The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-09-03
TOURISTS WILL
FLOOD HAWAII


being absolutely flooded with tourists
during the coming year.. This is the
statement made by Superintendent of
Public instruction Babbitt, who re.
turned on Monday on the Siberia from
Seattle, where he has been doing his
share at the big fair towards boost
ing Hawaii. Inquiries about the ISL
ands, he says, have been innumerable
and for the most part of an intelligent
nature, indicating that the questioners
are really in earnest in trying to find
out all they can about the islands. A
very great many of them have stated
that they intend to come here to see
for themselves.
But the lack of transportation facii-
ties is serious problem\ which does
not appear capable of immediate solu-
ton. Mr.. Babbitt states that a num-
her of the people from here who have
been visiting the Exposition wanted
to come on the Siberia but were UNI
able to get accommodations. The Ala
media and the China were also booked
full. Mr.. Babbitt himself, although he
had booked two months before, consid
cred himself lucky to get the upper
bunk in a little bit of a room with two
other men.
The Superintendent is extremely en-
thusiastic over what he anticipates
will be the results from the Hawaiian
exhibit at the fair. He is equally en-
thusiastic over the exhibit itself and
over the excellent work which he says
is being done by the Hawaiian delega-
ton in charge of the exhibit. by the
~ ii nd he q; 4
other musicians. All the people from
here are working hard and their work
is telling, he Says.
The pictures, films and Transparent
cies made by R. K. Bonine, are proving
great attraction. Every afternoon
when the volcano pictures are shown
in the biograph room the place is
crowded and the "standing room
only' sign is nearly always hung out.
The fair as a whole is a great big
thing, says Mr.. Babbitt-not so big
in size as in excellence and general
effect. And it is being largely at
tended. Before it opened the direc-
tors figured that they could pay ex-
penses if they had an average attend.
ance of 81 900 day. With the bad
part of the season behind, the attend.
ance has averaged $4,000, and the
numbers are increasing now that tour
list travel west is beginning.
The Hawaiian building is in one of
the best locations in the grounds, and
the building itself is good from an
architectural standpoint, while inside
it is gaily decorated with bunting,
flags and leis The exhibit has from
the first proved great drawing card.
The Government biograph room is in
the Hawaiian building, and this has
proved a good thing for Hawaii, as all
the crowds on emerging from the room
| are at once attracted by the singing
OF the musicians and drawn in to see
the exhibit, which thus catches a great
many more than it otherwise might.
Two lectures day on Hawaiian sub
iects are given, the lecturers being Mr..
Knudsen, Mr. Childs and Mr. Cooper.
The attendance at the afternoon lee.
ture, at which Mr.. Bonine's volcano
moving pictures are shown, is usually
attended by from 900 to 500
The singers are proving drawing
card, while many requests for the loan
of Ernest Kaai's quintet to other ex-
hibits are received.
The Hawaiian girls. Mr.. Babbitt
says, are worthy of especial mention
for their graceful and gracious way
of conducting themselves. They have
| proved big attraction to the exhibit
Every time guest of honor is brought
| into the room, he is attended upon by
the girls, and if his picture is taken,
he invariably insists on having him
self surrounded by them.
The Hawaiian fishes have proved so
much of an attraction that special pre-.
| cautions have been necessary to pre-.
vent the crowds from standing in front
of the tanks and blocking up the way
Instead of letting them stop at the
tanks of Hawaiian fishes first, they are
directed around the other way, as
otherwise they would get no farther
The relief maps also attract much at
| tention.
The sugar house proves constant
source of wonderment to the visitors
many of whom refuse to believe that
the structure is all made of sugar
One woman Mr.. Babbitt saw stop anC
lick one corner of the building witt
her tongue to see if il were really
sugar, while another woman poked hel
parasol through the whole side of the
house to assure herself that she wa.
not being deceived when she was told
it was sugar.
The koa furniture has taken well
and, if the directors wished to do so
they could easily sell all of it wheI
the fair comes to an end. The sisa
exhibit is also one of the features OF
the building. Many iumbermen of tn,
Northwest examine with interest tn,
ohln ties and koa wood. The fresl
fru'ts have been much appreciates
while the leis and buttons are eagerl,
taken by everybody. The lava speci
mems have been carried off by the tol
as souvenirs
When Mr.. Babbitt left, plans 70
Hawaii Day. August 25 were beinI
completed, A special concession ha'
been obtained TO have two automobile
in the grounds for that occasion. ON
Of them was TO carry the Hawaiian
singing boys, and in the other woul,
be the girls with leis and armed will