The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-31

an equal attendance; and, two miles
above the town, a manual training
school for Hawaiian boys-Lahainaluna
Seminary. This seminary is boarding
school supported by the government
and is very old. The town has several
general merchandise stores, and an
ever increasing numberA Of small jap
anese shops. Nearly all branches OF
trade and most Of the professions are
represented. The total population Of
the district is 1882. Two hotels find it
profitable to do business; the same with
upward of forty hacks There is an
ice and soda water factory. A greater
number of steamers call at Lahafna
than at any other island port, Homo
lulu excepted, thus making the connec-
ton with the capital, seventy-two miles
distant, very satisfactory. Sugar YES
sells, loaded with lumber or other
freight, occasionally touch at the Ia
haina landing, but more frequently at
Kekaa, which is in the district, and is
about four miles away and reached by
the plantation railway. Most of the
local. trade is with Honolulu.
1t may be asked: Does Lahaina IN
vite enterprise other than the cultivs-
ton of sugar?" In reply it can be said
that the town has very little outlying
territory to draw from, the tillable land
of West Maui not being extensive, and
that therefore it's resources are limited
Its geographical position-half way De-
tween Honolulu and HilO-will always
make the place important as a stopping
point for steamers. Some persons
think that eventually much of the trade
of Central Maui will pass through La
haina, this place being the first Maui
port of call from Honolulu, and having
much better sheltered harbor than
Central Maui possesses. This can only
be, however, when a railroad twenty
five miles in length around the moun-
tains has been built to connect the two
places. Very little idle land and less
idle water (the immense waste of water
in times of freshets excepted) is to be
found about Lahaina. The climate Is
we'll suited to the cultivation of a large
variety of fruits and vegetables: the
products would find a ready market,
the amount of labor necessary to be
expended and the probable profit would
compare favorably with the same in
other localities, but sugar pays better.
The present need is the closer and more
careful cultivation OF small plots where
II Is not the intention to plant cane
property owners now do without quick
growing fruits and vegetables. and
bemoan the absence of them. because
they have not learned TO utilize their
small idle plots.
1t Is we'll known that the plantations
or the islands are suffering from the
need of field hands and from the re-
sulting increase in wages. If, as many
suppose. this condition of affairs VII
eventually result in the division Of .he
plantations into small sections to be
farmed under contract, then new con-
o1tions will present themselves. II
again, in addition to the increased ex-
penses of cultivation. there should
come the threatened decrease in the
price OF sugar, other changes may be
expected In the plantations. Such a
state or affairs would probably Gauss.
the REIMBURSEMENT of much leased
land; and in Lahaina, for example.
there would be many very valuable
holdings open for other cultivation.
The place would then invite immigra-
ton, and its healthy climate would
commend 1t. These, however. are frtura
contingencies and not present condi-
tions--W. Elmo Reavis in Huo Side
Lights.