Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-05-28

The Great Northern excursion trip
to Hawaii made good booster for the
islands of John H. Mcdonald, man
aging editor of the Walla Walla Union.
He has written the following article
for Northwest papers:
The impression that one gains from
a cruise TO Uncle Sans islands in the
mid Pacific are as conglomerate as the
population one meets in the streets of
Honolulu, and will likely be as lasting
as the continual boiling of the mass of
fiery red lava in the crater of Kilauea
on the island of Hawaii.
experienced a feeling of awe in
contemplating great distances, which
gives one a faint conception of the
size Of this little old world of our.
When you sail upward of 1000 miles
before sighting land, and then realize
that this string of islands, including
the smaller ones, uninhabited and of
no value, extends for 1900 miles across
the Pacific ocean, constituting, after
all, a mere patch upon this world Of
water, you understand more fully than
ever before what an enthusiastically
small spot is the locality at home with
which you are most familiar. The con-
temptation of the natural wonders OF
this group !, of islands, geologically
young, as they are young under the
parental roof of our Uncle Samuel,
adds to this feeling of awe. The Won
derful richness of the soil in spots,
mere fringes upon lands which are
simply mountains of rock cast UP from
the bottom of the sea, and hardly yet
cooled off; the satisfying climate I'M
doubtedly one of the finest in the
world; the genial hospitality and ap-
parent contentment and prosperity Of
the people, all these things impress
you, too. And not least is the impor-
lance of the islands to the United
States, evidenced by the maintenance
there of some 10000 soldiers and the
work upon the magnificent Pearl har.
Dor, destined to be one Of the greatest
naval stations in the, world. =,
The trip to Honolulu from the
mainland of California was made in
four days and 10 hours on the new
steamship Great Northern, built by
James ]. Hill, which goes into service
next Wednesday in its regular run
from Astoria to San Francisco. -.
Committee Greets Tourists. u
The regular sailing time to Honolulu
is six days, and the arrival of the new
steamship, establishing new record
for speed WIS hailed with delight by
the people of the islands. We were
treated as guests Of honor, especially
as the midwinter Pacific carnival was
on in full blast. A committe met US
in the harbor, headed by Mayor John
Lane, a fullblooded Hawaiian of fine
appearance and genial manner, who
welcomed us in a short, whole-souled
speech. aloha" was his text. This
word is used in the native tongue as
a greeting and farewell, and in many
other ways. Literally it means my
love to you," and expresses more fel
ings than any single English term. As
"a part of the committee large native
orchestra entertained us on the way
to the dock, while pretty Hawaiian
girls placed a wreath about the neck
Of every passenger.
The chief interesting sight which
greets every ship that docks in Homo
lulu is the band of native boys who
swim about the vessel and dive for
money thrown into the water by, those
on deck There were 30 on hand to
meet the Great Northern. These
youngsters make this a business, as.
well as fine sport. Their income va
ries according to the frequency of the
arrival OF ships, for there are always
passengers to toss them money, and
mighty seldom does coin ever go to
the bottom They win swim to coin
which strikes the water 30 or 40 feet
distant, dive and bring it triumphant
" to the surface. The Hawaiians are
the finest swimmers in the world. IL
the fish in Honolulu harbor could
think they would be ashamed of their
ability to navigate.
Two days were spent on the island
OF Oahu, which is the third of the
Sandwich group in size, but first in
population and importance. Honolulu
seems to be about the size of Spokane,
and is fine, modern, progressive city.
Most of the leading stores, banks and
business houses are conducted by
Americans, though there are foreign
ers of every kind on every hand, the
Japanese being especially numerous.
The natives seem to be gradually
crowded out. Coming and going of.
mails is generally weekly event, but
still the people are in constant touch
with the world Two excellent daily
newspapers carry complete report Of
Associated Press news flashed by
wireless from San Francisco.
A Trip Around the Island.
The time of the excursionists passed
quickly In taking tine various ANTONIO
bile and trolley trips provided for
their entertainment The principal
ride was over a fine macadamized road
around the island, a distance Of 80
miles. This route goes through sugar
plantations and magnificent fields of
pineapples, skirting the coast along
the crest of bluffs at many points,
where magnificent views unfold them
selves. A visit to the big pineapple
cannery of Libby, Mcneil & Libby,
and a native feast served in native
style, were features of the journey,
which occupied an entire day. In the
vicinity of Honolulu points
OF interest visited were the United
States army posts, the home of ex.