MOLOKAI.
Molokai is a long narrow island running east and west, thirty five miles in length, seven in average width and with an area of two hundred and sixty-one square miles. The eastern end is the highest, Kamakou Peak attaining the altitude of 4,958 feet. Nearly half of the eastern portion presents precipitous walls toward the sea, seemingly inaccessible as seen from a steamer. From the middle portion a low peninsula, Kalaupapa, extends to the north about three miles, upon which is situated the famous Leper Sanitarium at Kalawao. As this peninsula can be reached only by vessels the situation is an admirable one for the segrega tion of these unfortunates. Canyons have been worn back into the cliffs from one to six miles in length. The second highest peak, Olokui, 4,600 feet, is situated upon a small table, connected with Kamakou by a crooked knife-edge ridge, almost separated from it, but channeled on all sides in the amphitheater style of erosion. The land slopes on the west side to some two or three hundred feet of elevation, and then rises to Mauna Loa, at a dome 1,382 feet. Thus the island is a doublet, like Oahu. On the south side the slope is gradual, and the surface has been cut into numerous gorges, more than fifty in number upon the eastern section and nearly forty upon the southern and western slopes of the western section.
The plain of Kalaupapa has been traversed by lava streams of a recent date, issuing from small craters. Among them is a fam ous opening or well called Kauhaku. It is simply a hole in the ground with no exterior crater. Its depth is not known, but it
cannot be a great distance to the sea level. Currents of air com monly circulate through similar holes elsewhere, at all altitudes.
Molokai does not furnish a stable supply of water adequate to the support of extensive sugar plantations. It is because the pumps exhaust the fresh water and then the brine of the ocean takes its place.
Lanai is situated south of Molokai and west of Maui, so that it must be protected from the winds. It is twenty miles long, eight wide. The southeastern end is the highest, the most elevated point being 3,400 feet above the sea, and it slopes gradually to the northwest. Craters can be made out, and there are many valleys radiating from the highest point, but streams of water are wanting. The soil is red, and the vegetation appears stunted.
Kahoolawe is not unlike Lanai, but of smaller dimensions, hav ing an area of sixty-nine square miles, with its longest axis N.E. S.W. It is on the lee side of East Maui, separated by a channel about a mile in width. The apex of the island rises to 1,472 feet. The surface is comparatively smooth, not broken by ravines. There are no streams but small pools of fresh water. There may be a crater at the highest point, and the layers seem to dip outwardly from the center. Both Lanai and Kahoolawe have high cliffs on the lee shore and gentle slopes to the windward. The ancient volcanoes of both these islands must have been entirely discon nected with each other or with Maui.