The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-17


Pacific, in the course OF vessels bound
from San Francisco to China, Japan,
New leland and Australia, lies the
most important group Of islands north
Of the Equator,
They were originally named the
Sandwich Islands by Captain Cook in
honor Of the Earl of Sandwich, First
Lord of the Admiralty at the time OF
the discovery,
Now | have read story that the
Earl Of Sandwich was so devoted TO
gambling that he could not leave the
game long enough to eat and ordered
his food to be brought to him IN the
shape of two pieces Of bread with a
niece of meat between them-hence
the origin of the sandwich-but
whether this be the same Earl or not,
matters little now, since the name has
passed into disuse and the musical
native name Hawaiian has taken its
place.
The habitable islands of this group
are eight in number in order of size
as follows: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu,
Kauai. Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and
Kahoolawe. They are of volcanic
origin and many Of them are border
ed. thought not surrounded by coral
reefs and their combined area IS less
than that Of the State of Massachu-
setts. Hawaii, the largest OF the
group. having an area of 42lO square
miles, is very mountainous. The
mighty domes striking the eye at
once from the ocean, are named
Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa (both over
1900 feet high, and Hualalai over
5000 feet. The active volcano OF
Kilauea is located on the side OF
Mamma Loa and from time immemor-
ial was believed by the natives to be
the home Of the most potent OF all
their deities. the Goddess Pele Here
she. with her attendant demons, re-
yelled in flames and bathed in the fiery
pillows. She ordered the time and
seasons of the eruptions and earth
auakes. Animals, and often human be-
ings, we're cast into the crater to ap-
pease the wrath Of the Goddess and
even to this day superstition reigns
IN the hearts OF the people.
Only few years ago, sister OF
King Kalakua, hearing that the fires
of the crater had ceased Ga pheno-
menon which usually precedes an
overhow) and believing that by sac
rifcing her life she could save the
hyes of thousands, refused all nour-
ishment and died.
The flow of 1856 came near de-
stroying the town Of Hilo. The vii
layers were in state Of great con-.
fusion and fear wen the Rev. Mr.,
Coan Zone of the fathers of the mis-
sion) prayed that the lava might stop
and it obeyed-greatly to the confu-
sion of the heather and strengthening
the faith of the Christians. Unfor-
tunately this story has an epilogue
which spoils it. In 1881 the flow also
ran directly for Hilo and it seemed
as if the village were doomed, The
prayers Of Father Coan proved inef-
fcient but an ancient Hawaiian prin-
cess OF heather propensitles and en-
ormous proportions was equal to the
emergency. She came with incanta-
tons and sacrifices and threw pigs
lroast pigs are as dear to the Ha-
waiian as to Charles Lamb) into the
molten lava and the flow ceased.
The second island in size, Maui, has
an area of 100 square miles or one
sixth the size of Hawaii. This island
is composed of two mountainous ele-
Vations, connected by an isthmus.
Lohaina on its north coast is the
ancient capital Of the islands and is
the site Of the first seminary for
teaching English, established by
American missionaries nearly 80
years ago. It is still in a hourishing
condition and is one Of the best edu-
yational institutions in the free school
system.
Oahu is the best known of all the
islands and third in size, having an
area of 800 square miles. 1t is the
greatest of all the islands in agricul-
tural products. Honolulu, the capital,
is situated on this island and has the
reputation of being as near Eden as
any place on earth. Honolulu Har-
Dor will never be great harbor, as
there is little room. and inadequate
protection from storms. Pearl Har-
bor a good dozen miles east of Homo
lulu, is destined to become the great
commercial harbor of the island. The
coral reef separating the inner harbor
Al. Id IL Ha