CORAL BLOWN UP AT A SWIMMING SPOT IN WAIKIKI.
Because of a great desire to make the swimming area in Waikiki outside of the Moana Hotel great in the future, they have begun to clear coral from the ocean by blowing it up using giant powder [kiana pauda] under the direction of the general manager of the hotel, on Thursday of last week.
The blasting has begun on the Ewa side of the wharf, by some Japanese and Hawaiians, near the head of that wharf. In the first blasting, holes were dug into the coral, and after, cracks were seen in the coral bed. It was quick work putting in some explosives in the cracks while lighting it using a long fuse held on shore and then it exploded.
There were many small fishes killed because of the blast. There was a big scow taken there and the coral that was blown off was carried away upon it. It is imagined that it will be several months before the work there will be done and the area will then be a fine bathing spot.
(Kuokoa, 7/26/1912, p. 4)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLVIII, Helu 30, Aoao 4. Iulai 26, 1912.
Well, I’m certainly glad that offensive coral was exploded and taken away. Of course, many small fishes were killed, but we can’t let that stand in the way of progress…
Although in truth, probably millions of people have walked into the ocean in this spot since 1912, and have swum, so the destruction of the reef did fulfill the purpose as intended.