The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-27
HILO AND
HAMAKUA

No stranger who has visited Hawaii
can have failed to notice the beautiful
panorama which the approach to Hilo
affords. The smooth bay and the ship
ping at anchor in the foreground. the
village skirting the shore, and cottages
nesting among the groves of tropical
the lofty mountains of Kea and Loa,
whose submits often wear snowy caps,
even in midsummer, is a sight of in
comparable beauty that nowhere else
can be seen to such advantage and at
all seasons To those who have been
there before no great changes may ap-
pear, except in the outer districts. The
road leading to Kaumana, in rear Of
the town, is a smooth macadam, and
affords a favorite morning or evening
drive, from which point a fine view
may be had of the eastern slope of the
great mountain beyond. This section
Is being rapidly peopled with settlers
from abroad, who begin with small
holdings and means,and extend as their
industry permits. 1t will be covered
in time with an Industrious population,
as the land is obtainable on favora-
BILE terms.
The railroad starts from the steam
boat landing, and runs to Oiaa,
through many miles of heavy sugar
cane, which everywhere shows how
rapid and rank it can grow From Oiaa
visitors take coaches to the volcano or
to Kau, if bound there, reaching the
volcano in ride of three or four hours.
branch railroad runs south from
Olaa to Puma, a distance from Hilo of
twenty miles, through fields of sugar
cane, which seem to grow like magic,
changing the face of the country from
its dark lava hue of former days to
fields of cane, which have robed the
land, as with a magician's wand, with
a dress of green. The prospects of
these two districts certainly look very
promising. The erection of the new
and very large sugar mill at Olaa and
the numerous smaller dwellings,, has
changed the appearance of this sec
ton of Hawaii very much.
The plantations in the district
stretching from the bay northward
from Hilo are. looking fairly well.
though the rainfall has been less than
usual, and this may affect the outcome
of this seasons crop, as compared with
that of last year. The cane fields ex-
tend higher UP the mountain than in
former years, which necessitates a
slower growth and perhaps a smaller
yield of sugar. Less Lahaina cane Is
planted now on. Hawaii than formerly,
the reds being preferred by many as
more certain. What is known as the
Whitney cane-a cross between the
Lahaina and red mountain cane, the
koula Cor potato cane) is scattered
probably through all the fields. 1t may
be known by having the prickles of
the Lahaina cane inside the leaves, and
shade darker meat than the Lahaina,
but grows upright like a red cane, IT
was the intention to obtain a cane
with the good qualities of the Lahaina,
to plant on elevated lands, where the
Lahaina cane will not do well except
below 1000 feet elevation. We are not
aware that it has proved to be any
better than other canes. 1t very close
ly resembles the yellow Caledonia, as
it grows in the field, but the latter us
known as clean cane, that is, has
no prickles, and for some localities has
no superior.
On most of the older plantations OF
Hawaii, the Lahaina cane which has
been planted and replanted, often on
the same lands for many years-jn
some localities thirty or forty years
is being discarded and the red varie-
ties substituted for It, 1t is not rea-
sonable to expect that any plant crop
ped annually for many years on the
same land should retain It's arly pres
t1ge-no matter how much care may
De bestowed on its cultivation; and as
with other plants, SO cane demands
rotation. Where this Is done-and red
canes are now extensively planted on
Hawaii return to the favorite old
Lahaina cane may probably be made