sG 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



Between the 1st and the 15th of November, 1841. 



This passage was made in 15 days. On leaving the coast, we were 

 favored with a fresh wind from the northward and westward, ac- 

 companied by a dense fog for 150 miles from the coast. We steered 

 a southwest course, to enter the trade winds as soon as possible. 

 As we made southing, the wind veered to the northward, and 

 when in latitude 26° north, and longitude 132° west, to the northward 

 and eastward ; with the usual appearances of the trade winds. In 

 latitude 20° north, it veered more to the eastward, and we kept off 

 on a west-by-south course. The weather was delightful, with a long 

 and regular sea from the eastward. We passed to the west nearly on 

 that parallel until up with the Hawaiian Islands, when we stood to 

 the south, and entered the Pailolo Passage, between Maui and Molokai. 

 This passage is safe, and affords, I think, the best route to the 

 Island of Oahu; if belated, a vessel may lie on and off the west end 

 of Molokai at night, and reach Oahu in time to enter the harbor 

 by early dawn, when a pilot can be obtained. If a vessel is of 

 small burthen, or light draft of water, there is no difficulty in run- 

 ning into the harbor without one, sufficient way being preserved 

 on the vessel to pass within the buoy. The directions for entering 

 this harbor or leaving it, will be found in the part of this work 

 which treats of the harbors of the Hawaiian Islands. The amount 

 of current experienced during this passage was 56 miles, south 71° 

 west. 



Some would probably prefer the direct course from the coast to the 

 Hawaiian Islands. I am satisfied there is little to be gained by it ; 

 and I should prefer taking the route which we passed over, getting 

 into the trades as soon as possible, and after entering them, steering 

 a direct course to the west, for the windward islands, taking care, 

 however, to pass to windward or the northward of those lying east, 

 and thus avoid being becalmed under them. I do not think it neces- 

 sary to point out any particular directions for making this passage at 

 other seasons, as they vary but little ; the prevailing winds being 

 those we experienced, when an offing from the coast is obtained. 



