Ha 'i Volcanoes National Park The Volcano House Register, NVolume onal 3Park Service 1885-1891 The Volcano House passed into the hands of the "Wilder Steamship Company" June 20th, 1885, with J.H. Maby as manager. no signature, 20 June 1885 I arrived here from Honolulu on Thursday July 16th, visited the crater of Halemaumau twice, stayed at Volcano House for five days. Leaving for Hilo on Tuesday July 21st. Can safely recommend Mr. J.H. Maby as the most kind, obliging and attentive host that it has been my good fortune to fall in with; and can safely say that the few days spent at his house have been the most enjoyable of any I have spent during my visit to the Hawaiian Islands. Howard C. Roberts, Walsall, England, 16 July 1885 Our friend Mr. H.C. Roberts has expressed exactly what my wife & I feel in reference to our sojourn at the Volcano House. Mr. Maby is the right man in the right place, & if one thing is needed more than another in an establishment of this kind, it is an obliging, courteousHawai'i & good-hearted Volcanoes man, such as National we have proved Park Mr. Maby to be. I think I may fairly say that the National"Wilder Steamship Park Company" Service may congratulate themselves upon having secured the services of such a thoroughly practical & good all round man. Their guide (Pea) too is an extremely pleasant nice fellow--very obliging & most careful guide. In crossing the lava of Kilauea to Halemaumau, I'd strongly advise both Ladies & Gentlelmen to wear leggings & strong thick soled boots, & each person to carry a lantern if they cross after dark. I would strongly advise Ladies not to cross after dark--but rather arrange, if possible, to remain at Halemaumau all night, which can easily be accomplished, providing they take blankets with them. Our two visits to the two lakes have been very gratifying--the most sublime and awfully grand sight in the world. The wonderful "safety valve" Nature has provided between the two lakes is to my mind a most awe inspiring phenomenon. Some call it the "Little Beggar"--this is a misnomer--it should be called "Pele's Throat." I would advise everyone to visit Kilauea-iki--1 1/2 miles distant. Merton and Annie Cotes, 21 July 1885 Arrived here with Mrs. 0. on the 18th inst. We have much enjoyed our stay at this place. Have been to the lakes twice. The first time (the 19th) the new lake was not as active as it often is but Halemaumau was very demonstrative. The second time (the 22nd) we greatly enjoyed our visit, as the new lake shortly after we arrived broke out Hawai'iinto aVolcanoes great sea of fire. That National evening Halemaumau Park also displayed much activity. The "LittleNational Beggar" or "Pele's Park Throat" Service was exceedingly lively. Yesterday afternoon we saw Kilauea-iki. We leave today via Keauhou and Hilo to Honolulu, carrying with us pleasant remembrances of our stay here. We would especially record our appreciation of the many tokens of kindness received from Mr. J.H. Maby, the obliging and courteous host of the Volcano House. E.C. Oggel, 29 July 1885 After having visited the volcano with a party of 29 in all, guides included, we are able to say it was a grand success in nearly every particular and a scene presented itself which can never be effaced from memory. Unfortunately the wind was so strong on our return trip that it was impossible to keep our lanterns burning as we crossed the ati wai Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park burning lava which caused considerable trepidationNational on the part of Park some of Servicethe party and we presented a motley crew groping in the darkness with only three and sometimes two lanterns, while others were jolly and singing thus keeping up the spirits in this dilemma. Thanks to our kind host, Mr. J.H. Maby, who has shown every civility and kindness possible. Frank and Lillie Atwater, 4 Aug 1885 I have just returned from the Place that I have read so much about in the Bible, and shall hereafter keep on the right road to Heaven. Plummette M. Byng, Charleston, S.C., 4 Aug 1885 The following entry has been translated from Hawaiian by Dorothy Barrere . ... nui ka pii ana i ka lua pele, nui ko makou lealea i ka iho ana ilalo o ka lua, nui ka a o ka pele, nui na Huapala iii keokeo omele ka apu ka pele liilii keia ma ka huakai nui i hiki ma ka lua pele mai Kiauhou mai. ... great is the climb up to the Crater-great our pleasure in going down to the pit, great the blazing of the lava-there are many orange-petaled