Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-09-26
(By DR.. A. N. SINCLAIR)

Kawaihae, on the Island of Hawaii,
to the Volcano iEouse.
The chief reason is to cnlighten
the motorist concerning the difficult
ties likely to be encountered, as well
as the pleasures of such trip,
should he undertake 1t at the present
time.
We left Honolulu on the Mauna
Kca on Tuesday, Aug. II. at noon,
the auto, ready for its journey on
board. Acting upon the advice of
others who had made the trip, the
rear wheels were provided with
Woodwork treads. to protect the
tires from the sharp lava rocks while
crossing the recent flow in Kau. and
which were found to be an actual ne
cessity. The front tires were unpro-
tected. assurances having been made
that rope, procurable on Hawaii, and
applied there would be ample pro-
lection.
We reached Kawaihae about in
the morning of the 18th. No diili-
ear. Indeed it was matter of sur
prise. and of deserved congratulate
tion to the crew of the Mauna Kea,
TO witness the ease with which the
car was handled. One has not true
conception of the size of the steam
er's boats as they hang In the dayits.
The auto fitted into ore so easily
that II was barely visible as 1t was
carried to the landing from the
steamer.
Escaped Hotel
Our first intention was to go to the
hotel Csave the markD at Hawai-
hac. and sleep till morning. The
way to the proffered room was
through the kitchen. across dark
alley. and up a rickcty winding stair,
recalling the inn where Monte Cristo
reaped his first vengeance. The Chi
naman who led the way bore a tai
lew candle which revealed success
fully nothing but the intense dark
ness
Two spectral beds were In the
room; what else the light failed to
show, although the Imagination got
busy. A quick decision that sleeping
In the ear was preferable to such
quarters MS these, caused me to re-
turn TO the dining-room, where /
had left my family.
4 breakfast, ordered on our arriv-
al, was about to be served, and prov
ed much more satisfactory than the
sleeping accommodations During
tho meal IL was decided we should
attempt the journey to Waimea at
once-not waiting for daylight. as
the moon was full and shining bril-
liantly.
Start for Waimea
About four in the morning we
started on our way, to climb the o.
200 feet tin fifteen miles, to reach
Walmca.
The first steep hill showed clearly
something was wrong. The car was
not climbing as IL ought to. and the
low gear had to be resorted to. In
deed for several miles IL seemed as II
the car never could keep up sufficient
momentum to permit of sliding into
the high. The car acted as II the
high-gear clutch were loose. After
time IL was discovered that the
heavy troads were simply slipping
around in the thick sand of the road
Relieving the time lost in removing
the treads would he more than made
up, we decided TO remove them. The
car was stopped and the work began,
one of us at each wheel. II proved
a grimy task, In the dusty road, but
was accomplished in about a quarter
of an hour, just as day began to
break
Gave More Air
A marked Improvement in speed
on the hills resulted, but after time
the carburetter gave indications 1t
was not acting properly. but by CIV
ing 1t more air it was set right. The
automobilist is liable to overlook the
fact that the air is rarer as he as
cends the hill, and to wonder what
Is the matter with his motor.
We reached Waimea about 7
O'Clock, and had breakfast. for the
second time, at Akonas The ac-
commodations at Waimea are much
superior to those at Kawaihae. Here
we rested till about II o'clock. and,
proiitinS by experience, the high
gear clutch was frightened and gave
no further trouble. We were able
to procure gasoline at the Volcano
stables TO replace the two gallons
used from Kawaihae to Waimea.
That Waimea Road"
All went fairly well for a mile or
two; then our difficulties began. Let
II be understood at the outset that
for twelve miles out of Wamea there
is no road worthy of the name. There