The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-06-26

neck of each visitor. wreath (called
leis) of flowers, while from
hundreds of people upon the pier.
we heard for the first time aloha
which as a word of welcome carries
more meaning than any other word
in any other language. After being
conducted to near by park. we were
formally welcomed by the officials of
the city. and then taken in carriages
] to the various hotels where we were
to be entertained.
Hawaii. while the name of the
largest island is also the name which
embraces all islands of the group.
There are eight of these inhabited.
But four either in territory or de-
velopment are Of any considerable inn
portance. The four principal ones
extend from northwest to southeast a
distance Of about three hundred and
eighty miles. in the following order:
First, Kauai, second Oahu. third
Maui and fourth Hawaii. The last
named includes in area about two
thirds of all the islands and is about
as large as the state of Connec ticut.
Honolulu is the principal and by far
the largest city in Hawaii. being a
place of about forty-fve to fifty
thousand people. 1t is located on the
south side and toward the east end of
the Island of Oahu.
The hotels of the city are of sup
erior order. The Alexander Young
hotel cost in the neighborhood of a
million and half dollars and would
be credit to any city in the United
States. 1t is certainly monument
to the enterprise of the owner and
his loyalty to the city. A large num-
ber Of the delegation. from choice
were entertained at the Hawaiian
hotel. because of its location and
large veranda. which is used as a
dining room the year around. The
hotel stands in the center uf park,
and has large and we'll ventilated
rooms. On trees in the park. and in
sight of the table. where you are seat
ed at your meal. can be seen all kinds
of tropical fruits. such as cocoanuts.
alligator pears. bananas. papaya and
the guava.
The walters at the hotels are Jap
anese and Chinese, and as rule the
other help is of the same kind. All
are very faithful in the performance
of their duties.
II One thing that strikes "a visitor in
Hawaii. is the mingling of the races.
1t seems as though all the nations of
the earth are represented in the popu-
lation of Honolulu. and the remark
able thing is there does not seem to
be any race. prejudice. such as is
found in some other sections of the
United States. The native Hawaiian
naturally attracted more attention
than any other nationality. They
are kindly disposed people and look
upon the Americans with profound re-
yerence; they are generous to fault.
and will share anything they have,
not only with their own people. but
with the people of other nationalities.
If there is any criticism to be made it
Is because of want of ambition on
their part to perservere in mastering
the problems which they are called
upon to solve, and in doing the work
they have to do; but when we consid-
er that these people, not more than
two or three generations ago were
idol worshipers. living in q state of
nudity, and generally representing no
higher civilization. and that now they
are believers in Christianity and
members of Christian churches. that
they are interested in education and
manv of them employed as teachers
in the schools, and are represented in
the professions as lawyers. doctors
and preachers. and holding judicial
and other positions of trust and re.
sponsibility, you are pursuaded that
they are making rapid strides in the
direction of higher civilization.
They are natural born musicians anc
their singing is of the most enchant-
ing characters they are fond of public
speaking and from choice enter pro.
fessions such as law. the nninistery
and politics, which furnish them op
portunities for oratorical display.
Strange as it may seem - one
living on the mainland. the China
man. in Hawaii. is looked upon as Z
most reliable and trustworthy persor
to be employed upon the plantations
and in all other positions. He il
patient. industrious and honest. iul
fills his obligations. and law abid
ing citizen. The Japanese are in
dustrious and thrifty and can liv,
where an American would starve. Yo,
cannot tell what he is thinking abou
because he does not tell you. nor doe
his counuenance indicate what is i,