The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-01-28
Brvan's Letter onHaWaii
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decorated with garlands of flowers for
the hat and neck. While these gar
lands or leis pronounced lays) are OF
all colors, orange is the favorite hue
being the color of the feather cloak
worn by the Hawaiian kings and
queens in olden times The natives are
a very kindly and hospitable people,
and we had an opportunity to meet
some excellent specimens of the race at
the public reception and at the country
residence of Mr.. Damon, one of the
leading bankers of the island.
When the islands were discovered in
177S by Captain Cook the natives lived
: in matched huts and were scantily
clothed, after the manner of the trop-
ical races. They were not savages or
cannibals, but maintained a degree of
civil order and had made considerable
progress in the primitive arts. In the
religious rites they offered human sac
, rifices, but they welcomed the white
man and quickly embraced Christian
ity. American influence in the islands
reaches back some seventy-fve years,
beginning with New England mission
aries many of whose descendants have
made permanent homes there. Some of
these, mingling their blood with the
blood OF the natives, form a cOnnect>
ing link between the old and the new
civilization. Foreign ways and customs
soon began to manifest themselves, and
| long before annexation the native rul-
ers built public buildings, after the
style of our own architecture. The
| Capitol building, erected twenty years
| ago for the Kings palace, is an i'm
posing structure and the judiciary
/ 7. - VI
parks and public grounds are beautiful
and well kept, and the business blocks
| conmodious and substantial. In short,
Honolulu presents the appearance of a
we'll built. clearly and prosperous
American city. with its residences nes-
| Ting among palm trees and tropical
plants. Good hotels are abundant The
Alexander Young Hotel is built of
stone imported from tie States. and
would do credit tC G city of 100000
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, even more
picturesque though not so large, and
the Moana Hotel, at the beach, vie
with the Young in popularity.
AT FAMOUS PAIL PASS.
The program for our days stay be
gan with seven-n1iia automobile ride
to the Pail. the pass over which the
natives crossed to the farther side of
the island. The road is of macadam.
and, winding along picturesque val
ley, rises to a height of about 1900
feet. At this point the eye falls upon
picture of bewitching beauty. Just
below is a precipitous cliff, over which
a conquering King, Kamehameha I,
about 10 years ago, drove an opposing
army when he established himself as
Of bo iSIa no ga 9 from
the foot of the cliff about 1000 feet
down, stretches a beautiful valley with
an endless variety of verdure, and be-
yond a coast line broken by rocky
pl omontory around whose base the
waters reflect from their varying depths
myriad hues of blue and gree There
are ocean views of greater eXpanse,
mountain views more sublime and ag-
ricultural landscapes more interesting
to a dweller upon the prairieS, but it
is doubtful whether there is anywhere
upon earth a combination of mountain,
valley and ocean-a commingling of the
colors of sky and sea and rock and
foliage more enhancing. Twice on the
way to the Pail we passed through
mountain showers. and We're almost
ready to turn back, but the members
of the committee, knowing of the rare
treat ahead, assured us that Hawaiian
showers We're of short duration and
extra dry When We at last be-
held the view we felt that drenching
might gladly have been endured, so
great was the reward.
The committee next took us by spe-
ciaI train on the Oahu Railroad to one
of the great sugar plantations of the
islands. a plantation outside of the
trust. owned and operated by a San
Francisco company. This company has