HAWAII AND OAHU. ]^oi 



includes Kealakeakua and Kailau. Having already spoken of the 

 former, I shall now refer to the latter ; more especially as from all 

 accounts I heard of it, the natives are more advanced in the useful 

 arts than elsewhere, and are now less dependent on foreigners. 



The town of Kailau is the residence of Kuakini, better known 

 among foreigners by the name of Governor Adams, who is governor 

 of Hawaii. 



This district lies to the north of Kealakeakua, and begins about 

 five miles from Napolo. It is similar to it in character, but the lava 

 IS of more recent formation, the eruptions from Hualalai having flowed 

 down and covered nearly the whole northern portion. This eruption 

 happened about thirty years since, in 1809 and 1810. Hualalai is 

 between seven and eight thousand feet in height, and rises abruptly 

 on its west side. 



Ram seldom falls on the coast, except in showers, and a rainy day 

 once m the year is looked upon as something remarkable. This, 

 together with the absence of all dew, prevents the existence of much 

 cultivation ; it affords, nevertheless, a coarse vegetation, sufficient to 

 pasture a few hundred goats ; but, a mile back from the shore, the 

 surface is covered with herbage, which maintains cattle, &c. ; and 

 two miles in the interior there is sufficient moisture to keep up a con- 

 stant verdure. 



Here, in a belt half a mile wide, the bread-fruit is met with in 

 abundance, and above this the taro is cultivated with success. At an 

 elevation of between two and three thousand feet, and at the dis- 

 tance of five miles, the forest is first met with. The trees of this 

 are suitable for building timber, and boards and shingles are made 

 of them. The products of this portion of Kona are the same as before 

 described. 



The prevailing winds are the land and sea breezes, which are very 

 regular ; there are likewise strong north winds, but the most severe 

 gales are those from the southwest, which the natives term kona; 

 these last from a few hours to two and even three days, and are 

 followed by rain : they are seldom strong enough to injure the houses. 



Here the temperature is very mild and equable. During the 

 winter the thermometer ranges, at sunrise, from 64° to 78° F. ; at 

 midday, 76° to 85° ; at sunset, 70° to 80°. In summer the range is 

 68° to 80° at sunrise ; at midday, 78° to 86° ; and at sunset, 72° to°81°. 

 I have not been able to get any data for the amount of rain that falls. 



The population in 1839 was 5,943, which was only fourteen less 



VOL. IV. 20 



