Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-11-06


the nearest land is Alaska with the chain of the
AIeutian islands, 1000 miles away; to the east
the North American continent, 1000 miles, and to
the west, the Philippine islands, $500 miles
Honolulu is distant 200 miles from San Fran
CISCO 2.46O miles from Victoria, B. c.; ZOO from
Manila. 3.4OO from Yokohama $50 from Auck-
land and 4,410 from Sydney
The American tourist to the Hawaiian islands
will probably take ship at San Francisco. al
though the steamers from Vancouver are also
good. He must remember that from a United
States port it is possible to sail to Honolulu only
on a ship under American register unless he has
through ticket to the Orient and plans merely
to stop over The first day or two out of San
Francisco are usually cold so that heavy wraps
are essential, but as the rest of the trip is warm
rooms on the starboard side, getting the trade
winds, preferable.
After the hills OF the coast range have dropped
below the horizon there is almost nothing to see
"a whale perhaps, porpoises but no land and
very rarely a passing ship. But to the man who
has never been in the tropics the ocean, so ut
terly different from the North Atlantic is a reve-
lation There usually are no waves, as the At
lantic traveller knows waves but the whole sur
face of the sea sways gently in great silent
lazy swells.
The harbor of Honolulu is not large The en-
trance is 50 feet deep and 400 feet wide; the
inner harbor is So feet deep and 900 feet wide
but this width is being extended to 1000 feet
The water is always still Indeed the name
Honolulu means the sheltered and is appro-
pirate. since there are few severe storms and no
weather affects the safety of the harbor which
in consequence is usually crowded with shipping
As the steamer enters the channel people watch
the Japanese and Hawaiian fishing boats. usually
dories painted some bright color that contrast
with the gray tenders of the men-of-war. Near
the dock the water is alive with Hawaiian bows
swimming about and shouting, ready to dive for
nickels and dimes, not one of which do they
mis- TbnN~ man
mers and give incoming passengers amusement
that is peasanter and more unusual than look
ing at the undoubtedly practical but also I'M
doubtedly ugly warehouses and United States
government stOTehOuses which line the shore.
The streets, in so far the uneven character
Of the land permits are laid out at right angles.
Fort street and NuuanU avenue running from
the sea toward the mountains, and King, Hotel
and Beretania streets, more or less parallel to
the coast, give. as being the principal thorough
fares. sufficient indication of the street plan All
after leaving the business center pass between
luXuriant gardens which are never shut in bv
walls, but are enclosed only by low hedges
usually Of red Towering hibiscus. In MANY narts
of the city the streets bordered with tropical
Towering trees that are glory in the late spring
months. An admirable electric car service covers
the entire district of Honolulu, traversing or
crossing all the main streets.
OF public buildings the first in importance is
the Executive building formerly the royal palace
This stands near the center of the city, on King
street in its own open park 1t IS used now as
the offices of the governor and of territorial of
fcals and contains also the chambers of the
senate and house of representatives. Built in
1880 Of blocks of concrete, much overornamented,
to suit the kings ideas of beauty it follows no
recognized style of architecture, would be in any
northern city amazingly ugly, but standing alone
as it does. with no other buildings as contrast,
approached all four sides by short avenues
Of superb royal palms, surrounded by splendid
great trees and gay shrubs, cream colored, its
wide, cool galleries giving an effect Of lghtness,
II has an appropriateness that makes it almost
beautiful
A building of real interest. constructed of
brown tufa stone from Punch Bowl and sur
rounded by striking gardens, is Lunalilo house.
This was established by bequest of King Lunalilo
as home for aged and INDECENT Hawaiians. and