begin our upward tread. |
One OF our party IN advance suddenly
calls out, Here is the crater, the bowl
Of wonder, and as l live there is pond
and cattle and donkey in it." Hastily |
ciamberlng to the edge, we peep over and |
behold the objects Of our wonderment. |
Many explanations Of such an apparent |
phenomenon are readily given, but every |
one advanced seems incredible; however |
rs our guide tells US it may soon be ex- |
plained to our satisfaction, We are con-
tent. |
Having our eyes upon "Old Glory" fy, !
Ing IN the breeze from pole at the top |
most point, We are resolved to walk the |
rugged edge to this position, even at great |
risk. After nearly an hours hard travel |
we sit al the foot of the staff and are sat |
tshed. Here someone remarks il is lunch |
time, and we all agree soto poce. No food |
need be carried past the noon limit by boys |
with our appetites. Seating ourselves |
npon block Of lava, We begin our lunch, |
and as we progress we are reminded by |
our guide that where we now are eating
was once hallowed ground for native wor- |
ship. The fact is novel, startling and in |
r
the watch-tower OF idolatry, looking down |
upon Christianized traffic and labor, and |
1t is with difficulty we realize the true
history of our observatory. Before us the |
WAIKIKI Of early idolatry and superstition. |
and beyond, the early school of the Kan
ska-the great Pacific; but bow changed |
the souls Of meni
Again we turn our eyes into the crater |
and behold II has swallowed our animals |
we only few minutes before discovered
indeed, not sign Of them is 70 be seen,
and our wonderment is. beyond bounds, as
we can see no path or way for their exit |
As We raise our eyes beyond the cavity |
OF the great bowl We see photographed bJ |
nature landscape of wondrous BEAUTY:
this il the great Nunsnu Valley, at whose
head stands the great "Pali." Beyond |
TO the left. In the distance, lies Pearl Har |
bor.
We now follow our guide down the
brittle lava incline to the foor of our era
ter and once in our life walk in the center
e1 an extinct volcano. Ages seem to have |
elapsed since this was active, yet we won
der II II is likely to suddenly become an. |
(ry and give us a free ride Heavenward |
Only few shrubs are found in this crater. |
but upon the eastern side We found |
small pond of muddy, stagnant water, and |
the tracks Of our strange animals; later |
We tracked them to an incline, over which |
they left the volcano in secret, and the |
mystery was explained.
As we ascend the opposite side Of this |
volcanic bill We behold the mighty Tan
talus Ia al his glory in the distance
While on our way to visit this and |
Punch Bowl we may enjoy the beautiful |
view Of Honolulu In the distance. From |
diamond Head one may sse tropical Hon |
olulu and the valley in full splendor from |
the common rice plantations to the most |
costly and superbly garlanded residences |
and yards. Who can tell the vast amount |
OF wealth represented by the scene So
vividly placed before us? Let me lust
mention one Of the many good qualities
Of Pearl Harbor." Senator John Nor
gan once said that "the whole United
States Navy might be easily sheltered in
this most natural haven" This Is one OF
the finest harbors in the world-eyen New
York or Rio de Janeiro cannot outcIasS
tt-and were it not for the great coral
reef hundreds OF our largest steamers
could lie at once in these 1,500 acres Of
water and locks. The entrance TO Pear!
Harbor Is as yet closed TO large steam.