huapala [sweetheart vine flowers] along the way to reach the crater from Keauhou. Kaululuimalama, Kula Lahua, Honolulu, 4 Aug 1885 Our party Hawai'i[lists party] reached Volcanoes this place on National the evening of Park Friday XIV day of August, and though one of the Nationalparty has resided Park for many Service years on the Hawaiian Islands, still any preconceived ideas which he had formed relative to the sights to be seen at the celebrated volcano of Kilauea, fell far shourt of what we witnessed and felt at the New Lake, Hale Maumau, and while going to and returning hence; in company with Mrs. Brown who is an eminent artist and lecturer and Mr. F.M. Hatch, a leading member of the Honolulu Bar on the evening of the 15th, instant. Geo. Glendon, Pahala, 15 Aug 1885 Having visited the Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, U.S.A. in 1881 which is considered to be the most wonderful phenomenal regions in the known world, I have now been permitted to see another wondrous work of creation, viz. the Volcano of Kilauea. I was prepared to see some revelations of a startling character but must confess that although I gave my imagination its widest scope it fell very short of its grand reality. It defies description to feel the intensity and the immensity of this wondrous work of God's creation. Go and see this mighty manifestation of His power and you will exclaim "Benedicite omnia opera." Mr. Maby our host of the Volcano Hotel devotes his time to the comfort of his guests. Having been a great traveler himself he is cosmopolitan and catholic in his ideas and the guide J.U. Pea is a fine specimen of native intelligence and native nobility. Arthur Brown, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, 15 Aug 1885 Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park NationalArrived here ParkFriday noon Service via Puna. Found the late storm had done great damage along the coast, uprooting cocoanut trees and other large trees and in many places washing away all traces of the road, in others filling it so full of huge boulders that it was impossible to follow it and a long circuit around would have to be made. Rocks weighing from 100 to 5000 pounds were bodily lifted from the bottom of the bluff and deposited inland. In many places the bluff was torn up as if by an earthquake. The storm must have been something terrible. For the benefit of travellers going to Hilo via Puna, I'd make your first nights stop at Kahoomana's house at Kahaualea, where you will find many of the comforts of civilized life. Since I was here April 1883, I do not find many changes. Halemaumau now overtops the west bank and lava is continually running there from all over the lake. The Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park crater is gradually filling up and now bids fair to becomeNational a huge conePark instead Service of a vast pit. The new lake on the east bank of Halemaumau is quite active and the source from whence the lava flowing over the crater bed, comes. Mr. Maby, Marcus Blackman, and self descended the bluff near Kilauea iki and crossing the flat went over to Poli a Keawe, a small crater, not far from the S.E. bank of Kilauea. We found it about 300 feet deep with two rifts running down into the bottom from the eastern side. A recent flow of lava has covered the whole floor with a rock bed so smooth that it would almost do for a skating rink. Other deep and large craters are to be found scattered all over the plain to the southeast of Kilauea which time failed us to go and see. Now as to the "new departure" in the Volcano House, by Wilder Steamship Co. The whole premises need repairs badly. A little whitewash and paint would vastly add to its appearance. Better accommodations for horses and animals need to be made. Oats do not want to be fed out in bottomless boxes, but good stable room is wanted. Good covered iron tanks are needed instead of the large open tank now half filled. The roof of the building ought to be of corrugated iron, so that the water can be clear and clean instead of running off the mossy roof, carrying with it dirt and moss into the tank, And generally the whole place ought to be kept scrupulously clean and neat. Mr. Maby is trying to remedy some of these things, but a great deal remains to be done, to make this a popular resort. There is no reason why the table should not be better supplied. Fresh milk, and butter made on the place ought toHawai'i be supplied inVolcanoes abundance.