Excerpt from A Traveler's Mail Bag: Descriptive of the Paradise of the Pacific and California, Letters From Mrs. John E. Baird, February to August, 1914

Early in the morning we were on deck for our first sight of the Islands. We were impressed with the "barren" and "unpopulated" appearance of them, until, after several hours, we sighted Honolulu in the distance. The city proper lies along the shore, with only scattered buildings on the mountain side, so that the perspective does not remind us of the Mediterranean ports, - except the boys swimming and diving for coins! - and when we learn that the ship will dock, it not only delights us, but quite convinces us that no comparison is to be made between this and the ports so much better known to tourists, for of all those we have previously visited, Colon and Constantinople are the only ones that have docked our ship.

The color of the sea is the first thing we notice, for though not so blue as that around the Bahamas, it is a beautiful, clear, vivid blue.

Our ship, the "Matsonia, " being the handsomest Matson S. S. Co. boat ever having entered this port, and not only being on her maiden trip, but also having on board her owner, Captain Matson, there were thousands at the wharf to meet her. All whistles in town shrilled their greeting, and all the boats in the harbor gave salutes of welcome, so that for two hours there was much excitement.

We were met by Bishop Restarick and received a very cordial welcome.

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