The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-01
BEAUTIES OF
MANOA VALLEY
Descriptive, Historic and Legend
airy Tales Of Honolulu's
Charming Suburb
From Thrum's Annual 1891.

| From ThTOIn Annual IoS1-
Comparatively few of Honolulu resi-
dents seem to have more than vague
idea of the charm and beauty to be found
in the vaney of Manoa, though it Is
situate but a short distance from the
heat and dust Of the city. and is reach
| ed by a good carriage road leading back
of Punahou. Those who are familiar
with the various valleys proximate to
| Honolulu are agreed upon the indiVid-
| ualitv of Manoa, both as to general
| formation and scenic effect. For these
land various other equally good reasons,
doubtless il Is the objective point-wind
| and weather permitting-for family OF
/ social party picnic gatherings more ire
quentIy than the holidays of the nation
| occur.
| Manoa is both broad and low, with
| towering hills on both sides that JOIN
! the forest clad mountain range at the
head whose SUBMITS are often ma IN
cloud land gathering moisture there
from to feed the springs in the various
recesses that in turn supply the streams
winding through the valley, or watering
the vase fields of growing taro, to which
industry the valley is devoted. The hlsh-
er portions and foot hills also give pas
turage to the stock of more than one
dairy enterprise.
-lut lie peculiar charm Of Manoa Is the
complete surprise with which its beauty
bursts upon the visitor on reaching the
summit of the road at Puupueo (OWiS
hiID on l.4e left hand side, In entering
the valley. For nearly a mile the road
leads by or along pasture fields with no
yistage of tree OF shrub, other than the
lantana pest and an occasional algaroba,
and passes along Round top or Ualakaa,
(rolling potato), so named from the early
cu.,-vation of this commodity on its slope
at the subjugation OF this island to ka-
mehamena sway
T~Kamaainas of Manoa thirty years ago,
of whom We recall venerable Ehu and his
son j. w. E. Maikai, d. Lima, Panini'
HeoIo, Kapakaula and others, used TO
point with pardonable pride to this noun
tain slope once under cultivation of
sweet potatoes, by the order of the Con-
queror for supplies for his followers as
evidence OF the diligent husbandry OF
Manoan's and fertility Of their soil
At this summit of the road the whole
valley opens out to view, the extensive
fat area set out in taro, looking like a
huge checker-board. with it's symmetrical
emerald squares in the middle ground
surrounded by pasture fields on the
stones at the base Of the guarding hills
Here and there mid sheltering trees
humble dwellings dot the scene around
while up the rugged slopes the almost
enQleSS SHdueS VI BlGcIii WIN b'NNN--
seams of rock oft times lightened up by
"sllye1y thread OF torrent forms the
background to one of the most charmllS
pictures, either in the clear sunlight,
heightened as IT often Is by CLOUD
shadows chasing riffs of sunsnine down
the mountain sides; or, as frequently
| may be, so watch the drifting mist or
rain sweep down one side OF e valley
whit the other basked in the sun
throwing over Us weeping neighbor a
: bow of promise SO radiant and bright
4 that its double, or even triple, reflection
| is no rarity.
But attractive as Manoa is for the
charm of a delightful ride, or drive, 10
inhale the freshness OF its invigoratinS
zephyrs, or to lure picnickers into its hid
| den recesses, amid forests OF bamboo
groves OF ohia or beds of ferns, &c. II
| is also replete with historic. leg ldary
and personal "Reminiscences that well re-
pays diligent research into it's folklore
| In the legend OF Kahalaopuna, the
Princess of Manoa, is given much of an
interesting nature in connection with this
famed beauty, the daughter of Kahau-
| kanI (wind) and Kaua--uahine train),
themselves the twin offspring O. the
mountain peaks Akaaka and Nalehua-
akaaka in commemoraJon Of whose
union. the growth of lehua bushes crown
! ing the spur OF Akaaka, is said to still
} attest.
Puupueo. or Owls hill. from whose
| summit our pen picture is given, IS a
high knoll in pasture field of some
thirty acres in extent, TO the right Of the
upper road. and IS renowned in tradition
as the place where an avenging spirit
in the form of an owl sought to execute
Judgment upon Culprlt for some alleged
transgression. but upon the pleading OF
the accused for "A hearing before eNecut-
ing judgment. it became thereafter the
established custom that none should De
condemned till tried and proven guilty.
To those Of a more practical turn or
mind IT is to be RENE mbered a. the local
ity where Oahu's first sugar plantation
was established in 1925. by one John VIII
kinson. who arrived at these islands,
from England. in the Blonde. which
brought back the remains of Kameha-
meha IL and his queen, kamamalu. The
/ only evidences now remaining are the
almost filed up excavations for cisterns
and well. and stones marking the west
crn portion OF the foundation Of the su-
gar house.
In front OF Puupueo. looking into the
valley, and not a thousand yards distant
on another prominence is sadly neg
lccted house. once a spacious ana com
Portable dwelling, occupied carly In tue