Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 282, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1913 — In Far off Hawaii [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In Far off Hawaii

WONDERFUL scenery abounds on that magnificent highway, that regal road -ot Hawaii which leads to the great crater of Kilauea. Tourists may rejoicp in the beauty, hear the song of birds, smell the fresh aroma of the wilderness, feast their eyes on the 'long vistas of distant green, the view of the dashing surf, the far-away ocean and blue sky. They drive along great forests or rare woods, watch the waving of the grain, note how all the earth seems lush with 'iunshine, warmth and beauty in he mid-Paciflc paradise and of a BUdden see the land of desolation. Almost without warning the automobile plunges over forbidding lava and the earth is dark with the deadly flow which Moana Loa and Kilauea have belched forth. One is now riding over lava beds —pre-Adamite perhaps —over layers that bubbled forth thousands, hundreds and even as recently as 50 years ago, and some concerning which there are persons living who can tell the story. It is hades, all the more terrible because it is only a few hours’ ride from the beauties of the tropics. Then comes the smoke and steam of the innermost center and one feels that in the earth beneath or waters under it there is nothing to equal it. Finest of All Monuments. This is Kilauea the terrible and the fascinating, this is the volcano which our government is, planning to set aside as a national inonument and no monument yet preserved can equal it. The proposition has been long discussed and of late has taken definite form. This is the largest active volcano in the world and also one of the most accessible, and for these reasons it seeips fitting that the United States should distinguish it above all others. The volcano is situated on an elevation of 4,000 feet, on a belt road around the largest island, Hawaii, on the slope of Moana Loa, which also has a crater, occasionally active, at its summit, nearly 14,000 feet high. It is proposed to include the summit crater in the park, the strip of land between the two craters and some of the surrounding country in which are sulphur banks, lava' trees, tree ferns, forests of rare woods, rare birds and other objects of interest. Hawaiians are’ anxious to obtain this national monument, and as an aid to its establishment they have built an excellent automobile road to the lake of fire In the crater. Plans are maturing for the establishment of a volcano and earthquake observatory, and congress has been asked to create the proposed park. Sentiment Is generally in favor of this plan for the islands of Hawaii are full of interest and the volvanoes are but a part of the attractions which they offer to sightseers. In all of the eig&t Inhabited islands there are wonders which make this —the youngest known land —distinctive for beauty. There are high precipices, great valleys, living and dead craters, and in particular—six miles from Honolulu —there Is the Nuuana Pali, from which one of the most beautiful views in the world can be obtained. It was only two years ago that the fine carriage and automobile road was built right into the crater of Kilauea, but It has already begun to attract tourists, who consider it the most remarkable road in the world, as it is cut through the hard lava. Some one has jokingly called it "the road to hell,” but if so, it is a pleasant one. It skirts along the edge of the crater, gives views of the lava lake, has no sharp turns or abrupt curves and in the dangerous parts a four-foot wall has been constructed of lava rock. Nothing can be more charming than the surrounding country. One rides through ferns and native woods of varying shades of green, the whole making a harmony of color. Some of the trees are of wonderful wood, so rare that former Hawaiians prize them highly for the palace of the king, and American furniture mahufacturers are anxious to obtain them. These are the royal trees of Hawaii, because of very flue and beautiful graip and coloring. J It is somewhat remarkable that one

volcano should exist in the side of as larger one, but this Is the case with! Kilauea and Moana Loa, and the peculiarty is accounted for by scientists who claim that at one time there were two distinct volcanoes or mountains, and that lava falling from them so filled the Intervening valley that they eventually became one volcano. At any rate, Moana Loa is higher thanf Its sister, Kilauea, and the theory seems plausible. Moana Loa, which' is often visited, possesses attractions for expert mountain climbers, for the trail Is a hard one. When this high volcano becomes active the effect Is stupendous. The two volcanoes are remarkable living wonders, and Moanst Loa can proudly boast that it is tho second highest peak In the Pacific. Just as the natives have given a name to the Inner crater of Kilauea, so they have dubbed the pit of Moana Lo% by the somewhat awe-inspiring name of Mokuaweoweo, a long name, but it is jokingly said the crater’s area of 2,270 miles deserves it. But the two volcanos selected for the national monument are not by any means the only ones on these islands of curiosities. There is also the extinct crater of Haleakala, said to be the world’s greatest extinct volcano, for the circumference of its crater is 20 miles. A score of cones rise from this crater, and It is cut by many lava cracks. The view from its summit is superb, for all the world seems spread out before It. Then, there are the famous Needles, tall rock formations that stand like sentinels in a plain, and on the Island of Oahu, not far from Honolulu, is the famous Pali of Nuuanu, a great cliff overlooking the sea where engineers have built a roadway in order that a fine view of the windward side can be obtained. Many travelers consider this the most beautiful view of the Pacific. Back of Honolulu Is also Mount Tantalus with a drive to Its summit and all around are mangos, citrus fruits, vines and every of tropical growth. Superstitious Hawaiians. It is not surprising that the early and uncultivated natives should attribute supernatural powers to all these phenomena and especially to the volcanos of Moana Loa and Kilauea. They-peopled them'with gods and goddesses, and supreme among them was Pele, goddess of fire, who dwelt In Halemaumau. The oldest legend tells how Pele and her train came to abide in the fire palaces of the famous crater. Her enemy, Kama-puaa, the water god, half hog, half man, desired to wei! her, but as might be expected, was n’ot pleasing to the goddess, who fled and took refuge in Halemaumau. The water god followed, pouring floods of water into the lake of fire. Pele’s slaves turned the water into steam and hurled stones upon the monster until he took refuge in the sea. Delighted to find such a retreat Pele remained in the drater and sent forth lightnings, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and so in awe were early Hawaiians that they tried in every way to propitiate her. They erected a sacred temple nearby for her priests and constantly offered her chickens, fish, fruit and dogs, interspersed with occasional human victims. Great pains were taken to propitiate her at the first sign of an eruption and hogs were thrown into tho crater aiftfr the Btreams of lava. Many a traveler who has stood on the shores of Halemaumau and watched the strange forms that seem to leap up with wild shrieks and then disappear has realized how easy it might be to imagine this fiery was the abode of a goddess and her satellites. Especially as there are certain formations around the crater called by her name. It is a common thing to hear islanders speak of Pele’s hair, meaning the fine threads of lava, looking much like spun glass, which are found among the rocks which the birds use in building nosts. When the lava is thrown to a great height the wind catches it as it drops and spins it out into threads, olive, green or yellowish brown, and this is the beautiful Pele’s hair, so lovely that it seems natural to assqplate It with » goddess.