182 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



trees that were so much used In- the old-time Hawaiians in their arts, and that 

 Euroiieaiis have found valuable in many was as a substitute for mahogany. 



The Road to the Port of Honuapo. 



Beyond the erater the I'oad passes b\- the point Uwekahuna, which is 117 

 feet higlicr than the A^olcano House and 601 feet above the lava tloor of the 

 crater at the Jowest point. It was from this spot that the volcano was first de- 

 scribed by Ellis. As the traveler proceeds southwestward towards the port of 

 Honuapo he passes close by the series of cracks that opened in the lateral slopes 

 of Kilauca in 1828 and again in 1869 to give forth copious flows of lava. Other 

 flows from JNIauna Loa may be seen. 



Near Punaluu a large underground stream of water runs into the sea. and 

 the coast line is dotted here and there by fresh water springs that in former 

 times were of value to the natives that lived in this district. 



As the road continues from Honuapo into the Kau district it crosses several 

 recent lava flows from ]\Iauna Loa, the eruptions of 1868, 1887 and 1007 having 

 already been mentioned. There the fields of aa, or rough lava, and pahoehoe, 

 or smooth lava, may be studied to advantage, and the wonders of a great lava 

 flow appreciated without leaving the automobile. 



The Kona District. 



The Kona district is made up of decomposed lava flows. Its soil is rich 

 and where well watered is covered with verdure. There are no rivers of conse- 

 quence in the district, the water being absorbed l\v the loose earth before it has 

 time to run far over the surface. 



Along the shore line are numerous stone heiaus that are worthy of notice 

 since they have many interesting traditions connected with them. At Honaunau 

 is a famous ancient city of refuge which occupies six or seven acres of the low 

 rocky point on the south side of the little bay. A portion of the structure was 

 destroyed some years ago l)y tidal waves, though the walls were twelve feet high 

 and eighteen feet in width. 



At Kealakekua Bay may be seen the monument to Captain Cook at Kaawa- 

 loa, on the spot where he was killed.-^ Napoopoo is on the opposite side of the 

 bay, and it was there the chiefs lived and where Cook's vessels were anchored near 

 the shore. Beside a pond, overlooking the bay of Napoopoo, is the ruin of the 

 famous heiau where the great navigator was worshiped by the Hawaiians as the 

 god Lono. At the head of the bay is a vertical clitf eight hundred feet in height 

 on eitlier side of which recent lava streams have descended. The road from the 

 landing winds around the bay and over the cliff and continues northward to 

 Kailua past the great stone toboggan slide above Keauhou. This portion of the 

 island is rich and well watered and is given over to extensive coffee, sugar and 

 sisal plantations, while the mountains on the slopes of Hualalai are thickly 

 clothed with forests of koa and ohia. 



-• February 14th. 1779. 



