Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-08
CURIOUS THINGS SEEN IN TOUR OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. ]
BY ABLE W0RLDTRAVELED CRITIC OF SAN FRANCISCO


bers in the Young Mems Christian
Association and to find these two
races represented IN the cashiers de
lpartmeut Ct the big hotels and many
large corporations. churches and char
table associations. Hard and fas;
racial Fines are drawn IN California
and the Oriental cannot cverstep them
10 matter how great his wealth on
how coed his education and breeding
But here I'm these Hawaiian islands
is found novel problem, the soIJI
! ton Of which may involve many diff
/ culties. Here is a mixture of many
races, in which these Of pure blood are
in the minority. What will be the
result CT this novel meeting of all
races on a plane of perfect equality?
Some Of the ablest men Of the islands
have acknowledged that the working
out Of this social problem means much
for the future OF the islands as we'll
as for the cause of peace and Christi
anity.
1t is curious to observe the
absolute breaking down of all
race prejudice as seen on the
street cars and at all public
places and entertainments. The man
who is used to the Jim Crow cars for
colored people in all our southern
cities will be startled in Honolulu to
see dusky Hawaiian woman, with
her bundles OF houshold purchases.
drop down into the seat beside him on
any crowded street car Of Honolulu.
or Japanese or Chinese share his
seat with no feeling that he is an in
truder 1t is this absolute assumption
of social equality by what we have
come to regard inferior races that
gives a shock to the American visitor
to Hawaii. But after the first sur
prise one is apt to admire this new
social equality, which takes no count
of race or creed or training, of color
of skin or setting of the eyes.
Lotus Eaters Land.
The absence of all extremes of heat
and cold makes Hawaii lotus eaters
land Here it seems always after
noon. Americans who have become
acclimated declare that they can work
with the same vim as in their own
country. but the visitor who feels
his energy Slapped by the humid heat
| is very doubtful about these claims.
While Hawaii is not within the tropics
its climate is tropical, as well as its
vegetation Here flourish the cocoa
nut, the banana, the breadfruit. the
papaia and many other fruits of the
tropics; but the nights are cool, and
during the greater part of the year
the heat Of the sun is tempered by the
strong trade winds which sweep over
the islands. The mild and equable air
is due largely to this wide sweep of
over 1000 miles of ocean all about the
islands. There are no sudden changes
in temperature; an oyercoat is I'M
necessary even at night; the soft
wind that blows in the evening is
robbed of all harshness by its long
course over the balnry sea. But, as
Lafcadio Hearn said of the West In
dies. these islands are not adapted to
mental work The man who attempts
to do the same strenuous tasks as
on the mainland is liable to come to
grief
TWO Great Sights In Honolulu.
The two most wonderful sights in
Honolulu are the work Of man.
These are the Aquarium and the Bish-
Cd Museum. The first belongs to the
city and, because of the extraordinary
variety and coloring of the fishes, 1t
surpasses in interest the great Aauar-
ium at Naples The other was found
ed by Charles Reed Bishop. a wealthy
merchant in Honolulu, in memory of
his wife, the Princess Pauahi, who
was the great-granddaughter of the
ruling chief at. the time OF Captain
Cooks visit and a direct descendant
of Kamehameha the great The mu-
scum is housed in fine stone building
in the center of Kamehameha school |
grounds at Kalihi, a suburb of Homo
lulu.
The Aquarium is located near the
famous Waikiki beach and is easily
reached by car ride Of about 90 min. (,
utes. The building is unpretentious |
and the tanks are not arranged with |
the art shown in the Naples aquarium. |
What impresses the visitor almost
at the outset is the wonderful vari- |
ETY. Of the fishes and their equally
wonderful coloring. To describe them
dS luey are lays one omen 10 the
charge Of exaggeration Not only are
the fish of fiery red. deep blue. light |
blue. orange and other primary col |
ors. but these colors are blended in |
many variations Of stripes and other
eccentric markings. Then. too. scores |
CT these fish are marked by queer .
patches of vivid colors apparently |
set into the body Of the fish. Others
have elongated noses or long stream i
ers Of white or yellow. that follow
them like pennant.
The Bishop Museum.
The Bishop Museum can be seen
very fairly in two and half hours.
although second visit will be found /
The location of the build
ing is singularly fine. From its win
dows one may look out upon noble
stretch of territory. Mrs. Bishop, af.
ter life of usefulness to her people,
left her entire estate to found schools
for young Hawaiians. Amid fine
park ait Kalihi are grouped the build
ings Of the Kamehameha school.