The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1913-09-06
Miss Ih0InpS0n'S
Hawaiian Island Letter
Carrie A. Thompson)
Special to the Record

Carrie A. Thompson)
Special to the Record
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Aug. 25-The
Hawaiian Islands are 20SO miles from
San Francisco and six or seven days
by steamer. There are five large
islands and many small ones and in
stead of being huddled in a group
as many suppose. they are a chain,
reaching over several hundreds of
miles. Even the five largest stretch
over some 400 miles. They are all
Of volcanic formation and one gent
leman said a geologist had proven
them to be fifteen millions Of years
or fifteen thousands of years old,
he didn't remember, anyway they
were here for awhile before he came
1t ia also conceded as a fact that
the most northern island is the
oldest because vegetation is more ad
vanced and trees older; while the
most southern is the youngest and
still contains one of earth's breath
Ing places in the form of one of the
most noted active volcanoes in the
world. This is and, Hawaii. the
youngest, largest and most southern,
is really still in the building.
The island of Oahu is most i'm
parAnt because Of the harbor of
Honolulu, 9th rwise the vegetation
soil, climate and other conditions are
about the same on each of the is
lands.
Kauai is the most northern island,
and Is called the Garden Island, 1t
Is said to be the most beautiful for
scenery. It's many canons are very
like the Grand Canon In miniture,
while its mountains. valleys. beaches
and abundance Of tropical vegetation
lend variety to its natural scenery.
This island ia about 100 miles north
OF Honolulu.
The first island south in some 75
miles away and Is best known as the
leDer island. However. only q small
part CT Molokai is occupied by these
unfortunate people while many fine
plantations and beautiful homes are
spread out over the other portion.
WHERE LEPERS LIVE
On one side. of this island Is a be-
autiful valley stretching away to the
sea and shut from the other part OF
the island by lofty range of noun
tains. Here the lepers live, some
thousand in number They are most
y natives, but there are some
Chinese. Japanese. Portuguese and 3
very few Americans. They are no,
allowed to cross these mountains
there teing only one pass which is
continually guarded. This colony Il
we'll provided for by the territory O
Hawaii Schools, churches. bast
ball grounds, tennis courts, moving
picture shows, everything to max
them happy and comfortable is pre-
vided for them. 1t is claimed thai
these people are not conscious o.
pain and seem quite happy. Children
of leptrs are taken from their par
ents soon after birth and are seldom
II ever known to become lepers. Th'
Hawaiian word for the disease means
Chinese Sickness" Whether thu
Chinese are responsible for it beini
brought to the islands OF not, the!
get the credit. The natives are yer.
susceptible to all kinds Of diseases
Civilization has gone hard with them
MANY PLANTATIONS
South OF Molokai some so miles !
the island of Maui. It, like the 9th
ers is covered with plantations an
homes. 1t has the distinction Q
having one CT the most wonderful 9,
.tinct volcano craters In the worlt
Many people are taking up homs
steads on this island since there
quite bit Of government land ope
for that purpose. Then the island
Hawaii from which the group
named. and which contains more are
than al the others together is tn
last OF the large islands.
CITY OF HILO
The second largest town and ha
hor II also located on Hawaii. Hi
Is . town Of 5000 inhabitants 1t
only 80 miles from the wonderf
volcano Kilauea and in the midst
the noted tree fern district, many
which are from is to 80 feet In high
The great Koa or native mohogar
forest IN also on Hawaii. Much
the old furniture In the island 10 ma
OF this wood. The bedstead In n
room ID made. Of beautifully carv'
koa- On Hawaii also 10 the large
coffee plantation Of the islands.
Let mo say here that sugar
the Industry OF the islands. Whl
pineapples are Of great important
1t ID nothing to compare to the sug
industry. Rice and coffee are rais'
jalso but on . much less scale.
rains almost daily ip the mountain