Evening star., 1925-10-08
PARKS Of HAWAII
NOTED FOR BEAUTY
Thousands Visit Scenic Won
ders of National Reserves
in the Islands.
BY CARROLL BINDER

Some day Hawaii may be as famous
FOR its national parks as it is for it's
! ukuleles (Which, incidentally. are a
Portuguese importation). Americans
in increasing numbers are coming to
realize that some OF Uncle Sans love
liest Fairgrounds are in these mid
Pacific islands.
Established in 1916. and dedica ed
only four years ago. Hawaii National
Park last year entertained more than
10000 visitors. or one-third aS many
as visited the older and more widely
advertised Yellowstone. The 1925 in
fiux OF visitors promises to attain far
larger proportions.
There are attractions to please the
most bizarre tastes in the Hawaiian
parks. kilauea crater continues to
be the favorite objective of the visit
or, despite the temporary disappear
ap"e Of the sea of fiery lava.
The trip to Kilauea is made by over
night boat from Honolulu to HilO,
whence one takes a 30-mile motor trip
to Volcano House, overlooking the IA
nous crater. Part of the road is over
ancient lava flows almost entirely con-
cealed by prolific growth of lehua
and koa trees. interspersed with fra
grant ginger and other tropical bushes
md shrubs.
The Worlds Weirdest Walk.
Near the crater great forests OF
trees. ferns of extraordinary luxu-
ria nee. tower on either side of the road.
Many Of the ferns are 10 feet tall with
fronds - feet long, and the density
Is tropical. though the elevation "f
Kilauea is 1900 feet.
Reckoning TO the visitor as he
reaches the volcano is what Supt.
nf ha
terms THE worlds weirdest walk" 1t
is a trail through 1900 acres of black.
glistening lava that has Welled up
from the earth. Years ago the crater
itself was "A huge fire pot in which
dwelt. according to Hawaiian legend,
the goddess Pele. who had to he pro
pitiated with offerings Of berries and
other tokens Of respect from the hu.
man beings who dwelt within range OF
'her mighty forces.
Illustrators for twentieth century
editions of Dante's inferno" would get
good suggestions from some of the
strange lava formations along the
crater trail. Black serpents. dragons.
alligators and monsters unknown and
unnamed are to be seen on every
hand. There are great cracks from
which steam pours in sufficient quan.
tity to cook "wienies." Supt. Boles'
mouse lS no3IeH bN S'cdIi'
Caverns that may he explored with
the aid Of an electric torch abound in
the crater.
House of Everlasting Fire"
Rising in the distance are great
clouds Of smoke from Bclemaumau
pit-the house of everla sting fire. the
natives call it. II was there that the
fire seethed until May. 1924. when the
crater heaVed forth ma sSiVe clouds Of
volca mic dust. hot gases and powders
weighing from 10 to ii tons. which
were deposited over the surrounding
countryside. The hot lava, which did
not overflow the crater. was swallowed
up in the earth. but will come back
one Of these days, according TO the ma
tives.
The freless fire pit is an awesome
thing. with its steaminS. yawninE
chasm. 5000 feet in diameter and
800 feet deep. There are 40 pit era
ters in this section of the park. many
Of them constantly steaming.
Active as is kilauea there is no
DANCED to the visitor who goes right
TO the edge of Halemaumau pit. Six
thousand persons visited the crater
when it was in full activity year
ago. The only casualties We're to
those who disregarded the park au-
thorities' warnings and entered the
danger zone.
Lava tubes and other interesting
formations afford unlimited oppor-