Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-09

away.
The article - not only rich in hu
man interest but OF value as his
torical and statistic document. Broth
or Dutten writes:
Moicksi
This interesting island Is enc OF the
North Pacific group. formerly known
as the Sandwich Islands. or as the
kingdom OF Hawaii, then as the repuh
lie Of Hawaii, and since annexation
by the United States OF America, as
the Territory o. Hawaii This annexa
iicn was determined by joint resolu
ton of Congress, signed by the presi
dent, July z. 1898. the completed or.
Ranization taking effect June IA, 1900
or the eight principal islands, Molo.
aai is NTH In size, 2Gl square miles
also fifth in population, 2504, census
: OF 1900
Geographical Description
its location is between the islands
OF Oahu and Maui, separated from the
latter by a channel OF eight miles
only IN width, and having D gred,
depth. AIolekai is about 80 miles in
length, from east to west, and its ay-
erage width is about Z miles. The
island, however. was larger in its
original volcanic formation. Its width
was greater. The highest mountains
we're in the central and eastern por-
lions, forming an irregular ridge rum
ming east and west along the middle
of the island. In the western part,
running more towards the north, save
that near the extremity it curved to-
wards the south again All OF the
western part taPered to the end OF
the island. In the eastern extremity
il was the same as to tapering, but
was for much shorter distance.
The ridge, or backbone, has been
split. the northern part being thrown
offand submerged in the ocean depths.
This Is the view held by biologists
and other observers. II has been call
ed a great displacement" or "disloca.
tion" and a fault scarp of magnificent
size"
There remains line of majestic
cliffs and noble headlands out of the
usual class of travel. that for uni
que grandeur can hardly be surpassed.
The great ocean ti1robs and beats
at the base of the towering mountains
save where the few valleys ar gulches
form open places, and where the cliffs
recede, forming 2 line around the
head OF each This somewhat irreg
ular line OF bod mountain face varies
in height from 2d00 feet about mid
way to $500 feet towards the east
Some higher peaks lie farther bacl
in the eastern part. the highest be
Ing close to 5000. IL
Erosion Effects Shown
All these highlands are strangel.
scanned and corrugated by erosion
Vefdlire has crept in and persistinf
covers the protected parts. In som,
places good sized trees are growing
Except m the very dry times man,
rivuiets appear, disappear, come M
again 10 the surface, or in the opeI
places in kaleidoscope variety. After
heavy rains these silvery elusive LITTLE
streams become eager torrents ant
from overhanging places leap into The
open to be caught by the watchfu
wind and carried away in mist tina
is lost in the glorious sunshine.
In the mountains back Of this opef
faced northern coast many wild dee
have habitation and are hunted b,
man. A coral reef about half mile
in width fringes the southern coast.
The southwark slopes and lower ly
ing parts are used in grazing. Hone.
is an important item for shipment |
In agriculture the island does not Gu
mulch OF a figure, compared with thf
other islands, uncertainty OF waite,
supply being the chief cause. Somt
attempt has been made with suga |
planting without much success.
The picturesque bouquet of islands |
is favored in being out OF the cyclone
belt and In having no snakes. Also
the leper settlement has no tramps. |
Leper Settlement
The entire northern coast of Moloka |
has but one projection of land. Tho |
gulches are merely open places, as
the mouth Of a pocket. but just abou' /
midway, where the cliff is 2200 feet /
(52 miles from Honoluln) is the LepeI |
Settlement peninsula, somewhat OF
horseshoe shape, about 2 miles wide :
near the cliff or "pali' and project
ing about 2 miles into the ocean
Around the extreme point this new
coast line is from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty feet high. Nearer
the pail, not so much: at Kalawao, the
eastern side, about so feet only, and
at Kalaupapa, the western side it Is
even less An old and very difficult
trail over the pail has been improved
so that carrying OF the mails, twice a
week. to and from the steamer landing
of Kaunakakai. on the southern side
of the island, is practicable and occa-
sionally passenger usually an Off
cial) comes or goes that way The
steamer comes around to the landing
at Kalaupapa once week
Dead Crater
The peninsula has been formed by
the action of local volcano long after
the main island was formed and after
II was split The dead crater, Kau.
hako. occupies a central part of the
peninsula. It has a well of brackish
water. the surface keeping on level