The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-07-11
SUGGESTIONS Submitted BY Mr.
iFarsdeu
HdMAKUA FOREST.
ifarsden

bis EAC6llBEcg . a. AAA-NSs II
of the bureau Of agriculture and
forestry.
Sir: Since the formation of the
bureau OF agriculture and forestry
the attention OF your commissioner
las stated in former report has been
drawn by the planting community of
the district OF Hamakua, on the ISL
and of Hawaii, TO the greatly les
seped rainfall. attributed by them
land. in the opinion of the writer,
rightly sol to the rapid denudatlon
of the forests that has taken place IN
that district. Immediate action being
urged upon the bureau, your com
missioner concluded TO visit Hama
kua aud confer with the planters
there upon the important question Of
arresting the destruction OF the for
ests and devising means of restoring,
as far as possible, portion OF the
area already destroyed.
In pursuance of this course the
writer has visited Hamakua, and
while there called a meeting OF the
representatives OF the plantations In
the district. 4 meeting was beld on
Nav 26th at the Honokaa lyceum, at
which the following plantations We're
represented: The Pacific Sugar Mill
Co . Honokaa Plantation Co, Pau
han pIaptstion and the Kukaiae
plantation.
The meeting discussed at length
the question of preventing the fur.
Their destruction of the forest and
restoring the portion already destroy
ed. and il was agreed that no better
mean. could be devised than to in
close with a substantial fence the
remaining forest, together with a
considerable area of land upon
which there is every reason to be
lieye the forest may be restored, il
cattle and stock Of all kinds are
rigidly excluded from trespassing
and destroying the young trees.
The meeting finally appointed a
committee, composed Of the follow
ing gentlemen: Mr.. a Moore, MIR.
c. Won Mengersen and Mr. j. M.
Homer, and instructed them TO pre-
pare g letter, to be addressed to your
commissioner, expressing the views
of the meeting and stating to what
extent the plantations were prepared
to cooperate with the government in
the work of preserving the forests,
and the following letter, received on
the 7th of June, clearly and forcibly
sets forth the need of immediate &C
ten on the part of both the govern
ment and the planters themselves:
Letter From Planters.
HANAKUA DIsrmcT, Hawaii,
May % h, SO.
JosEPH MARsDEN, Esq, COMMISSIONER
OF FORESTRY, Honolulu.
DEAR SIR: Alta meeting Of representa-
tives of the plantation interests CT Hama
kua district, held at Honokaa on May %,
1893. TO consider the change in the climate
of late years and the causes thereof;
namely, the denudation OF the forest
lands above the cane belt, it was
agreed that your attention be called to
the above, and that you be requested to
present the following statement of the
condition OF the district TO the minister
OF the interior and urge upon him the
necessity OF assisting the people OF the
district, in the manner to be proposed.
Within the past twenty years the lands
OF the Hamakua district, extending from
Ookala to Waipio gulch along the sea
coast and inland as far back as Waimea,
were covered with dense forest impas a
BILE except by trails cut through the
brush and underground. While in this
condition the district mad an abundant
rainfall. Some of the roads being known
for their perpetual muddy condition
Within the same period OF twenty |
wears, the lands adjoining the sea coast |
have been gradually cleared for cane and |
agricultural purposes without seriously |
affecting the rainfall; also, during this |
same period of time, the ranching indus |
try in the neighborhood OF Waimea has |
been largely increased. The cattle in |
grazing around Waimea and on the adj |
Joining mountains have gradually caused |
the obstruction of the underbrush, and |
finally the large trees throughout that |
section Of the district. The area of land |
affected was at first small, but year by /
year it has steadily increased until now
there are probably 100000 acres entirely
cleared, except for an occasional dead
stump still standing AS the above area /
has increased, so the rainfall has dimin-
ished so that now there are two causes,
lack of moisture. and the damaging |
effects Of the cattle, for the very rapid
denudation OF all the forest land in this
district. AS result OF this the rainfall
has become so small and irregular that
the lands are almost worthless for either
agricultural or grazing purposes. Both
industries were carried on at a loss last
year; the prospects are as bad for this,
and under present conditions it is a mat
ter Of but few years when all agricul-
tural pursuits will have TO De entirely,
abandoned in that section OF the district
most affected.
The ranching industry extensively
carried on between the Hamakna and
Kohala districts is also seriously threat
ened from the reduced feed and water
The present serious condition Of the
district with the still more gloomy pros