The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-07-02

lHt NlSItOI 10 IIOHOIuiu tdHuOL Idii u
be impressed with the remarkable hole
that sport has on the community in gen
eral. The probability is that he is alst
surprised, having been unaccustomed t.
associate physical exercise with thai
| synonym for laziness, the 'languor' OF
the tropics.
It is doubtful if there is another
place in the world, with Honolulu Is
| white population, which contains sc
many ardent devotees of sport Each
1 branch of recreation is well provided
! for in the matter of grounds and is pur-
sued under the most favorable auspices
| The standard of performance is, on
| the whole, extremely creditable and con-
| clusively demonstrates that there is
nothing in the Hawaiian climate, when
rational methods of life are followed,
] to prevent men, or women, for that mat
| ter, from arriving at and maintaining
| their physical best.
/ Baseball, as BELTS the national game,
| is the leading sport in point of popu-
| larity Three fve-club leagues eater to
| the demands of the amusement loving
public and the senior combination. on
occasions, puts up an article of ball not
many removes from the gilt-edged va
riety. The junior league consists of
mines composed of japanese, Chinese
| and native Hawaiians. The. native is a
born baseball player and the American
lied Chinaman, when he takes hold of
the game, does so for all he is worth
and with eorrespondingly satisfactory
results. His Japanese cousin has not
taken to baseball until quite recently,
but gives promise of achieving a con
siderable measure of success in a sport,
to him, up to the last year or so, en-
tirely foreign.
Cricket is played once a week and
the game is as dear to the Britisher as
is baseball to the American. A matt
ing wicket, laid over concrete, as is the
fashion in the Colonies, is used and the
"pitch' is accordingly lightning-fast.
Lack of competition is sadly felt by the
members of the Honolulu Cricket Club
and the very occasional visits of Brit
lsh men-of-war to the port are accord
ingly welcomed and made the most of
from cricketing standpoint.
There are two excellent golf links in
Honolulu and another at Waialua, a
popular holiday resort, 20 miles down
the line. Here enthusiastic golfers
keep their hand in for frequent cup
tournaments and medal plays, these ar
dent and hardy sportsmen peopling the
links in all weathers. all the year !
round.
Polo is played at Moanalua. without
doubt the most picturesque polo ground |
in the world. The islands of Kauai and |
Maui each have polo clubs and exciting
inter-island competitions are held an |
nually. The ponies, as a rule, are of |
f..r o1u Il
surprisingly fast
held in Honolulu, the years greatest
meeting occurring on June II. Kameha-
meha Day, the Hawaiian national holi-
day. Then, on the fine mile track, shad-
owed by old Diamond Head. thorough
bred runners and harness horses would
contest for trophies and purses, their
performances being witnessed by thou
sands of spectators.
Of late horse-racing has lapsed here,
the automobile having apparently sup
planted the thoroughbred in the hearts
of those who can afford to own and
race horses. It is highly improbable
hat racing under the old, happy go
ucky, picnic conditions which existed
lere, will ever be revived If the
roar of the rabble'' as the field
iashes under the wire is destined to be
heard again in Honolulu, it will be on a
rack built as an investment and con-
iucted on strict business lines.
The racing metropolis of Hawaii, to- !,
lay, is Hilo, where prosperous meetings
re held on several of the years great
olidays. The ranches of the Big
sland are the home of much blooded
toek and a promising crop of young :
orses is credited to such celebrated :.
tallions as Weller, Eastertide and In
ra. Other well-known horses in the !;
stands are: W. w. Wood, Waldo J., :
'aeery, Racine Murphy. Dixie Land.
Vatossa, Defender, Egyptian Princess,
ioris, Wawona, several of which. how :;
yer, have long since passed into the :
ere and yellow leaf. :
Maui has at least one day IS racing =
ear, the track being situated at Ka- =
ului. Both in the case of Hawaii and :
Iaui, racing derives the bulk Of its .
airport from the white element of the !.
limitations, who enter their horses, go !.
} see them run and back them for all
ley are worth.
There are two tennis clubs in Homo
llu, each possessing its own courts. a
ne game is also played extensively on o
lie other islands. Once a year tour "