The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-11-09
BRAVE SHOWING
At THE POLO GAME
5. NJ DAMON HAS PROVIDED THE
MOST PICTUREsQUELY LOCATED
POLO GROUNDS IN THE WORLD.

The opening game OF the polo tourna-
ment between Kauai and oahu, Satur-
day afternoon gave occasion to the
braNest Cavalcade, through the most
beautiful scenery to the finest polo
grounds that has probably ever zeen
seen anywhere.
The polo field is the center of a natu-
raj amphitheatre. From any point the
view Is a most beautiful one. Nature
seems almost to have built the sur
rounding hills for the express purpose
to which $. NJ. Damon at the expendi-
ture of a great deal of care and much
money and the display of exquisite
taste and public spirit, has devoted it,
The grounds are situated a half
mile or SO from the finely macadamized
road which runs through Moanalua, up
one of the pretty little valleys that
pierce the mountains. The road up the
valley has been weAl built. and winds
up the course of the valley, which is
nowhere wide, but Astounding in lawn
like glades and sheltered hooks. the
walls of the valley on both sides being
well grown with grass and almost en-
tirely free from lantana and other I'M
dergrowth At last it leads through a
swale and over low ridge. when the
polo grounds and its surrounding am
phitheatre breaks on the view. Within
the amphitheatre the view both up and
down the valley is cut off except as to
the highest eminences, giving a Won
derful effect of secludedness, and pro-
lection from heavy winds.
The center of this natural amphithea-
tire is the polo grounds leveled off per-
fectly and turfed until it presents the
ideal grounds. The natural contour Of
the spot is oval. From all sides but
1.
the edge of the level polo grounds, so
that the carriage drive surrounding the
grounds gives at every point good van
tage view Of the whole field. On one side
for most of the way. the carriage road
is lower than the polo field, and on this
side are the stables and exercise
grounds. The polo field itself is bound
ed and limited on both the long sides
by a low board coping giving carriage
space on each side of the field itself in
addition to the abundant room for car
riages on the carriage road, and even
on the sides of the hills.
For the hour before o'clock Satur-
day afternoon. the road leading out
through Moanalua was alive with
equipages and horse!nen and horsewo-
men. in festive spirit bound for the
polo grounds. During the game it was
a very brave sight to see the scores of
carriages and ether scores of saddle
horses surrounding the polo field on
which the men in red and blue com
prising the contending polo teams. rode
hither and back in animated and flu
rious yet keenly considered manoeuvres
driving the ball or essaying to wrest
it from the other side.
After the game the procession back
through Noanalua to the city was the
gayest of routs. There was scarcely
any dust SO that there was not the
usual objection to riding in such a pro-
cession and a successful opening game
of a splendi sport had been witnessed.
The Oahu team won by the score of
1874 TO g. During the firsl part of the
game, the Kauai players, partly
through unfamiliarity with the grounds
and partly it is probable, through
nervousness, did not make the showing
that they did later The Oahuans never
let up in their game, and the later
score made by their opponents was due
to improved individual and team work.
The second game of the tournament
will be played Wednesday and the
third one on Saturday of this week.