The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-04-08

Twenty-one hundred miles, little
south of west from San Francisco, lies
the Territory of Hawaii, formerly
designated as the Sandwich Islands,
now become one of our important mis-
sion fields.
Until the recent division of the Mis-
sions into Domestic and Foreign, this
was regarded as a foreign mission, as
we're Porto Rico and the Philippines.
Now all mission territory belonging to
the United States. whether of this con
tinent or not, is registered as domestic.
In my Judgment, all such sea-separated
missions should be treated as sub
division of the foreign work, say,
Foreign Missions Belonging to the
United States. = Their administration
is not common to that of home mis-
sions, but is identical with that of our
foreign work. It would be the part
of wisdom for the General Conference
to incorporate them in the sphere of
the Board of Foreign Missions.
The Territory is the archipelago, con-
sisting of eight principal islands and
a number of inconsequential islets; and
has an area equal to that of Connec-
ticut and Rhode Island combined, viz,
$500 square miles. Nearly two-thirds
the total area is contained in the Is
land of Hawaii, as is one-third the total
Oahu, on which the capital,
is located, is only one-ffth
as extensive; but has p population II,
300 greater.
The total population. by the last cen
sus, is $4,000; but later and careful
estimates put it at $4,000. This MS
heterogeneous, representing more than
! dozen nationalities. The japanese
having two to one of the
aborigines, 81, 900 to $4,000. The Chi
nese come next, with 25,000.s The Por-
have $4,000; while the Amer
cans, including Hawaiian born for
eigners, number 1000. These are 1900
figures, and vary somewhat from the
present status. immigration from the
and Korea scarcely dates
back further than 1904 There are
rom 5000 to 5000 Koreans. When the |
Islands became a portion of the Unit |
I'd States all persons born thereon be- |
came citizens. Hence the census of |
presents these curious and |
suggestive features: Hawaiian, 90
1877; part Hawaiian, 1874; Caucasian,
1888; Portuguese, 9263; negroes, IT'S;
South Sea Islanders, so; japanese 1881;
Chinese, 1921.
The industries of the islands are not |
very numerous, nor, except sugar, are
hey fully developed. Sugar is the sta
pie. Last year its product was 822,014,-
81 pounds, valued at $27, 692 ,997. 9th
ers range along: Fruits, green and
canned, $393,s41; rice, $147,439; hides
md skins, $141,S83; coffee, $128,875.
The product of sisal is increasing, and |
nothing is wanting to large expan-
non of the rice industry but more Chi
lese to occupy the available rice lands.
It is foolish policy which forbids
hem coming
At this time Governor Frear, an ex-
,eptionally able and enterprising Off
ial, is leading a movement to encour-
lge small farming, and thus increase
he permanent population and still fur
her diversity the industries of the
Territory. The cereals can be grown.
indeed, the islands furnished Califor-
ia its flour in the first years of the
,old excitement.
The climate is delightful, tempera-
ure varying from 663 in April to S23
n June-the average for the year be-
ng 20 minimum and SOL maximum.
Rainfall for the year 1905. The eleva-
ion Of the islands runs from 10 feet
o 1000.
Honolulu, on Oahu, and Hilo, on Ha-
vail, are the principal cities. the form
r having $4,000 people, 125 miles of
aved streets, electric cars and all the
of a first-class modern
ity. The public buildings are the
alaces of the old regime. Embowered
n tropical foliage, Honolulu may well
lain to be "the Paradise of the Pa
ific. +"
The sugar plantations alone absorb
lore than one-fourth the population.
heir owners are men of great wealth
nd force of character; their managers
plendid captains of industry. The labor
) kind of peonage, but humane and