The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-08-18
Of the adjacent tracts and the contin-
ued welfare of the Territory?
REASON FOR HILo RESERVE.

REASON FOR HILO RESERVE.
The reason for reserving the forest
in the Hilo district is primarily, to
protect the water supply by safeguard
ing the headwaters of the various
streams and. by equalizing, as far as
possible, their flow The Hilo district
IS fortunately situated to receive an
abundant and nearly continuous rain
fall. The trade winds bring moisture
bearing clouds and pile them up "a
gainst the slope of Mauna Kea where
the belt of heavy forest retards rapid
run off and feeds the permanently
running streams, thus making the
water available for use on the differ
ent plantations. While the heaviest
PRECIPITATION is somewhere between the
elevations of 2000 and 1000 feet, the
penehc1al effect of the forest extends
much lower down on the slope. After
certain point, however, the advan-
tages to be obtained are not equal to
the value of the land for other pur-
poses. Below this point it thus becomes
advisable TO clear the land
From my study of the Hilo district
l believe that in the vicinity of Homo
mu such point is reached at an eleva-
ton of approximately 1850 feet and
that below this, with some exceptions,
the land could be cleared without Sc
rious detriment to the water supply
or injury to the other interests in
yolyed.
While / do not recommend the gem
eral clearing, at this time of all the
government land lying below the 1850
contour line, in the Hilo district,
think that if it is found advisable to
open this Honomu tract for settlement
that it can be safely done, provided
such reservations as are outlined be-
low are carried into effect.
CONDITIONS TO BE OBSERVED.
At Honomu the local conditions of
the water shed of limited area. on
which a plantation depends for it's sup
ply, together with the presence of
springs in and near the existing forest
make necessary the following restric-
tons: The upper line of the tract
should be drawn between definite and
easily recognized points-such as hills, !
functions of ridges or ravines, marked
angles in streams, etc.-at an elevation
of approximately 1850 feet above
the sea. The section between !
the Paheehee and Honomu, above the |
ditch Of the Honomu Sugar Company, |
connecting these streams on account |
of its swampy character and because |
of the springs therein, should not be |
cleared. Furthermore a, strip of 100 |
feet ought to be reserved along the |
edges of the main gulches to protect |
the vegetation in them. When a forest |
Of the type of that in the Hilo district |
is cleared, the trees along the outer |
edge OF the remaining woods die on |
account of the changed conditions. By |
setting aside such a strip as is pro-
posed, to act as it were as a buffer, /
the vegetation in the gulches will be
protected, with the result of lessening |
the evaporation, both from the main
stream and from the small brooks and |
springs, upon the gulch sides. These |
sources of water, while small in them
selves, are important in the aggregate,
especially on streams like those on this
tract where all the water is needed
AS one OF the conditions of opening
the Honomu tract, it should be stipu-
lated that this protective belt be fenc-
ed and also that any permanent springs
IN the tract be likewise guarded. The
strips which it is recon-
nended be reserved are shown On the
accompanying map.
with the uncertainty of the location |
ii the line between the proposed home
stead tract and the portion of Honomu
eased to the sugar company, it is diff
cult to tell just what area would be
available with these restrictions. but
rom planimeter measurements made
IN the accompanying map the gross
area available is found to be in the
leighborhood of 1000 acres.
If this report is approved by the
board, I suggest that a copy of it be
'ent to the Commissioner of Public
Lands with notice of the action taken
hereon.
Very respectfully,
RALPH S. HOSMER,
superintendent of Forestry