The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-03-21

offers a surprisingly beautiful view, is
the natural park for the College Hills
tract, and with it's accessibility from
Manoa road is in touch with a much
larger section of the city. Its pic
turesquely rugged character requires
no tampering with landscape designs,
and thus practically no expense
In the somewhat detailed discussion
of these reservations, the list doubt
less seems long, and more formidable
than it really is in the expense in
volved. In running over the list, you
have to remember that the Pail, much
of Tantalus, all of Punchbowl and all
of Diamond Head, are already out of
the market so far as building sites
are concerned; that the Pail + quirc,
absurdly little further expense to re-
alize its most obvious opportunities
and none at all for maintenance; that
the plan suggested for the Tantalus re-
serve would make it a Territorial park
and as far as the Territory is con-
cerned of no expense; that that pro-
posed for Punchbowl would relieve the
county of care of all except the slopes
and rim-which want to be left pref
pense is contemplated at Diamond
Head; and finally that the public al
ready has free access to the Rocky
Hill in the College Tract, This leaves
only, as items of considerable expense
the development of the Pacific Heights
park-where every dollar of expendi-
ture will give large returns,-and the
extensions of Prospect street, i'm which
the gain to the community is double,
since it secures convenient access to
park, and drive that in itself is
beautiful.
Taking the list, then, in the aggre-
gate, consider what a chain of scenic
reservhtiJhs this would be-alI the
best vantage points seized and held
forever for the public, that never
should the beautiful views which ma
turc has spread before Honolulu and
its guests be taken from them and
fenced away. From Pail to Diamond
Head, and back through Kapiolani
Park, Main avenue and the Beach road
to the waterside parks, water entrance
and Union square there would be a
girdle of majesty and beauty of which
the city never could be robbed. That
i'm itself would be a park system worth
having, the like of which it would be
hard to find, and remarkably practical
bic in its attainment.
l include the watersde parks in this
list of scenic rese rVatiOns, though the
beach lots at Kapiolani Park will have
in their bathing facilities a strong
Value-being pleasure ground as well
as scenic reservation. 1t is to be hop
ed and eXpe cted that as dredging in
the harbor proceeds, filling in will take
place at points along the Beach Road
And l urge this so that there may be
other waterside parklands. For the
sea with it's ceaseless change, its vary
ing color, its panorama of shipping, is
as strictly and attractively scenery as
any mountain view. The development
of these parks will be very easy. Some
turf and palms few clumps. of shrubs
at corners, and plenty of seats that
face the ocean-and your island peo-
pie will be able to get close to the
sea- as is their right, to listen all day
to its song and to feel again the salt
spray.
c. ORNAMENTAL OPEN SPACES.
No park system, however well worth
while could make claim to complet e-
ness had it only pleasure grounds and
scenic reservations. The system does
not perform its full function unless
some of its members, entering into
the very construction of the city, bear
part in identifying it. Such work
as that proposed at Union square and
at street intersections is the best type
of this; but there are also plats, such
as Emma square and Thomas square,
that are set apart expressly for this
purpose. Because their purpose is so
predominantly aesthetic, they demand
special care in planning and main
tanning.
Neither of these squares is good in
landscape design. An open space of
green lawn and shady trees is always
gratifying i'm the network of city
streets; but the squares ought to give
more than that. Sunny Emma square
is cross between a lumberyard and
an outdoor auditorium, and the more
pretentous Thomas square in it's plain
lack Of any comprehensive plan seems
haphazard. If Young street is car
RED through, as proposed some re-
modelling will be necessary. There
should also be groups of shrubs at the
corners, and a waving outline of them
around the borders would shut away
the street without shutting away the
park, and add much to the attractive
ness of he interior Considering, too,
the origin of this space it would seem
that flag staff might we'll be made
its dominating feature. The use Of
the square, by having paths that make
short cuts through it, is as now to
be encouraged.
In Mckinley Park the community
has practically title to a plat of ground
capable of very interesting and attrac-
tive development. My idea of this
park, centrally situated i'm a residen-
tial district that promises to increase