The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1913-10-07
WaiaLeaIe's Crest

pail table-lands. Then came the high
peak back Of Lumahai valley, just east
of which was the great dome of Namolo-
kama, dividing the valleys of the Luna
hal and Hanalei rivers, which both rise
not far from the spot where the travellers
stood at the north end of the mountain.
In order to get to the edge of the east
side of the mountain near Waialeale
peak, the thick underground of lehua and
other trees, and ferns, had to be sur
mounted by climbing up into the low
lying trees, from which beautiful views
could be had of the coast line between
Kilauea and Hanalei, then of the Maka-
leha mountain range, which hid the
coast until nearly to Kealia, after which
it was clearly visible as far as the point
beyond Nawiliwili. Then the south end
of Waialeale hid the KOloa and Waimea
coast line, and nothing more could be
seen except the high table lands back
of Waimea and the Napali plateau, un-
til the Wainiha ridge came into view
again.
The panorama on the east side, how
ever, was well worth the difficult journey
to the top of the mountain, md the
broad expanse of plain, mountain, and
sea which was spread before the travellers
made picture which richly repaid them
for their labors.
The first habitation to be seen on the
northwest was the station of the man in
charge of the electric pole-line from
Wainiha to Hanapepe, at Kapaka on the
ridge between the Hanalei and Kalihi-
wal watersheds. Then on the ridge con-
Meeting Waialeale and Namahana peak,
or Makaleha, could be seen, towards the
Nf ho 10, do
on the pole line towards Lihue.
Back OF Nounou mountain, near Ka-
paa, was plainly Visible the recently
plowed lands of several newly arrived
homesteaders on the Waipouli section
of the government lands The large area
of undeveloped back country in that
section showed the great possibilities for
the development of this district when
the rapidly growing colony o f settlers
shall have reached the limit of its growth
in a few years.
On the way back to the central peak
one of the trampers stopped and took
what was probably the highest swim ever
had on the Island of Kauai, in the Sacred
Lake, where in the delightfully."- clear and
cold water he was photographed by his
companion while swimming across the
lake After the swim lunch was eaten
near the Sacred Alter where a long stone
placed on end is supposed to be the re-
preventative of the guardian deity of the
place.
After lunch a short walk was had, to-
wards the Kawaikini peak on the south,
where they came to the edge of a small
valley extending towards the southwest,
along which flowed tributary of the
Makaweli stream. Here CLEAN ofscarlet
in the wooded dell below attracted their
attention, and one of them climbed down
to the stream, where he found the color
to be caused by one of the dwarf lehua
trees, covered with the beautiful red
flowers
Just before reaching this place tie
trampers came to slight depression in
the edge of the mountain on the east
side, above the great circular basin which
contains the head waters of the middle
branch of the Wailua river, and on look
ing through it they found magnificent
view which well repaid all the difficulties
of the trip,-of the broad, dark, crater
like basin of the streams flowing down
the south half ofthe eastern side of the
mountain, the upper portion of which,
for a space of between one and two thous-
and feet below the top of the mountain
was literally cloaked with millions O
the broad round leaves of the "Ape-ape''
plant, through which few trees and
bushes showed-just enough to make the
top of the nearly perpendicular cliffs sur
rounding the vast basin look like an i'm
mense artistic frieze, done in different
shades of green with silver threads OF
water falling across it from the mount
aims top.
But the climax of this view was had
! by looking beyond the basin towards the
| coast-line, in the middle of which Nawi-
| Twill bay was seen, with the mountain
back of Niumalu showing on the right,
and the Hanamaulu and Kilohana foot
hills, with the great eXpanse of the green
. and brown fields of the Lihue Sugar
Plantation, filling in the middle distances.
Early in the afternoon the homeward
journey was begun, when the travellers
were sated with the beautiful scenery OF
! the monntain-top and surrounding Is
land, and a three hours walk down the
| ridge towards the cave first then diverg-
| ing before the cave was reached and
climbing down the east branch of the
Olokee stream, travelling over its grassy
banks and moss-covered rocks for hall
mile, then walking up the west tributary
to the main trail, finally brought them
back to the camp again, where they
| found that Messrs. Hills and Horner had
acquired plentiful supply of tender
pork and other provender, and they were
able to enjoy once again the pleasures
at camp life, and take good rest after
their strenuous excursion.
One more day was spent in camp, while
the 2 clock registers in the vicinity wert
visited, to get their record of the water
| flow at the Waialae and Halekua record
ing stations, and on Monday morning
the return was made to the lower worlC
again.
On their trip to the Waialae station
! Hills and llorner took along two of the
dogs, and on their way back, down the
| Kahana ridge, they had the good for
/ tune t o capture two small pigs alive
which were carried back to civilization
, again, to grow large and fat and finally
/ to adorn the groaning table ofsome feast
i'm the future