Page:Diary of One Month in Honolulu.pdf/13



We went down to the wharf this morning to see a ship sail for the Coast. It surely was a great sight to see the many nationalities in their Many costumes, and the departing passengers, both men and women, loaded down with dozens of garlands of fresh flowers. They call the garlands "leis," and when the boat pulls out, the passengers toss them back to their friends on the wharf, until the air is full of gay blossoms and the native diving boys catch those that fall in the water, and wrap them about themselves. Those boys dive from the prow of the vessel. It made me gasp. Jack didn't even suggest trying to do that. The Royal Hawaiian Band played as the boat pulled out.

This afternoon we went through the Diamond Head fortifications, Jack having gotten a permit. I'm glad I'm an American, or I couldn't have gone. The work that has been done is splendid. Jack asked more questions than a seven-year-old youngster, but what he doesn't know now about range-finders and mortars and searchlights, and things like that, isn't worth knowing.