Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-09-21
SPLENDID PARK
HIGH IN KAUAI
LARR|s0N'S PLAN
Hydrographer Finds an Ideal
Canning Country and Win
Suggest Utilizing Il

area OF land in the upper portions o
the Waimea-Kekahas section OF Kana
into territorial or even a nationa
park have been studied out by George
i *. harrison. superintendent of hydro
graphy. during q recent trip to the
Garden Island, and VIII be presented
| to Governor Pinkham.
i harrison viii present the matter Il
/ the governor. however, only as a pri
vate citizen might-not through ans
official capacity as head OF the terri
torial hydrographic work.
II shall boost this plan as you OF
any other citizen might he tells the
| Star Bulletin, because / believe II
| would be a wonderful thing for the
! islands :,
Spending a few days and nights
camping in the very heart of the pro
posed area, waking up in the morn
ing to read the mercury at SO degrees
flour above freezing and getting
breakfast over wood fire. the smoke
of which lifted straight up into the
crisp. cold air, Harrison got his big
idea. rs.
What Of all these people in Homo.
lulu and other seacoast towns who
long so for q change of climate and a
breath OF cold air, and who cannot
take the trip 10 the States. every sum
mer Why cannot we turn this place
into big camp site for these people
and for the tourists who come to the
islands, he said.
Hog and Goat Hunting.
The more harrison thought of the
plan the more enthusiastic he became
over it. He took the trails that
spread out like the spokes of wheel
from the camp site of Kokee and
found scenery magnificent and in
spring. He discovered that there
was goat and wild hog hunting, that
there were springs of delicious cold
water here and there over the area,
and that frost comes frequently to sill
yer the rich green turf that lies be-
meath the mountain trees.
About a quarter df the whole island
kof Kauai is included in the Waimea-
Kekaha lands, which are under lease
In a large portion to the Gay & Rob-
inson holdings, sub-leased to Knudsen
Brothers. This lease terminates in
1920. The whole upper part of this
section is forest reserve all above
the Waimea canyon, uplands and
drainage area.
In this area is the great Alakai
swamp which has an enormous rain
fan and which serves as regulator
for the upper streams that make up
the Waimea river. Below this swamp
is a beautiful stretch of rolling up
lands covered with dense ofia forests.
which thin out into open glades and
finally merge into scattered koa for
ests as one descends toward Kekaha
and Waimea.
Between Two Forests
Here in this border area, says Lar
rison, between the heavy ohia for
est and the edge of the koa forest are
magnificent camp sites which have
already been utilized to some extent
by Kauai residents, the most notable
place being the Eric Knudsen noun
tain house, "Halemanu." A wagon
road is maintained up to the camps
and at times automobiles can be
brought through"
harrison says that a few hundred
dollars a year would probably keep
the road in a condition that would
permit automobile travel the year
ronnd-an hours trip from Waimea,
some Is miles distant.
In his estimation this country would
make the most beautiful recreation
grounds in the islands, barring none.
1t lies between elevations of $500 and
1000 feet. Frosts are frequent, ard
at Halemanu the thermometer regis
tered So degrees during the week end
ing September 16.
There is fine hunting and excel
lent horse trails are now kept
open by iessees and by the division OF
photography In connection with hydro
metric work in that vicinity.
kokee the Beautiful
Kokee is the largest open glade. 1t
lies at the head ,'of the Waiahulu
branch of the Waimea river, and from
1t, one and half hours ride, visitors
look down into the beautiful Kalalan
valley.
.Or take Kilohana lookout" says
harrison, (which is 4025 feet in height |
and which oveclooks Wainiha valley |
and the famous Hanalei bay country.
This can be reached by horse and foot |
trail in two and half hours.
Another trip Is from Kokee past
the teachers camp to the rim OF Poo
man branch of Waimea canyon. fol-
lowing the rim around and coming out
over waipoo falls through Halemanu,
thence back to Kokee-one half day
on horseback. a-
''Monihi-Koaie ridge, we'll up to-
wards Waialeale, the top OF the isl
and, where the rainfall sometimes
reaches 500 inches in year can also
be reached from Kokee. There are
dozens of others.
Would Have Hotel There
my plan,p says the superintendent.
''is to make Of this great territorial
or even national park. placing re-
sponsible man in charge, and holding
the place open to campers at all
times, they being required merely to
observe certain restrictions in regard
to fires and SO on for the protection
of the forest
Fl viii suggest the plan to the gov
-, I'll tai