HAWAIIAN OR SANDWICH ISLANDS. 



29 7 



It is entirely free from rocks or shoals. Kalaua Point, the western 

 point of Molokai, lies in longitude 157° 18' west, and latitude 21° 06 ; 

 north. Its western coast trends north-by-east, and is but 5i miles in 

 length. 



OAHU. 



Oahu Island lies to the west-northwest of Molokai, distant 27 miles. 

 Its form is an irregular four-sided figure, the northeastern side being 

 80 miles in length, while the remaining three sides are not over 20 

 each. Its surface is much diversified by two ranges of mountains, 

 which run parallel to its longest side. They rise to the height of from 

 2500 to 4200 feet, having a valley between them, contracted on the 

 north, but which gradually widens and opens into an extensive plain : 

 this occupies the whole of the south side, bounded by coral reefs, to 

 some distance from the shore-line, and watered by many streams, 

 forming the safest and best harbors in the group; to these Oahu is 

 indebted for its advantages over the neighboring islands. 



The streams descend from both the mountain ridges, and joining 

 in the centre of the valley, pursue an eastern course, and empty into 

 the harbor of Ewa, which is capacious, when all its many branching- 

 arms are taken into consideration, and affords a depth of water suffi- 

 cient for the largest vessels. Unfortunately, there is a bar across the 

 mouth, which does not admit of vessels drawing more than 12 feet 

 water. This could be removed, when Ewa would be superior to 

 Honolulu as a port. Vessels would find no difficuty in entering and 

 departing from it at all times of the day. This is not the case with 

 the port of Honolulu, the entrance into which is only to be effected 

 early in the morning, as the prevailing wind hauls a few points at 

 that time. The eastern end of Oahu is readily known by the pecu- 

 liarity of its* headland, which is high and broken into numerous 

 conical peaks, rising to a considerable elevation. Its easternmost 

 point, Makapua, lies in 157° 40' west longitude, and 21° 19' north 

 latitude. The coast from this point trends northwest 30 miles, and 

 southwest 8 miles, to Kawaikua Point ; from the latter, Leehi or 

 Diamond Hill is distant 6 miles. Between these two, there is a con- 

 siderable bay, but it offers no anchorage for vessels. In approaching 

 Oahu from the eastward, Leehi or Diamond Hill may be distinguished 



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