The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1913-10-21
POINTED SPEECH
BY REV. LYDGATE

The following is i part the
speech of ]. NJ. Lydaate at the re-
cent meeting of the Kauai Cham
Der OF Commerce. If there is any
thing that is characteristic of these
Islands it is fertility of resource
a d enterprise w II disaster
threatens us we don't stand round
gaping and helpless, we get in and
do something to avert it. We have
been threatened with rein before;
labor troubles strikes leaf Hopper,
the Borer, fruit fly, and how its
free sugar. If | know Hawaii she
ism going to spend all her strength
IN berating Wilson and the Demo
Gratis; she is going to cast about
for means of recovery. And among
the beneficial enterprises TO which
we turn with more or less of hope
one of the most promising is the
promotion of tourist travel.
We are told by those who are
familiar with this interest, here in
Hawaii, that during the last year
p this enterprise has brought to the
islands no less than three million
dollars. Now l want to inquire
how much of this three million
dollars did Kauai get?" Naturally
the lions share of it must go to
Honolulu and the volcano, but we
ought to come in somewhere along
side of Hawaii and Maui and rural
Oahu. Suppose we got, not a
quarter on a fifth, but even tenth
of this sum that would be a good
II amount $4,000, 900. Are we like
lv in the ordinary course of things
to get this share? Not unless we
make some effort We have on the
whole the finest island of the group
| Say this advisedly, l know them
all. was brought up on Hawaii
l have lived on Oahu and Maui. l
have been all over .Molokai, Lanai.
'Kahoolawe, Molokini and even Nil
hau. and l know whereof l speak
when l say that we've got the fin
est island of the lot. 1t is the
Garden Island" and 1 am nigh
ty glad we have undisputed title
o that significant phrase. We
have beautiful scenery, we have
good roads, we have easy distances.
We have scores of places of inter
est, but what good is it all if no
one knows about them.
| have no complaint to make
against Honolulu. Some people
seem to think that Honolulu tries
to hog" the whole thing, to keep
the tourists there to disparage the
other islands and discourage any
attempt to see t'em, l don't be-
lieve this. So far, certainly as the
Promotion Society is concerned,
they are more loyal to us than we
are to ourselves. Haven't they
made up an excellent folder about |
Kauai selling forth its interests
and attractions when we ourselves
have done nothing. Our interest
is their interest, the larger agere-
gate of interests and attract tions |
there are on the islands, the more
people are likely to come ana the
more we will all b. benefited
But you can't blame Hololulu
and the volC mo for settling forth |
their attractions and making q s |
strong bid as they can for atten-
ton. Naturally every mar is going
to advertise his own wares, that is
legitimate business. And they are
doing it! Hawaii has just gotten
out beautiful illustrated booklet |
of 100 pages, covering IN detail
the various interests and attrac-
tions of that island and these are
are being distributed with gene
rous wisdom. And with these they
are distributing magnificent franz
ed pictdres, depiching her finest
scenery-pictures t h make a
strong appeal and a deep impres-
sion. The Volcano House, the Vol
cano Stables, the Hilo Railroad,
the Oahu Railway, and even Maui
have paid agents i'll Honolulu di-
vertin9 tourist travel their way.
Oahu is right there with the first
whack at the tourist beguiling him
to spend his money on round the
island trips, Haleiwa, Manoa, Wal
kiki, etc, Where does Kauai come !
in? Kauai doesn't come in at all.
Not because the rest do her ont of .
her rights, but because she isn't
heard from. So this three million
dollars goes some other way and .
we don't get it. And perhaps We
don't deserve it. We have got to .