The Clio messenger., 1914-09-11
4 NOW1EAHY NS5T

there Is but a lush ferny smell.
There is one native tree growing in the noun
tains that bears a blossom very unique and deli
cately fragrant. the chua In its time of full
blossoming the trees often stocky form presents
the appearance of huge crimson bouquet, there
are such myrads Of silky pompon flowers. Per
feet pompons they are, and very well made, each
silken thread about as hard to pull out as
thread Of manufactured silk from a milliner's
creation The flowers are woven into beautiful
garlands, or leis, the natives call them, and
on the streets of Honolulu the stranger always
turns to look again at wreath of lehua blossoms
the deep coloring, the character of the flower
being SO unusual. And still beautiful
mountain bloom, to my mind, is that of the ohia,
cousin to the crimson blossom. This is of the
same shape but smaller in size and its shade Is
the richest old-rose. party descending from a
trip mauka with each member sporting lei of
lehua or ohia, feel very lucky indeed proudly
display this trophy of ascent to and daliance in
a real mountain region
In Hawaii one need not go to the states to get
the tonic of the cold; one can take to a noun
tain hut and In mountain life arrive at invigora-
ton. write at this moment from a mountain
retreat located at an elevation of 5000 feet; sit
clothed In khaki and sweater, and with great
downy scarlet blanket cushioning my chair and
enwrapping my feet. Evenings the household In
duges in fire Of cracking. and pungent, eucayp-
tus logs. and nights have on my bed from four
stolen from a great cattle ranch the
slopes Of the mountain Of Haleakala, and can
not but wonder how our host ever was able to
get any sort Of slice from the great landed estate.
Glad indeed that he able and that
am allowed to sojourn here In my present LAY
ingon." For the spot is of rare beauty-even
in this land where beluty is such common
place
The little retreat lies midway up the mountain
a seven-mile ride by horse and the summit Is
reached But one has call to take the slow,
arduous climb very often for there Is such raw
ishing view from this viewpoint Most OF the
island lies spread out below, rolling ranch lands
leading down to green fields with the sea
beyond .and over all dome vast and blue one
thrills at the immensity and beauty. On clear
days three islands float off there In the sea, and
behind us the summit stands out sharp and chal-
lenging, a long line with little no curve or cut.
On our deep. level lawn high clumps OF gera-
NUNS and fuchsias glow richly colorful in the
mountain afr, at the window blue hydrangeas
peer in, down in the little garden Mareschal
Mel rose blooms riotously, beyond our gates real
dandelions dot the pasture lands and there are
occasional purple thistes AS I stroll about the
enclosure ride without the ranch, marvel
that all these honey flowers and weeds this brac-
ing air, really be part of subtropical isles.
NY present comparatively luxurious mountain
life-hair mattresses. French china, Jap servants,
ETC., etc.-is very pleasant indeed but I was
equally at the time spent seven weeks IN
a cowboys hut In the Waianae mountains on
Oahu, where slept on fern beds, drank my coffee
(but good quality from enamelware mug, sew
eral OF us shared the services of one boy" In
the humber holiday there was the keen, pure
upland air; the beds Of dry ferns. piled foot or
so high, we're very comfortable; one clever China