The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-08-25
AN AQUATIC CARNIVAL.

To depart from the beaten tracks of
suggestion for attracting the WORLDS
| leisurely class to Hawaii, the Adver-
tiser would submit to all who take an
interest in the grand object PROPOSE
ton of which the mere discussion Is
likely to be useful. 1t is not entirely
new, for the same thing, In small
way, has been advocated as corollary
to other schemes for drawing crowd
at one time to Honolulu.
What is the matter with getting to
work upon having an aquatic carnival
at Honolulu and Pearl harbors in 1910,
centering about our statutory Regatta
Day? An agricultural and Industrial
fair might be held in connection there
with. This would be reversing the
relative Importance of the two events
as formerly proposed, when, In dis
cussing at our latest little fair larger
one next time with notice to be given
abroad, 1t was suggested that aquatic
and field sports be arranged for as slde
attractions. Any attempt to get up an
exposition here upon q scale TO at
tract people from over the seas in any
direction is out of the question. III the
millions of dollars of home capital re-
ouired were available and national as
sistance pledged, the city could not
begin to make arrangements for ac-
commodating enough people to make
admission receipts appreciable. A great
exposition requires facilities Of travel
to and from 1t which will enable tens
Of thousands of people to arrive and
depart daily. One of its most essential
elements of success is a vast resident
population in it's immediate neighbour
hood, perpetually during it's existence
to feed its creaking turnsties with
certain patronage apart from what
comes from far.
Honolulu, however. ought to be able
to get up an aquatic carnival on
scale that would attract from different
sides of the Pacific a crowd as great
as it could conveniently accommodate.
Having ideal waters for both yachting
and rowing, we ought to attempt some
thing large, at one stroke. for bringing
these abiding attractions to the atten-
ton of the outer world. NO event
worthy of inviting outsiders to patron
ize can probably be mentioned which
would come within the capacity and
means of this community more easily
than an aquatic carnival. Two or three
great prizes, with expenses in whole
or part to all outside competitors VINO
met given conditions, for yachting and
the same inducements for rowing,
would be the main thing and next TO
that the adequate advertising or the
event a year in advance.
Japan is reported to be eager for
try at the America cup. This news is
one of the things that came into mind
with the suggestion of this article. Let
Japan TRY it on the dog first, by
sending something to Honolulu to race
in the class of yachts that might be
expected to respond to our moderate
but still respectable inducements.
There is little doubt that the announce
ment of a grand regatta at Honolulu
would attract a great deal of attention
in Japan, not only among the native
wealthy but foreign tourists there, ana
induce a goodly current of people TO
make the event an unusually opportune
time for visiting Hawaii. 1t ought
surely to bring competitors In all
events, with hosts of sight-seers III
their train, from all the Pacific Coast
including British Columbia and from
Australia and New Zealand. BY stipu-
lating for moderate sized yachts, the
Atlantic Coast would probably be in
duced to send out flyers in the big
cargo steamers regularly plying to this
port from New York.
If private enterprise should put the
scheme here proposed upon bona fide
basis, it would hardly be out of place.
but good public policy, for the Legisla-
ture to assist with a snug appropria-
ton.