The mirror., 1922-12-14

But by their preponderance in numbers
they unconsciously menace the American
civilization of the land-a thing that is
precious to America as well as to Hawaii.
The japanese have not created the pros
perity of the places; they have no priority
rights; they are only recent arrivals, guests
in this corner of the American Empire, and
are always to be treated with consideration
and justice, but never to be allowed to
dominate, never to be permitted to Orien-
talze something so firmly American.
1t has already been pointed out that
Hawaii is an essential defensive base for
the Pacific Coast and that the United States
must defend itself against possible attack.
The islands-there are eight inhabited that
vary in size from sixty-nine to four thou
sand and fifteen square miles-cannot all
be made impregnabe. For example, the
largest island, Hawaii, which is made up
of the huge mass of three glorious snow
capped mountains has too long a coast
line to be defended. The next largest
Maui, the larger end of which is COM
posed of the mountain Haleakala, which
has an altitude of approximately ten thou
sand feet, is for much the same reason
equally indefensible. But SO long as Homo
lulu is safe, conquest of the other islands,
which are sparsely settled and have no
important harbors, would be of little value
tC the conquerors. In Honolulu are the
stocks of fuel so necessary to any plan to
attack the Pacific Coast, and Honolulu
can be made almost impregnable. A ridge
of mountains, not high but virtually i'm
passable from the north, makes a perfect
defensive rampant for the length of the
island. Another mass of mountains con-
nected with the main range by high
plateau, protects the city from the west.
From these mountains almost to the gates
of the city stretch great plantations, into
which, like broken fan, cuts the deep
indentat;on of Pearl Harbor, where the
water is so deep that the naves of the
world might congregate in it. To the
east just where the shore grows narrower
lies the capital city on its own small deep
water harbor, and still to the east Diamond
Head, All extinct volcano, juts out into the
surf. No force can attack the city by land
except by crossing the plateau to the west
and there is camp with more American
soldiers than any hostile fleet could land
At the mouth of Pearl Harbor and on Dia-
mond Head, which is honeycombed like
Gibraltar, are guns powerful enough to
hold off a fleet approaching from the SOUTH
AS the years pass Hawaii should become
more and more national playground
and national Fairgrounds are almost as
worth while as city Fairgrounds. Grown
up folks need recreation just as much as
children need it, though they cannot get
it so often or so easily. So long as Hawaii
can be kept prosperous, contented and safe
it will be an ideal playground. Accessible
now by good steamers from San Francisco
it will be at our very doors when the speed
and the safety OF transportation by air and
water are further increased. Honolulu it.
SELF with its wonderful beaches, its year.
round surf bathing, its proverbial hos
pitality and its comfortable hotels, Offers
far more peace and rest to tired men
and women and more opportunities of out
door delight to young people than any
other American summer or winter resort.
And then with its large and parti-colored
alien population, its rainbow fish and its
exotic vegetation is has, for all its Amer-
can background, a pleasantly foreign air.
The climate is almost the same the year
round; it is never very hot and never is
cold. For those who have more time and
greater curiosity there are the less accessi-
BILE attractions of the other islands.
On Hawaii is Kilauea, the largest active
volcano in the world, with its molten lava
beating like surf on the shore and rising