Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-26
INSURANCE man
EXTOLS HAWAII
Emphasizes Historical Pageant
Gives Valuable Advice Re-
garding Insurance


/ If Washington Irving. a visiting in
Isurance man from San Francisco
lshou,i follow the example of his ia
nous literary namesake to the extent
of writing his travels, Hawaii would
certainly command many pages OF
rare promotion value therein. For
fear that he might not have such a
project in view, reporter of the
Star Bulletin sought out Mr.. Irving,
finding him at the office of the Home
Insurance Company. Besides obtain
ing Just what he went something
| in the selfish interest Of Hawaii as
an objective point for tourists-the
interviewer captured various sug-
gestions OF value in the visitors
province of insurance.
| This is my first visit to Homo
| lulu" said Mr.. Irving, and am
much more delighted with the results
| of the trip. have been trying to
get here for the last five years, and
finally l just shut down my desk and
came.
"You have one of the most remark
ably beautiful places have ever seen.
and the hospita ity Of the people is
most delightful. | do not know when
have spent eight days more pleas
antly and profitably | was much de-
| lighted with the carnival One point
that impressed outsiders more than
any other was the landing of Kameha-
meha. We can see floral parades
almost anywhere, but a historical
ne hot IN md a
setting of ocean and mountain, with
tropical scenery between, cannot be
produced elsewhere. If special at
tention should be given to historical
pageants, illustrating the ancient
customs of Hawaii, am sure it would
be the great feature of your carnivals
of the future.
Il have been much impressed with
the condition of the roads on Oahu,
especially that one leading out toward
Haleiwa. That is splendid boule-
ward drive, the bits of natural scenery
along the route being unsurpassed
either in beauty or grandeur. Hale
iva itself is one of the most beautiful
spots have ever visited
Asked if he had made any study OF
the insurance situation here, Mr.
Irving, who represents the Phoenix of
London, replied:
Il think it is not so much that the
rates.are high in Honolulu. but certain
manifest themselves. Some
risks are higher than others in sub.
stantially parallel conditions. What's
that Hawaiian word you use to ex-
press putting off things? Mahope,
yes. There seems to have been too
many mahope in rating the town for
insurance. Rates we're put on, say,
seven years ago and conditions have
changed in the meantime but the rates
continue the same. One risk is rated
retty low and another in the next
block, with similar characteristics, is
rated higher.
yet the average is not high in what
you call the .conflagration area, be-
cause this town in some parts must
certainly be classed as liable to con-
flagration."
Mr. Irving here mentioned one
prominent business stand where mer
chandise of exceedingly inflammable
and even explosive character is stored
without restriction.
There is an absence of restrictive
ordinances here regarding the storage
of explosive and combustibte mer-|
chandise," said Mr.. Irving, which
should be remedied. You have no re
striction on garages-there are frame
garages right in the heart of town
The trouble here is construction is
so mixed. You will see pretty fair
building and then next to it a big
frame building. People do not take
into consideration the exposure hazard
do not stop to think that the build
ing next door may set them on fire.
Il am leaving in the steamer Will
helmina. This is just preliminary
look around" MIR. Irving said After
this | will come here every year /
expect to be here again year from
next July and spend about a month
in these beautiful islands"