The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-12-15
THE VOLCANO KoA.

/ Superintendent of Forestry Hosmer
/ also presented the following report of
| his visit to the koa forest back of the
Volcano House, Hawaii, near the era
ter of Kilauaa:
1 beg to submit herewith report
upon my recent trip Of inspection to
! the land of Keauhou, Kau, Hawaii,
made in company with Mr.. F. S. Dodge
| at the request of the Bishop estate.
| The tract visited was the lower half
| of that part of Keauhou lying on the
southeastern slope of Mauna Loa, ma
uka of the Government road and be-
tween the lands of Olaa and Kapapala.
A strip of about a mile in width on the
IJOlaa side of this tract has been set
fapart by the Bishop estate as a private
forest reserve. This area, $500 acres, is
fenced in and cattle are excluded from
it. The remainder of the tract is leased
to Mr. o. T. Shipman as a cattle ranch
The portion of the tract containing
the koa forest about which the Bishop
estate desires advice is a strip just west
of the above described reserve. It ex-
tends from the Government road near
Mr.. Shipman's house tc paddock fence
across the tract at an elevation of
about 5000 feet, soma five miles in
length by a mile or more in breadth;
an area of between 1000 and 5000 acres.
On this section, particularly on its
upper half, is a fairly heavy stand of
large koa (acacia koa) trees. The for
est is practically pure koa, there be-
ing few other trees in mixtures. Be
meath the koa is g dense jungle of tree
ferns (cibotium menziesiD.
3 The koa trees are of good size and
quality many of the larger ones being
from 80 to 100 feet in height and from
two to s..l feet in diameter, breast high.
These trees are mature and in my
judgment ought soon to be cut and
utilized.
The local conditions are such that
with proper facilities for handling the
logs the large trees could be felled and .
got out of the forest at reasonable cost.
The demand for koa is believed to be
great enough to insure a market for the
product, and fair profit, if the work is
handled in a business like way by ths
right people The proposition therefore
may be regarded as a feasible one from
a business standpoint.
Considered from the point of view of
the forester the removal of valuable
trees, when mature, is distinctly good
policy, provided always that the work
is done in such way that another
crop is insured. This, indeed, is the
key note of forestry.
On the land in question 1 believe that
the value of the koa forests is greater
because of its commercial Importance
than for any other reason, that pro-
vided the work were done IN accordance
with forestry methods the mature trees
could be numbered without detriment to
the permanent productive value of the
forest; and, provided an assured market
can be secured, that the logging of the
tract at this time is good business poll
cy for the Bishop estate
In my report to the Bishop estate I
shall. therefore. recommend that the
tract be logged, provided suitable ar
can be made as to stump
age prices, and provided also that GER
tain regulations, to be contained in my
report, be made part of the contract.
Very respectfully,
RALPH S. HOSMER,
II Superintendent of Forestry.
Mr. Thurston spoke of sandal
wood grove which he accidentally
stumbled on recently in the vicinity of ,
his koa forest The trees were vigor-
BUS, the largest eighteen inches in {
diameter. and Were scattered over an
area of ten acres. The trees were full :
If seeds and flowers. He considered !
t valuable asset to the ground on ]
which it was growing and hoped it
would he saved.
PULLMANss AFTER KOA.
Mr.. Carter statal that he has neard e
lat the Pullman Car CO. was. IN
curing after koa. He did not know :