The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-05-04
SYLVAN DELIGHTS Of
OAHU'S MOUNTAINS
From a private Ietter.1

/ Come up and l will take you on a
trip to the head of the Koolau noun
tains. We can go over the same route
| took a few Sundays ago. It is a fine
trip. and l will try to tell you how l
| enjoyed it, even without company ex>
| cept two of my japanese. We drove
to the end of the wagon road. and leav-
ing the horse to Craze we hit the trail.
The weather was perfect, a cool breeze
blowing. and scarcely cloud to be
seen--which is a combination to be de-
red on mountain tramp. The Japs
were each armed with a cane knife 30
cut away lantana, if we should be so
unfortunate as to get into it; however,
we escaped that difficulty. I carried
the light hatchet I always take. for
you know my hobby is to collect speci-
mems of native wood whenever l find
a new kind uprooted as l did on this
trip.
We followed the Kawaiikf trail to its
end. and then struck across the divide
toward. the Kamananui. 1t was
glorious climb, and not very difficult,
as part of the way followed an old
trail made, I have been told, by stock
men during a drouth years ago to get
their cattle to grass and water.
At one time we could see the surf at
Eva, as well as at Waialua. The
climb down the other side was through
heavy timber and tree fern, where the
sunlight never reaches the ground,
Ordinarily it would be like plunge n
the reservoir, on a wet day, but was
nice the day we were there. After
reaching the bottom and crossing a dry
gulch, we came to a pretty little lake
with trees growing in parts of it out
of which a pair of wild ducks took
hurried departure. They must have
made the acquaintance OF man at some
other part of the island, for surely they
are seldom disturbed in this wildwood
home, surrounded by dense forest and
carpeted with close-cropped grass. It
is truly magnificent. park, one that
must be seen to be appreciated. Wild
cattle and hogs make this their camp
ing place judging from the well-beaten
trails that lead in every direction. How
l should like to be camped near here
with a camera and catch them as they
lie upon the lawn or stand knee deep
in the water Of the lake. Talk about
enjoyment, had it as lay on my back
in the shade of an immense koa tree
and listened to the hum of the wild !
bees at work amongst its branches, and |
he chirping of the native birds, which, |
oy the way, were not at all timid show |
ng they at least knew no cause to fear |
nan.
All this, mingled with the murmur Of
he distant waters of the Kamananui
over it's boulder-strewn bed,
made me realize there could be worse
ways to spend a Sabbath. THE groves
we're Gods first temples But it was
learly time for lunch, and we must
move to the bank of the stream that
lad been calling to US from the dis
ance; and without other allurements
" the wayside it alone was well worth
he trip. Into this forest primeval we
ound our way through towering tree
erns shaded by tall kukui, koa, ka-
mani and ohia-lehua trees, besides
lozens of others that / do not know
" name. It is here that the beautiful
oulu palm has it's home. It is six to
light inches in diameter at the base,
nd stands as straight as an arrow
iXty feet and over to where it spreads
IS cluster of broad fan-shaped leaves,
naking it conspicuous for a long dis
ance. 1t is certainly king of the for
st.
L here secured the prettiest specimen
# curly koa / have seen. A forest
liant had fallen victim to a recent
and lay crushed and broken
n the stream below, a dead monarch.
hope to keep the small portion
ecured to show to others the beauty
f the native acacia.
The homeward trip was over the
anne route, as it is reported the canyon
elow is impossible on account of deep
ools and waterfalls. I hope to inves- :
igate it some future Sabbath, as my
ime is fully taken up during the week.
'ome out and bring a camera, and we
Till bring back pictures of the Koolau
Tilds to show the friends that are not
enough to see them in their
rue beauty of lights and colors.
D. w. SHELHAMER
Opaeula, April 29, 1907.