GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF HAWAII. \M 



only ten miles in widtli at its widest part. It is roughly rectangular in form 

 and has au area of twn hundred and sixty-one square miles. 



Like Oahu, it bears unmistakable evidence of being the result of several 

 l)eriods of volcanic activity, and it, too, is formed by the junction of two vol- 

 canic mountains of which the western crater Mauna Loa,* an eminence little 

 more than a hill, is far the older. The eastern end of the island is much higher, 

 attaining at Kamakua peak an altitude of 4,958 feet. The highland between 

 the two points mentioned, while less extensive, has been built up in much the 

 same manner as the region between the two groups of mountains on Oahu. 



The island from the north presents a more or less vertical face of vary- 

 ing height which rises, as a. line of clitt's, usually from a very narrow level 

 plain. From the high backbone of the island in the eastern end, several deep, 

 beautiful valleys, with gaunt finger-like lateral ridges, run down to the sea. 

 The most prominent point along the northern coast is formed by the wedge- 

 sliaped peak of Olokui,- which has its sea end formed by a w-all rising all but 

 ]ierpendu'ularly from the sea to almost the extreme height of the mountain. 

 The deep balloon-shaped valleys of Wailau and Peli-l<nnn iilmost surround this 

 point and form its almost inaccessible walls inland. The whole section has been 

 deeply eroded and is one of the most remarkable and pictures(jue districts of 

 the entire group. The vertical sea cliffs and the great amphitheater-shaped val- 

 leys, set, as they are, directly across the path of-the northeast trade winds, are 

 almost constantly drenched with heavy tropical rains. Unfortunately this 

 abundant su])ply of water is still allowed to How to the sea uncontrolled, while the 

 opposite end of the island, with its thousands of acres of rich, deep-red tillable 

 soil lies i)arched and l)arr('n. 



Hal.wv.v Valley. 



The eastern, and consequently the most remote end of the island, is oecu- 

 l)ird l)y smooth, hii^li lihifts topped with a table-land that is cut through by 

 the valle\- of llalawa. This valley is one of great isolation and primitive 

 b(>auty. Its puri)le clift'-like walls tei'niinate abruptly at the head of the gorge 

 in a vertical precipice, over which pour two .streams drawn from the rain-soaked 

 uplands. The Halawa waters reach the floor of the valleys by monster leaps, 

 forming Jloaula Falls; the othei', the Hipuapua stream, forms a single silvery 

 thread from top to liottoni of the clitf. The ceaseless tumble and roar of these 

 falls, the delicious freshness of the breeze, the song of the fearless native birds, 

 the abundant vine-swung tropical verdure, the simple friendly hospitality of the 

 natives, the morning and evening rainbows that span the falls, the sweep of the 

 sand-rimmed bay, the tranquil scene of life along the river, the peace, the plenty, 

 the contentment of it all, blends again in memory as I write, as not many years 

 ago it did in reality to form a picture, — a picture of bliss, such as I would paint 

 were I gifted, and call the "Island Vale Avalon"" — an earthly paradise within 

 the western sea. 



