The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-10-22
WOOD ENTHUSES
| OVER THE k0NAS


tour through Kona. He was accom-
panied by his wife, and both come
back delighted with the country there
and enthusiastic over it's progress anc
possibilities.
ITO one who has not been through
the Konas," said Mr.. Wood yesterday
the trip is a revelation. Admirable
as the climate of these islands general
ly is, think that of Kona surpasses
the climate of any other portion Of
the group. There is a splendid road
running right through the district and
trails leading everywhere. There are
here the largest areas of any part OF
the group available for small farms
and varied agriculture. The West Ha-
wall Railroad, built as road for haul
ing cane and now having several miles
of track, contemplates very consider
able extensions shortly to bring new
lands within the sphere of its sugar
mill, and it will run a spur down to
the landing at Kaawaloa, the best
landing in Kealakekua Bay. When
this is done there will be railroad
giving access to tide water to a very
considerable strip of fertile and adj
mirable country.
''The people of Kona are very much
encouraged by j. B. Castles enter
prise and efforts to develop the coun-
try. The Kona Development Company
owns and operates the sugar mill, but
plants no cane. 1t, however, encour-
ages the holders of land accessible to
its mill and railroad to plant cane and
buys it of them. Considerable land
is being put in cane On this basis. In
some cases it advances money on the
security of the crop to enable the
planter to mature his crop.
Notwithstanding the depression in
coffee Kona has continued to produce
an increasing amount. There are four
principal coffee plantations, besides a
very large number of Independent
growers. These are the Captain Cook
Coffee Company of which Mr.. Bruner
is manager, Robert Wallace, the Hind
Estate and Kynnersley. japanese and
Portuguese are leasing land from the
Bishop Estate anu Paris and other
large landholders and are planting cof-
fee and other products. On the Hind
Estate there is a large pulping plant
which will buy the coffee of the in
dependent growers in the cherry, thus
enabling them to realize on their crop
without having to wait until it is pre-
pared or marketed. The Captain Cook
Coffee Company is also putting in a
pulping plant in connection with their
pineapple cannery. Mr.. Bruner has
brought from Cuba and Porto Rico
pn1n rvai0hS q Si "
pounds and is admirable for canning,
though not so good for the green fruit
market as varieties grown elsewhere
in the islands, and this is doing ex-
in Kona.
1.-The coffee crop of the Konas this
season was about $4,000 bags and the
next crop will probably exceed 10000
bags. The Kona Development Com
pany is also encouraging the cultiva-
ton of pineapples and will supply g
the moment one is needed.
"The pure food law will be of great
benefit to the Konas. Heretofore pure
Jams and iellies had no show in the
market against the manufactured COM
yored. A Mr. Woods is putting up
arge quantities of poha jam and guava
ellies, and expects to find a profitable
market for it. The Captain Cook Cof-
Zee Company and the Kona Develop
nent Company will also. add jellies to
heir products.
THE McWaynes have 200 acres in
iisal, 14O acres of which are ready for !
.utting, and a decorticating machine !
s now being set up near Kailua.
Some Chinese in this region are ex-
,erimenting with a dry land rice
which is said to give much promise |
The fruits of Kona are famous. Alli-
,ator pears grow there at all seasons. !
Bananas and papayas and grapes are
bundant and of delicious flavor. On
he uplands figs and peaches do Won
erfully well. At Huehue. John Nc,
lures place, a number of California
avel orange trees are growing and
abundantly oranges of I'M
ivaled flavor, and it is said there is a
irge acreage of land in that region
uitable for these oranges.
THE okolehao distillery at Napoo-
90 made its first run off last We'd
esday. Its present capacity is about
hirty gallons day, but this will be
increased. The side hills in this re-
ion are covered with the ii, furnish
lg an almost inexhaustible source of
root.
THE loulu hats. so much worn by
lie native women, are manufactured
/ Kona and shipped in large numbers
} Honolulu. 1 did not see any new
lantings of the loulu palm, however.
hats in large numbers are ,
$50 made in Kona. Flowers grow as
lmost nowhere else in the islands.
arnations and roses do well and have
splendid fragrance.
"Kona has greater variety of
-oducts than any other part of the ,
lands. Vegetables of all sorts grow ,
ell Potatoes are shipped from there ,
considerable extent. g,
1.-The main road through Kona IL Of .
elevation of about AGO feet. II =
ms through forests and coffee PLAN q
lions and affords a beautiful drive. !
here are good accommodations. too :
travellers. McWaynes. in North =
ona, provide abundant accommoda-
ms, set good table. and make every +,
-ort for the comfort of travellers. In 8,
utn kona, Miss Paris provides the I
me. There are also many points Of :,
terest in Kona- On Kealakekua Paw =
ere is captain Cooks monument and 4
places OF historic interest around Y