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quiet. The coral reef protecting it from the sea surf leaves
such a narrow opening that the surf cannot penetrate inside,
especially as the passage is located on the west side of the
island, and in the tropics where the trade winds prevail,
the surf generally advances from the east. This naturally-
formed harbor is unique in the whole group of Hawaiin Islands,
and since it was formed from a coral reef, which usually ex-
pands gradually, the opening must close in time, and then
navigators will lose a quiet beautiful spot for rest and for
provisioning with fresh food and water. Some native elders
remembered when the passage was three times as large as then.
The shores, up to the mountains, which constitute the interior
of the island, are in the shapre of a sloping plane covered
with perpetual greenery, bordered right near the water by a
narrow sandy strip beyond which is located in a semicircle
the settlement of Hanaruro, consisting of native huts and two
houses built in the European style. One of these houses,
situated directly opposite the harbor, was built in two stories
from boards by American traders and sold to the king. But
the king domself does not live in it, and gave it to his
stepmother, Kahumanna. On the top story are her private rooms
and below are quartered her court retinue.

The other house, situated on the northeastern end of the
settlements, is a stone one, surrounded by the same kind of
wal, six feet high, belonged to a Spaniard who settled there
by the name of Marhini [Francisco de Paula Marin] . The houses,