The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-06-30
A HAWAIIAN ENTERPRISE.

that he himself is to blame for part
of their attitude at least.
A HAWAIIAN ENTERPRISE.
Of all schemes of varied or diversi-
fed industries fathered in Hawaii, two
which came to light the other day,
may certainly be classed among the
most original and enterprising, even if
they were not money making affairs.
The schemes were unfolded by man
who was selling stock in a Hawaiian
enterprise, which, being perfectly le-
gitimate, though so far unsuccessful,
need not be the subject of comment
here
The first scheme was almost start
ling in its nerve, but serves to show the
dormant possibilities of the islands, and
brings out new important point
namely, that if we can make anything
on the islands which is not good for the
islanders there is no reason why we
should not send it away to the main
land to benefit mankind there-which is
precisely what was to be done in this
case.
The promoter of the scheme, an Eng
ishman, experimental for some time,
and with considerable secrecy, with
okolehao, finally getting a strong liquor
at very slight expense. Plans were
formulated for opening up large plant
after the rounding out of the expert
ments, and some capital and influence
was to be brought to bear to have the
making of the liquor legalized in the
islands. My informer stated, and not
being fully informed on that subject
[ must take his word for it, that there
was at present a law against making
okoehao, but some gentlemen of more
or less prominence in Hawaii had been
interested in the scheme as a money
maker, and had stated that they would
take steps to have the law repealed.
This done, the next step was in order.
Negotiations had already been opened
up with the Peruna Company, the pat
ent medicine company in the East, and
arrangements completed whereby the
Peruna people would take several thou
sand gallons of the liquor a year to use
in their proprietary medicines. The
company was somewhat worried on ac-
count of the warfare against patent
medicines in the East, and looked upon
the importation of the Hawaiian bev-
erage as a way out of their troubles, as
it would contain all the beneficial prop
critics which they try to put into their
would give a desired effect
most certainly, was very cheap, and
what was best of all-was unknown.
Think of a description, of the famous
beverage with our native liquor IN
cluded in the list of beneficial ingredl-
ents. Zone her Okolehao, a health
giving drink from the faraway Pacific
Isles, used by all the natives who lived
to be one hundred and dined on raw
fesh' The liquor was to be shipped
in casks by every steamer. As 1t cost
next to nothing to make, the only real
expense would be in paying a Jap to i
keep up fire and buying some barrels.
It's possibilities were unlimited, but
about that time Congress passed the
Pure Food Act, and it knocked the
promoter 8 plans into a cooked hat, IN |
asmuch as the Peruna people found
that they could not with safety use the
beverage.
Casting about for a new scheme to |
take the place of the old one, the eye
of the promoter fell upon the lava rock |
which lay underfoot as far as the eye |
could reach. What possibilities of de- |
of a trade in lava rock If 1t |
could be used for any possible purpose.
A cleaning powder. All, he had i'll
All you had to do was to go out into |
the road, pick up a bucketful of lava,
bring it in the house, pound it up, put
it in box and sell it for whatever you |
thought it would bring.
No sooner said than done. A few
experienced investors who knew good
thing when they saw it, were let into
the scheme and although dubious as to |
the merits of the polish, were enthus |
iastic as to the profits on the money in
vested A quantity of lava rock was
gathered and shipped to San Fran |
cisco to a local concern, which does |
grinding work The lava nearly wreck |
ed the machine. which ordinarily could |
chew anything from coffee or hemp rope |
to iron bolts. 1t was gritty and re-
sisted all efforts to reduce it to pow
der The company refused to handle |
any more. and the promoters We're I'M
able to get any firm to handle the rock, |
or themselves get any machinery to do |