The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-04-09
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observation-disclosures

| noon and my friend suggested ridt
! on the Rapid Transit as a refresher and
| we were soon speeding Waikiki-wards
| must have fallen asleep for I was
aroused by his saying, we get Oft
here" We walked over to a bench in
one of the numerous bowers covered
with stephanotis or other vines and sat
down to watch the people enjoy them
selves Groups of families appeared to
have pre-e1npted the different lanais
and were eating and drinking, being
waited on by Orientals in white.
Children ganboled on the squares and
circles of velvety green grass. Birds
OF brilliant plumage futtered from
bough to bough, while bees and hum
ming birds poised themselves around
the innumerable brilliant flowers. Ny
friend said that the beauty of the
scenery, the quietude and perfect hap
piness of the children and their elders
made it appear to him as if it was
scene from the Ara bian Nights, per-
feet elysium
We called for some grape juice and
while slipping it surveyed the surround
ings. Cars We're continually passing
and people getting on and off and the
happiness exhibited on the faces of all
the nationalities there represented, to-
gether with the merry laughter of chill
dren, conveyed the impression that the
city was out for holiday.
Their happiness was contagious and
my friend again suggested that we
take a trip on the scenic railroad. IL
led around the amphitheater and then
in a circumvo1utary or corkscrew man
ner to the center of the park, which
was about two hundred and fifty acres
in area. Here an island was located,
surrounded by wide noat wherein
steam launches glided under the sew
eral bridges and which were much pat
ronized by the frolickers. On the is
land appeared to be garden espe-
cially devoted to orchids and other rare
and beautiful tropical flowers. Radiat-
ing from the island were many broad
paths bordered with flowers of many
different varieties, some of the walks
being completely arched with Chamber
ing vines which spread from tree to
tree.
Here and there I pointed out to him
many of the Hawaiian trees which are
he called my attention to many varie-
ties of cacti which must have been
brought from Mexico or California. On
the side hills especially We're many
splendid specimens of the yucca in full
bloom, the grandest of all Towering
plants.
The distant sides of the amphitheater
We're clothed with climbing vines in
great variety, evidently planted and
trained for effect, both to cover the
nakedness Of the walls and to create
a harmony of color, as many of them
We're varieties of the bougainvillea or
similarly brilliant leaved exogens
Grape vines were we'll represented and
the purple clusters hung profusely
from many arbors.
The flowers particularly attracted his
attention and he remarked that all
the world would come here to see the
enchanting scene. Carnations, crocus,
lilies in wonderful variety, phloX in its
myriad colorS, zeniaS, naSturtiumS,
gladiolus, in fact, flowers in endless
variety, caught the eye in every direc-
ton, but all were Systematically ar
ranged in such manner as to produce
the desired artistic effect.
The gardener had used the colored-
1eaved shrubs such as crotons also to
contribute to the blaze of glory to be
seen in the ensemble.
The aroma exuding from the mass of
magnificent flowers would have been
overpowering but for the gentle zephyr
which played across the amphitheater.
My friend said, do you remember
the time you tried to drown me up on
that peak Then I recalled where we
We're. 1t appeared that years before
I had led him up the declivity of Dia-
mond Head, where it was my intention
to attach the Hawaiian flag to the pole
on the signal station and we had been
caught in a violent kona storm and had
quite an unusual experience. AT that
time We had seen the possibilities of
the crater for establishment, as its
area was large and, having the prime
requisite of good soil, it merely needed
water to enable the growth of any
plant or vine of the tropics. The gen.
eral government had decided TO use
the crater for a fortress, but on learn
ing the expressed desire of the people |
to use it for botanical garden and |
recreation grounds, had abandoned the
idea. |
A tunnel had been pierced into it, |
allowed to lay its tracks, and water |
had been brought from the magnificent |
waterhead in Nuuanu Valley, and the |
glorious exhibit of beauty and happi- !
ness we We're witnessing was the re- |
suit. We wandered in and out through |
the meandering paths admiring every !
thing and praising the wisdom of the |
local authorities in taking advantage |
of the site and of bringing joy and |
happiness to all classes.
From the handstand ffoated charm
ing music so much reveled in by the
and those of other lands |
who have made their homes here. A |
voice said, Don't you hear the dinner |
bell?' and I awoke with a start. Twas |
but a dream.
JAS. W. GIRvIN.