“In reporting to the Society on the subject of the grape-vine, it is gratifying to feel, that in this body, at least, its value, as well as its suitableness, to the soil and climate of these islands, is conceded … “

“… and that we have no longer to combat the hostility of some, who on former occasions, sought to discourage its culture, on the ground that we are ‘too far South,’ and that ‘grapes cannot be profitably grown in the tropics’ and so forth.”

“The cumulative experience of each succeeding season, goes incontrovertibly and conclusively to negative such obsolete theories, which cannot hold their ground against the every day evidence of our senses.” (John Montgomery, Report to Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society, June 1, 1854)

Don Francisco de Paula Marin (known to the Hawaiian as ‘Manini’), a Spaniard who arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in the 1790s (at about the age of 20), is credited with introducing and/or cultivating in Hawai‘i: pineapple, coffee, avocado, mango and grapes.

He fermented the first wine in Hawai‘i and distilled brandy. He also made rum from sugarcane and brewed beer, all of which he sold at his boarding house-saloon near the waterfront.

His ‘New Vineyard’ grapevines were located Waikiki side of Nu‘uanu Stream and makai of Vineyard Street; when a road was cut through its mauka boundary, it became known as Vineyard Street.

“‘The Doubter’ … asserted that the grape could not be profitably grown in the tropics, and which I rebutted by an array of facts, proving that grapes are grown and good wine made in large quantities, in much lower latitudes than ours.”

“The suitableness of our climate for vine-culture, being conceded, the next most important consideration in connection with the subject, is the selection of the best soil and situation for the full development of the fruit.”

“It is generally known that volcanic countries are those in which the vine flourishes most and produces the best and most abundant crops. The best wines of Italy are yielded by grapes grown in the vicinity of Vesuvius, and large quantities are grown in the neighborhood of Aetna; both Tokay and Hermitage, are the produce of volcanic regions.”

“I entirely concur in the remark of Dr. Baldwin in his report on this subject, last year, that so far as our observation goes, we should expect that the grape would flourish in every part of the islands where there is sufficient depth of soil, not too dry, well exposed to the sun, and where they are protected from the trade-winds.”

“That the alluvial soil of the valleys, formed by deposits of the disintegrated and decomposed volcanic rocks which form the basis of our mountains, combined with decomposed vegetable matter, is admirably adapted for vine-culture, no one who has visited Lahaina, on Maui, or Waimea valley, on Kauai, can doubt …”

“… and I presume many others of our sheltered valleys would be equally productive. But our valleys form only a small fraction of the entire surface, and besides are so very valuable for the raising of other important crops, which cannot be well grown elsewhere …”

“… that it becomes the more important to investigate with care, the other portions of the surface, with a view to finding localities, less valuable for other purposes, where the grape can be profitably grown, and whether the rocky hill-sides which in other volcanic countries produce grapes in abundance, cannot here also be made available for the purpose.”

“A soil abounding in rocks and stones, is that in which the vine flourishes most, in the majority of wine-making regions ; and the rocky and precipitous hill-sides of Madeira, Teneriffe, the Azores and other similar countries where wine of high character is largely made for export, closely resemble our own barren mountain slopes.”

“In these countries, the earth found in the interstices of the rocks, is stirred up to a sufficient depth to receive the young plant, which finds usually sufficient moisture and shelter, to induce its rapid vegetation …”

“… and in the course of time its erratic shoots deposit and dispere themselves over the intervening rocks, where they find abundant heat and light to encourage the growth and the full development of their fruit, which in such a position matures with much rapidity, to great perfection.”

“That the same result will follow in similar localities on these islands has been already proved by several parties, one of whom, Mr. Cummins, of Kealakeakua, has at present a flourishing and highly promising little vine-yard on the stony surface of Kona, on Hawaii, a district which I apprehend, offers unmistakable evidence of its entire adaptation to vine-culture on a vastly extensive scale.”

“The elevation at which the vine will flourish and produce large and remunerative crops of fine fruit, is much higher than many imagine, and it is a great error to suppose, that it requires the high temperature of Lahaina to bring it to perfection.”

“Dr. Baldwin states in his report of last year, that he has seen ‘the finest grapes, produced too, in great abundance, in Kuapehu, on Hawaii, at an elevation of 1,500 feet,’ and adds that his impression is that the vine-growing regions are of great elevation, in which opinion he is fully sustained by facts.”

“On the same island, in Hāmākua, and at about the same elevation, another of our enterprising settlers, Robert Robinson, has produced enormous crops of excellent grapes this season; but it is unnecessary to multiply evidence on the subject.”

“Next in importance, after the selection of suitable soil, for a vineyard, is to secure a situation, either naturally sheltered from the trade-winds, or on which artificial shelter can be cheaply and easily made. “

“The mode of training the vine is also an important consideration. The object sought to be obtained by training, is to secure the largest crop of grapes of the best quality, and for the latter, an abundant exposure to the direct rays of the sun, both for heat and light, seems to be indispensable.”

“In extensive vine-yards, the more usual plan is, to train each plant to a single pole, the plants being set in rows 3 or 3 ½ feet apart, each way, and this method seems to answer the purpose admirably, and at a small cost.”

“Another method, perhaps best adapted for gardens, is to train the shoots on lateral trellices, about 6 feet high, but avoiding all top shade, which is always injurious to the quality and flavor of the fruit.”

“Humidity of climate, so far from being beneficial, is decidedly injurious to it, and in damp countries, grapes seldom come to perfection …”

“… whereas, in some countries, where it never rains, as in Guayaquil, in Bolivia, and other parts of the South American continent, excellent grapes and good wines are produced in abundance, a sample of which wine I have had the pleasure to taste at the hospitable board of HBM’s Consul-General in this city.”

“In discussing the important subject of vine-culture, I have hitherto gone on the assumption that it is desirable to be carried on, on an extensive scale …”

“… but if our present system is to be perpetuated, and that we are to be prohibited from using the fruit for any other purposes than eating only, it is idle to think of converting our now barren wastes into vine-yards, which could serve no useful purpose, or compensate for the cost of their formation.”

“The application of a crop, for the encouragement of the culture of which, this Society awards annual premiums, I take to be within the scope of a report, and as such I would take leave to say that I trust and hope the time has gone by when the manufacture of wine for export will be opposed by any important sections of this intelligent community.” (John Montgomery, Report to Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society, June 1, 1854)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2018 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Maui-Lahaina-Baldwin_House-Grapes

Grapes in Honolulu