The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-08-22
THE 0LAA GROWN LANDS
AND WHAT is BEING DONE
WITH THEM.
Interesting Reports of E. D. Baldwin to
the Crown Lands Commission
Other Items.

tlon-that of hunting up matters OF
interest for the numerous readers of
the STAR-a reporter dropped into the
office of the Commissioners of Crown
Lands and was fortunate enough to
meet Philip Peck, of Hawaii who was
making arrangements with Col. c. p.
laukea for leasing a quantity of the
Olaa Crown Lands. In response to
request of the reporter for information
in relation to the Olaa Crown Lands
and coffee planting in Puma district,
Mr. Peck said:
"The Olaa Crown Lands are situated
in the Puma district, Hawaii, and lie on
both sides of the new Volcano road
commencing at point about eleven
miles from Hilo and extending to the
thirty-mile point or within mile and a
half of the Volcano house. On the
south side of the road the lands ex-
tend to the old Volcano road, and on
the north for a distance of three miles
from the road at the Hilo end and
gradually widening out TO about ten
miles at the upper or Volcano end,
the corner being at Kulani. AT
the Hilo end the altitude is 100 feet,
and from thence gradually in
creases until the Volcano is reached.
Only portion of these lands have been
surveyed at the present time, and this
portion comprises all the land lying
between the eleven and twenty four
mile stations on the new Volcano road,
extending south to the old road and
north about three or three and hall
miles into the jungle. All of the land
within these boundaries has been sur
veyed and subdivided into fifty.acre
lots by Surveyor E. d. Baldwin. Con
sderably over one-half of these lots
have been leased, in fact, all of those
fronting on the road for distance Of
twelve miles, while many of the back
lots are being applied for. Although
most Of the lessees of these lots have
been on the land but few months
they have not been idle, and what wa:
nothing but dense forest and jungle {
little while since is fast being trans
ferred into neat clearings and cultivated
fields. Very little Of the work actually
done can be seen from the Volcano
road, as the conditions of the leases
require that the forest should be lief
standing for distance OF $50 feet bacl
from the road, except in front of an,
dwelling houses that may be erected
facing the road. For distance o
about five miles from the Hilo end o
the survey every ffty-acre lot is lease
by natives, who are now living ant
working on the land Any one of thes
lots is capable of supporting larg
family and yielding good income t.
its owner OF course one must have
little money to live on while the LAM
is being cleared off and planted, sa,
for the first two years, but after that
should begin to pay"
At this point Colonel c. P Iauke
kindly furnished the reporter with
handsome map of the district, showing
the surveys made and the old anC
new roads to the Volcano. The ma
also shows another projected road t
Madame Pele's habitation, which wi
save seven miles over the present on
and will be the one utilized for an eleC
trio road some of these days in the nc
far distant future, when American car
ital and industry shall have trans
formed Hllo into a fine harbor an
CITY, With the map the COMMISSIONS
also handed the STAR Representative
two reports from E. ID. Baldwin, tn
surveyor under whose direction tn
work spoken of above has been don,
The first of these reports shows tn
Improvements made up to June got
last on lands leased to natives only
that portion TO the tract spoken {
above. In this connection it should /
remembered that the survey of the Ola
tract was only authorized in March {
last year, and that leases to the Ian
comprised in the following report wei
only made out from January Ist of tn
year, although manyof the homesteade
had commenced to work on the lands f,
some months previously. The follow
ing report speaks for itself:
Approximate value of the improvement
nude up to June goth, 1893, on til. OF
homesteads, including number of coffee tire
planted:
Houses ..........''.'.....' S2,3
Fencing about. .................. 8
Value Of coffee trees at $40 per thou
sand ...................
Approximate value of kalo planted. -. 20
$4,7
Coffee trees set out, about $500 trees
About twenty of the homesteaders ha
built houses upon their lots some having me
than one house, so there have been bu
twenty-five houses. E. d. BALDWIN.
Continuing, Mr.. Peck said: "Mal
of the other lots have been lease
some to private individuals who ha
taken from one to three, five and t
lots, and others to corporations vi
have taken more. The Kona Cofi
and Commercial Company of Denv'
Colorado, which | was instrumental
organizing and of which | am secreta
and treasurer, has twenty-four l.
leased, or about 1900 acres-the leas
are for thirty years which we ha
about 200 acres cleared off, ready
cultivation. The resident manager