The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-04-10

Twenty-one hundred miles, a little
south of west from San Francisco, lies
the Territory of Hawaii, formerly
designated as the Sandwich Islands,
now become one of oar important mis-
sion fields.
Until the recent division of the Mis-
sions into Domestic and Foreign, this
was regarded as foreign mission, as
were 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 a sub
division of the foreign work, say,
Foreign Missions Belonging to the
United States.H Their administration
is not common to that of home mis-
Sions, but is identical with that of our
foreign work. 1t 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
number of inconsequential islets; and
has an area equal to that of Connee-
tieut and Rhode Island combined, -piz.,
$500 square miles. Nearly two-thirds
the total area is contained in the Is
land of Hawaii, as is one-third the total
population. Oahu, on which the capital,
Honolulu, is located, is only one-ffth
as extensive; but has . population 12,-
600 greater.
The total population. by the last cen
sus, is $4,000; but later and careful
estimates put it at $4,000. This is
heterogeneous, representing more than
a dozen nationalities. The Japanese
preponderate, having two to one of the
abOrigines, 1000 to 10000. The Chi
nese come next, with $4,000. The Por
tuguese have $4,000; while the Amer
leans, including Hawaiian-born for
elgners, number 7000 These are 1900
figures, and vary somewhat from the
present status. Immigration from the
Philippines and Korea scarcely dates
back further than 1904. There are
from 5000 to 5000 Koreans. When the
islands became portion of the Unit
ed States all persons born thereon be-
came citizens. Hence the census of
native-born presents these curious and
suggestive features: Hawaiian. o.
1S1; part Hawaiian, 1874; Caucasian.
1888; Portuguese, 9263; negroes. us;
South Sea Islanders, 60; Japanese 1881;
Chinese, 4021.
The industries of the islands are not
very numerous, nor, except sugar. are
they fnlly developed. Sugar is the sta
pie. Last year its product was S22.014,-
Sll pounds, valued at S27 ,692 ,997. 9th
ers range along: Fruits. green and
canned, S593,S41; rice, S147,43 hides
and skins, S141,ss3; coffee. S12S.S75.
The product of sisal is increasing. and
nothing is wanting to a large expan-
sion of the rice industry but more Chi
nese to Oecuny the available rice. lands
1t is a foolish policy which forbids
them coming.
At this time Governor Frear an ex-
ceptionally able and enterprising Off
eial, Is leading a movement to encour-
age small farming, and thus increase
the permanent population and still fur
Their diversity the industries of the
Territory. The cereals can be grown.
Indeed, the islands furnished Califor-
MIA its -four in the first years of the
gold excitement.
The climate is delightful. tempera-
ture varying from 66.3 in April to s2.3
in June-the average for the year be-
ing 20 minimum and SOL maximum.
Rainfall for the year 1905. The eleva-
ton of the islands runs from 10 feet
to 1000.
Honolulu. on Oahu, and Hilo, on Ha-
wall, are the principal cities. the form
er having $4,000 people. 125 miles of
paved streets, electric cars and all the
of a frst-elass modern
,ity. The public buildings are the
palaces of the old regime. EMPOWERED
n tropical foliage, Honolulu may well
lain to be "the Paradise of the Pa
,ifc.v
The sugar plantations alone absorb
more than one-fourth the population.
Their owners are men of great wealth
md force of character: their managers
plendid captains of industry The labor
5 kind of peonage, but humane and
Comfortable homes and
at reasonable prices, physi-
ians' services either free or at
ominal cost, excellent schools and
good church facilities are provided