26 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
steward. The top was ornamented with little silvery beads and 
in pink letters the inscription ‘‘Many happy returns 23-5-22.’’ 
The huge cake would have sufficed for several times the number 
at our table and it was passed around to the ecaptain’s table, and 
pieces reserved for the chief engineer, chief steward and our 
waiters who outdid themselves in entering into the spirit of the 
occasion. It must be confessed that I was touched beyond power 
of expression and I could not fail to recall a similar occasion on 
Petican Island in 1918 which was instigated largely by the same 
dear friends and companions. 
Early in the morning of May 27th we found ourselves approach- 
ing Oahu, one of the most beautiful of the Hawaiian group, and 
in sight of Diamond Head, a landmark well known to all who 
have visited Honolulu. The rugged summits of the high purple 
mountains cut the sky line with jagged serrations and the vividly 
green valleys dappled with shadows of clouds, the breakers dash- 
ing upon the beach with its fringe of palms and low bungalow- 
like houses, the curve of the harbor with its entrance between 
rows of gleaming white rollers were all familiar enough to me. 
Just twenty years ago almost to a day, while serving as a civilian 
naturalist on the U. S. S. ‘‘ Albatross,’’ I had visited the Hawaiian 
Islands. But the city of Honolulu had changed so greatly as 
hardly to be recognizable. Immense steel and cement warehouses 
crowded the water front and stately buildings behind them almost 
hid the Palace and Judicial building which, in 1902, were the 
most conspicuous structures to be seen when approaching from 
the sea. Great hotels and business houses gave a metropolitan air 
entirely lacking at that time. Electric trolley cars had taken the 
place of the mule-drawn trams and hundreds of autos dashed 
through the streets where buggies, carriages and horses had been 
the only modes of transportation. 
After inspection by the health officers and a hurried breakfast, 
we went on the deck where we were received by my friend and 
former pupil, Dr. C. H. Edmondson, who was accompanied by Dr. 
Gregory, director of the Bishop Museum, Dr. Lyon, director of a 
privately endowed experiment station, Dr. J. M. Westgate, direc- 
tor of the United States Experiment Station, Dr. Kunkel, path- 
ologist of the same institution, Dr. Bergman, professor of botany 
in the University of Hawaii, Mr. Judd, chairman of the Board of 
Trustees of the Bishop Museum, Dr. Hall, also of the Museum, 
and several other scientific men with their wives. 
