Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-29
Alexander Hume Ford Tells of
Trim Which He Believes
Establishes Record

The Trail and Mountain club has
demonstrated that it is possible to
cross from Waianae over the top of
Kaala to Schofield Barracks AleNan-
der Hume Ford, Joseph Stickney, Capt,
Sherer of the Fourth Cavalry. Capt.
Ellerbrock and two troopers from the
Fourth Cavalry succeeded in making
the trip last Sunday. II is believed
| that this is the first party that has
ever crossed by way of Kaala from
Waianae TO Leilehua. Speaking of
the trip Mr.. Ford said: ...-.
Immediately en- my return to Ha-
wall, I took up with Captain ShereI
the possibility of the cooperation of
the army with the Trail and Mountain
club. as many Of the army men are
great mixers, privates getting off on
leave in small companies and spend
ing their leave camping in the hills;
so Friday afternoon Joe and sprang
on our trusty bikes and wheeled out
| to Leilehua to talk the matter over
further with Captain Sherer. We had
| in our heads plan to ride on horse
back around to Mokuleia and discover.
If possible, horseback trail to the
summit OF Kaala. for we knew from
past experience that horses could os-
cend to an altitude Of $500 feet on, the
Mckuleia trail to Kaala. but Captain
Sherer had better plan He was
Just preparing for Saturday picnic
at Waianae. from which the picnick-
ers would be sent back and we would
attempt the ascent of Kaala on foot
from the Waianae side, then make
desperate endeavor to cross the Kaala
swamp and find the trail down to Lei
lehua. Others had tried this, but so
far as we could gather. no. one had
succeeded and we wished to be the
first; so bright and early Saturday
morning the cavalcade started out
over Kcli Koli pass and we rode down
/, to the Waianae plains. and here we
held cur picnic and sent the women
and children back while with several
troanars and the horses, we rode on
to Maksha. which is the valley Just
beyond Waianae. Accents had been
made within the past few years from
the little rest ehonse far IN Waianae
vallRSsBiit from all we could gather IL
4 WdS LWCtNr " GUS dllNtlc udu
descended from Makaha and the man
who had made the last ascent. Cant
i.Eilerbrock met us at the Makaha sta,
ticn. having come cut from Honolulu.
to pilct Capt. Sherer and show us the
way
Is interesting Valley.
81 wendPr how MANY people in Ho.
nolulu realize that Mahaka valley is
in MANY RESPECTS one of the most in
lteresting valleys in the islands? Pass
it on the train and it seems barren
waste vet here are the remains OF a
once magnificent coffee plantation. that
at the present price fer the berry II
cared for. should make rich return
to the investors. We rode uD the val.
lev and found that new cane ground
is beinp broken. and then we entered
the coffee plantation through which
we rode for miles and this coffee. II is
said. rs the finest that is grown In
Hawaii. Almost in the midst Of this
coffee area. $4,000 feet above and sew.
en- miles from sea. we came mon the
cut-houses and remains of the little
settlement Of the now dismantled cof-
fee mill. and what was cur surprise to
find three different sets of campers
making use Of these splendid rest
houses Fred Ziegler one of the char
ter members Of the Train and Noun
tain club. was there with his party.
! There was little band cf school
teachers and there were half dozen
troopers OF on leaves CT absence
and this was how they were spending
dents to see such spots in the heart of