The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-14
TRIP OVER
CHANNELS
How Travel Strikes
a California
Tourist.

There is a little bit of a steamboat
called the Noeau, plying between these
Islands, which excels all other inven-
tions in producing seasickness. You
leave Honolulu at D p. m, and encour-
aged by the smoothness of the bay,
and the pleasant odors from the kitch-
en-, you eat a hearty dinner while the
boat glides along past the tropical
groves of Waikiki-the Long Beach of
Honolulu. About thirty minutes later
you begin to cross the channel and
the boat rolls from side to side, and
prances over the choppy waves like a
horse leaping fences. The supper you
enjoyed so much is quickly lost and if
any of a previous meal remains that
also follows with remarkable speed.
People who ride the broad seas for
months without any qualms of seasick-
mess have to acknowledge the suprem-
acy of old Neptune on this trip.
There are a dozen steamers-all small
which ply between the Islands. but
all are about alike in their effects upon
the passengers. Larger vessels might
be less distressing, but strong ocean
currents drive between the Islands, and
the wind. which on the land may not
be much noticed, will swell to a strong
breeze over the channels, making the
voyage as rough as that over the Eng
lish Channel.
The distance from Oahu-the little
Island on which Honolulu is located
to Molokai is about fifty miles. 1t was
dark before we reached the vicinity of
the leper island. so that We could see
only it's dim outline as we passed along
it's southwesterly coast. 1t is the fourth
island in size, being about twenty-five
miles long, and from five to- ten miles
wide. The 1eper settlement occupies
but a small part of it. The main part
is mountains. 1t contains several large
sugar plantations and a cattle ranch.
Early in the morning we found our
boat anchored in a beautiful, quiet bay.
the beach gradually up to the summit
IF a mountain ridge. The sides of the |
high hills and mountains were deeply |
furrowed as if by the action of vast |
floods. but down nearer the sea the |
smoother rolling hills were green with |
cane fields. bringing the water We're /
ong lines of tropical trees-cocoanuts, |
palms, bananas-almost hiding the I
queer old village of Lahaina. which /
island of Maui.
This island is in size the second in
he group, being about fifty miles in
ength, and about thirty miles wide
It's mountains rise to a height of 1000
eet and occupy most of the island 1t
contains several very large plantations.
On account of the shallowness of the
Jay it was not possible for the little
steamer to approach nearer than a
quarter of a mile to the land. So boats
we're lowered to carry freight and pas
engers ashore. We accepted the OPP
of landing, and as the steam
T was to lie here most of the day, we
made arrangements to spend the time
With friends on shore.
1t was a delightful day, bright and
lear-about like a choice day in the
realty enjoyed carriage ride through
ne pidntatlOn cane neluS ana along !
he beautiful sea beach, and out to the
ocoanut grove which gives to the town
he sobriquet of the "Cocoanut city"
The grove consists of about ten acres
# tall trees, each with its burden of
ruit among the swaying plumes near
hundred or more feet from the
round. The grove belongs to the La
Iaina Sugar Plantation, but it's prod
let is held to be of little value. Ev
vyone who wants cocoanuts comes
nd takes them when they fall, or gets
hem from the tall tops if he can. An
ther variety, growing on much lower
rees. is cultivated near Honolulu
hey are much easier to gather, and
eing produced near market. are con-
idered a profitable crop.
1t was near shutdown when our
teamer left Lahaina. Nothing could
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