The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-10
THE Ned Of WESBA REIGN Of @UMND LET AGNEDO RHMNEI AND HSUTH
HAUGHs MAKES A REPORT TO
wRAY TAYLOR.
Observations on a Trip Through the
Forests of Makawao District-Inroads
Of Lantana.


Forester Haughs has made a report
to Commissioner Wray Taylor on the
condition of the forests in the district
Of Makawao. Maui, which he investi-
gated recently The report contains
the following:
ION September along with Mr.. H.
A. Baldwin, Mr.. w. o. Aiken and Mr
James Lindsay, we inspected the forest
along the Haiku ditch, a distance Of
about five miles. On both sides of this
uItch is Government forest lands. The
trees on the mauka side of the citcu,
as far as could be seen, are principally
koa, Ohia and Kukui. With the eX-
ception of a few dead trees here and
there, the forest is in a very good con-
dition and in fact, is typical Hawai-
ian forest. The underbrush and tangle
or vines makes walking, should one
wish to leave the trail, rather hard
proposition; in fact, it is hardly posi-
BILE to get far without hewing your
way. The guardian of the ditch has
strict orders to guard against cattle
getting across the ditch from the lower
lands. and fences have been erected
/ where it might be possible for cattle to
go over With this precaution the
management of the Haiku plantation
has been able to preserve the natural
/ vegetation and has, in great meas
ure protected the water supply.
ION the lower side of the ditch, there
| is strip of forest adjoining the lands
| of the Huelo Sugar Co. This tract of
forest is used by many people for graz
/ ing their cattle, in fact, | may say thar
| 1t is we'll stocked and cattle of many
different brands are to be found there.
! This may be very convenient for people
to Craze their cattle in this way, with
/ hIrf 2
would be more profitable to the COM
munity at large, and also to the gov
ernment if this tract was fenced and
made into forest reserve. There are
| a good many trees on the tract and IL
! fenced off and protected for little
while I have no doubt that a number
of young ones might spring dp. 1 think
we ought to try and protect as much
as possible the remnants left of the ma
tural forests, for the time is surely
coming that, not only fencing but re-
| foresting which is a great deal more
expensive, will have to be done to in
sure our water supply. The amount
of fencing required for this part would
be about six miles, and the same coulo
be erected for about two hundred dol
lars a mile. | would also suggest that
the owners of adjoining lands be re-
uuested to bear one-half of the expense
of fencing and caring for same
"The next part visited was Ku!a.
Starting from Haiku we went along
the lower government road through
pasture lands that seemed to be suffer-
ing for want of rain This was a very
hot and dusty ride and nothing to in
terest anyone who might be interested
in the beauties of nature, but when we
arrived at Ulupalakua, we found that
we were duly rewarded. The beautiful
avenues of eucalyptus and groups of
cypress and urancaria trees was
welcome sight. Through the kindness
of DIR. Raymond, we were allowed the
use of his house. which gave us an OPP
Iportunity of viewing this beautiful and
interesting estate. The many kinds or
trees around the house and the way
the place laid out plainly shows that
the work has been done by master
hand We visited Prospect Hill where
we found some very fine specimens OF
the eucalyptus, a circle of hg trees
some of which were in fruit. An ave-
nue of cypress trees over one hundred
feet high and many small Towering
shrubs, | was told that, at one time,
many very choice roses used TO grow
there in fact, we saw one solitary rose
Ca choice one) fighting hard for exist
ence in a bed of lantana. We also WIS
tied Moslem Hill. On the hlghest part
of this hill the family tomb is situated.
In that tomb rests all that remains of
the gentleman, at one time owner OF
this beautiful estate. and who is re-
Isponsible for the well laid out GROUNDS,
the beautiful avenues and the great
variety of plants that is TO be round
We viewed Mosem Hill with a goou
deal of interest and not little sorrow.
The place is beautifully laid out put
alas, the lantana is gradually taking
possession and it will very soon be I'M
nossible to walk through the grounds
around the tomb. Beautiful cypress
trees are also much in evidence mere
several of them have been uprooted py
the last storm, and are stretched across
the cement walks.
"From Ulupalakua we rode to Poll
poli spring. passing through the higher
lands of this estate. Very few large
trees are to be seen but we passed a
patch of young Ohia trees, not over
a foot high, at an elevation OF about
5000 feet. / would think there Woulu
be several acres of them and If renee
was erected around them, there woulo
be a small forest there, in short time.
From Polipolt spring we pds9eu
through the lands of Kamaole, Keo-
kea. Waiohuli and Waiakoa. Through
this stretch or territory where there
is evidences Of at one time, having
been a dense forest. only few slckly
Mamani trees are left ! did not see a
healthy looking tree on the Whole tract
That a forest Is needed right along
above the corn belt, there is no doubt,
but the trouble is that most of the lana
| is leased, and cannot, ! suppose, De
interfered with until the leases expire
However, | am informed that the leases
of Waiakoa and Naalea will expire
soon and l would strongly recommend
that at least the higher lands over 1000
feet elevation be kept as forest re-
serve"