The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-09
OUR HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Their Beauty and Resources Amaze
Visitor from the States.

Their Beauty and Resources Amaze
a Visitor from the States.
From letter IN the New York Sun.
Had Ponce de Leon continued his ex-
plorations through the country discov-
cred by Balboa and continued on his way
westward to the beautiful Hawaiian Is
lands, while he might not have discov-
cred the Fountain OF Youth. he would
have found an earthly paradise. The by
perbole employed by the boards OF trade
and various promotion committees when
describing the islands amuses the casual
stranger, and yet when you have So
1ourned in Honolulu a short time and
have taken steamer to the other islands
composing the group It Is hard indeed 70
find adjeCtives sufficiently descriptive OF
the wonderful climate and natural re-
sources in these Pearls OF the Pacific.
The growth in resources and wealth has
been remarkable. As the traveller makes
the rounds OF Honolulu he is struck with
It's modern architecture, the cleanliness
OF It's streets. as well as their excellent
pavement. and the modern look OF things;
and yet less than a hundred years ago
Honolulu was a native village. ruled by
semi-savages and governed by supersti-
ton. The town consisted OF huts and
matched houses.
Here at least is one place in the world
where the missionary may point with
pride for II has been due greatly 10 his
efforts that Honolulu Is what II IS to-
day. The descendants OF those rugged
heroes Who first subdued and then made
friends VITA the various kings and chiefs
are now reaping the BENEFITS from the
hardshlps and privations through which
their ancestors passed. To-day Homo
lulu IS clean both in morals and politics.
the natives are contented. and the islands
present wonderful opportunities. whether
you are seeking health or fortune.
Il Is a remarkable fact, and when you
consider how prolific tropical or SEMI
tropical life usually Is. a physiological
phenomenon, that the population showed
a decrease Of about S. per cent in 100
years. Whea the islands were visited by
Capt James Cook, in 177S, he estimated
the population az 10000 In 1873 the CEN
sus showed about 5000. This has In
creased about go per cent. and the pop
ulation OF the islands is now 1900. The
Increase was due. previous TO lS9S when
the Islands were annexed TO the United
States. first. 10 a large influx OF Chi
nese. and then 10 the importation Of
Japanese. who now form the greater
part OF the population. The latter fact
is not so apparent IN the cities as II IS
In the outlying districts. where the labor
is almost wholly performed by japanese.
The chief white labor is Portuguese. and
Porto Ricans have found in these islands
a greater opportunity than is presented
in Porto Rico.
The report OF F. II. Newell. director OF
the reclamation service, dated December
p. 1905. IS very comprehensive. The
committee Of members OF Congress re-
Gently sent 70 the islands has finished
its investigations, and all are enthusi-
astic over what they have seen. Unless
the interest that is now manifested by
the members OF the committee cools be
fore the next session. Hawaii for the first
time since its annexation will receive the
intelligent attention Of both houses Of
Congress next winter. Holding, as the
islands do, the key TO the situation in
case OF an attack upon the western coast
OF the United States by a hostile fleet.
they have too long been neglected