Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-09-14
War Adds Significance
To the Hawiian Islands
Continued From Page One)

(COnClQuGQ FROM Pd2G OI1GJ
of the United States? The Islands
were first opened up by Captain
Cook in 1778. For the next century,
their chief Importance was a popular
calling place for Yankee ships in the
China trade In 1890 the population
was still only 100000 It has gradual
iy increased until today, it is over
100000. About one-third of the peo-
pie are of Japanese, Chinese, and
miscellaneous descent, about one
third are of Hawaiian descent, and
about one-third are of American,
British, and northern European de-
scent, l am told that about seventy
per cent of the inhabitants are male.
When 1 am next asked by women for
advice as to where to go to get huS-
bands, will answer, ''To Honolulu"
Missionaries Did Great Work.
For some uneXplainable reason
the islands are not conducive to large
families. The people seem to be sue
cessful in growing everything but
children. Whether the character OF
the young people develops as we'll
in this sunny and healthy cline (the
temperature is said never to rise
above 88 degrees nor drop below Sc
degrees) as in cold and rocky New
England, is debatable question: Yet,
Hawaii has excellent schools At one
time the people Of California sent
their children to Honolulu to get
good education. The schools were
founded by cultured and conscien-
tious American missionaries, largely
from New England. Sad to relate,
hOW&er, too many of these mission
aries were virtuous spinsters.
Unfortunately, the exploiter al
ways follows the missionary. AS
Bibles were put on sale, they were
accompanied by sales Of whisky. The
natives-especially the rulers-were
unable to withstand the temptation
Of liquor. After several attempts to
set up limited monarchy with a
constitution and legislature had
failed, final revolution took place
IN the 'nineties". On July 4, 1894,
the Republic of Hawaii was formed
with Sanford B. Dole its first presi-
dent. On July Z 1898, the Republic
OF Hawaii was annexed to the Unit
ed States. The islands are governed
under an act of Congress passed in
1900. They are now as territory and
nave one nOn-voting delegate in Con-
gress.
Economic Values Growing.
You ask me why l stress so strong
ly the economic significance of this
laraWay part of the United States. 1t
IS true that the only large exports
are sugar, pineapples and various
fruits. These latter are largely ex-
ported in cans. The islands, however.
grow coffee, rice, bananas, figs, man
goes, nuts, and many other fruits.
The total export value of Hawaiian
products is about $112,OOO,OOO. 1 was
especially impressed with the cattle
and sheep which l saw on the ran
ges. In addition, there are large
available supplies of sandstone, sui
phur, gypsum, salt, and other basic
resources. Some day a great chemical
industry may be located here.
The outlook for Hawaiian busi-
ness for the next few months is good.
While the cannon boom along the
European Rhine, business will boom
along the American Rhine Hawaii's
sugar crop has already skyrocketed
in value. Her pineapple crop will
sell higher. Tourists, turned back
from Europe, will flock out here.
Honolulu's harbor-the crossroads of
the Pacific-will swarm with ac-
tivity. Expenditures for defense will
be stepped up. Remember, the big
gest part of our fleet is in the Pacific
and the Pearl Harbor naval base is
one OF the largest in the world.
Our "MaginOt Line.
Washington has been wise in spend
ing millions for the military and
naval defenSeS Of the islands, but we
must not stop here. Hawaii needs to
be defended agriculturally by diver
slflcation of crops and products. Fur
thermore, the islands are as invalu-
able to us as protection from the ia
panese as the Maginot Line is to
France as protection from the Ger
mans Any of our elected represen-
tatives in Washington who fought
against the annexation of this "Am-
erican Rhine" may have been foxy
politicians, but they surely were not