The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-14
SEEING The
BIG CRATER
KiIauea Is Dead Now
But Plenty to
See.
(staff correspondence

KILAUEA, Feb. 10.--Kilauea is worth
travelling thousands of miles to see
whether the volcano is active or mac
tice. The old crater, which was two
months ago at the height of activity,
is now dead; the bottom covered with
small stones and gravel, can be easily
seen from the brink, and sulphur fumes
rising from open assures give the only
indication of past disturbances.
Kilauea may be dead, but even then
it is interesting. The crater may be ex-
tinct, but to one who walks or rides
over it at any hour day or night, it ap-
pears to be very active indeed. From
every crevice and fssure volumes of
smoke and steam and fumes rise, and
in half dozen places the heat is SO in
tense that it is lots more congenial in
cooler spot.
No one can truthfulIy say that XII
lauea is extinct. Madam Peie is only
slumbering. There is always activity
somewhere beneath you, and the smoke
and fire constantly arising give the inn
preston that you are walking over an
active volcano, even though you are not
able to see the activity yourself. 1t is
may be flowing deep down, there is no
telling when an upi1eavaI may come.
And then even without the view of
the lake of fire and the remarka BILE
disturbances apparent when the vol
cano is active. there is still always
something to be seen. Madam PeIe's
kitchen, the hot caves, and the cones
of past disturbances are all interesting
enough. You can be familiar with Pele
here, without running into danger.
There is advance notice of every per
Torrance and it is easy to get to the
gallery on one side and keep a close
watch on the play. No doubt the view
Of the crater is magnificent while the
volcano is in action, but at the same
time there is also enough to be seen
when Kilauea is still, to repay you
for the trip a hundred times over.
The Volcano House people and Hilo
residents complain that Honolulu does
all in its power to prevent tourists
from visiting Kilauea. Perhaps they
do, but it is a mistaken policy. Oahu
has attractions, but after all the visit
to the volcano should not be overlooked
1t is the one attraction which Hawaii
has, that no other country can offer
Properly developed it is the islands
most valuable tourist asset. You can
get tropical scenery in many lands, but
a living volcano whether active or in
active is one thing which no other
country can offer. And it is harmless
always. Pele Is always remarkably
well-behaved and yet she is ready to
display her charms to every visitor
Ii there is no activity there is still al
ways enough underground disturbance
to give the tourist an idea of what she
might do if really aroused. And per
haps good many people would prefer
to walk over the black lava beds and
see and feel the heat and smoke from
the innermost recesses of the earth
and be told of Pele's power, than to see
her demonstrations at close range OF
course the splendor of KiIauea in action
cannot be belittled. but there is always
considerably more to be seen, than sim
ply boiling lakes and fiery lava foun-
dations Then too every visitor to the
volcano must pass through Honolulu
And the chances are that the average
tourist who is told that there is Moth
ing to be seen outside of Oahu. cuts
short his stay in Honolulu Just that
much. A visit to Kilauea is a benefit
not only to the island of Hawaii, but
1t means necessarily a longer time
spent in Honolulu, for steamer connec-