THE FIRST TIME LAKE WAIAU IS SKATED UPON.

When Mr. Eben Low of Waimea, Hawaii, arrived in town, some news about Mauna Kea was heard. According to him, because the ice on the top of Lake Waiau [ka moanawai o Waiau] is frozen solid, it can be walked upon.

The freshwater lake Waiau is a lake atop Mauna Kea, about 15,000 feet above sea level, which is covered with ice, which visitors walked upon. The thickness of the ice was tested by digging, but after digging for two feet, the travellers gave up continuing to dig.

Mr. Low said he and his travelling companions who accompanied him were the very first to walk upon the lake that was frozen over. When looking at it, the ice was sleek [laumania], perfect for having fun ice skating. As what was known by Hawaii’s people from the beginning, there were no fish seen there, and it is believed that fish do not live in this frigid lake.

This is a wondrous lake that is about two and a half miles in diameter and is located in a very desolate [? kalaneo] area of the mountain. There are no plants there, trees, weeds, and other things, there is nothing at all. This is one of the lakes of which its depth has not been measured to this day, and it is not known how deep it is.

(Kuokoa, 2/9/1906, p. 1)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 6, Aoao 1. Feberuari 9, 1906.