The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-02-26

of the forest through the districts Oh
Kau and Kona. making several excur'
sons into the forest land. From Mr.,
Magures ranch we made the ascent
of Mt Hualalai. getting an excellent
idea from that peak of the extent OF
the forest through Kona. as well as on
the slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna
Kea. and the intervening plains. The
following day the party visited Puwa-
awaa from which hill we got another
fine view of the adjacent country,
seeing in some detail some of the same
forests which we had seen from Hua-
lalai. From Puwaawaa we rode down
across the lava flows and along the
shore to Eawaihae, whore we took the
Kinau. arriving in Honolulu. on Sat
urday last.
I am particularly glad to have had
this opportunity to visit the Island of
Hawaii. because / feel that having
made this reconnaissance trip, | have
a much better idea of the location and
extent of the forests on this important
island, together with much clearer
idea of the forest problems which have
to be solved. than I could have got in
any other way. During the trip |
gentlemen who represent the important
industries on Hawaii; the plantation
managers. the cattlemen, and those
gentlemen having in charge the various
diversified industries. which are being
developed With many of these gen.
tlemen I had considerable conversation
and feel that I now have passed the
Introductory stage with them. so that
get down to business.
1 was greatly impressed and pleased
to find what an excellent public senti-
ment existed among these men in re-
gard to the necessity and Importance
of forest preservatio." Almost with
out a dissenting voice the men with
whom / talked seemed to be in favor
of the establishment of forest reserves.
There We're, of course, differences OF
opinion as to where the reserve lines
should be drawn, which will doubtless
be more marked than at present before
the matter is settled but to my mind
it is a great thing that so healthy
sentiment exists, for l believe that the
various interests involved can be
brought to cooperate in the establish
ment of reserves, which Will play
large part in the development of the
island.
My tour of Hawaii makes me feel
more strongly than ever that
each forest problem must be studied
individuality This has been found to
be the case on the mainland and is
none the less true here. In the estab-
lishment Of forest reserves no hard
and fast rule can be laid down that
the boundary lines shall follow a GER
tain contour or given tract division,
but each case must be carefully in
vestigated, the local conditions studied
and consultation had with the men
representing the interests involved, be-
fore recommendations can be made.
In certain districts there seems to be
more immediate need that forest re-
serves be established than in others.
Such a locality, as was pointed out by
Mr.. W. l.. Hail. after his examination
last summer, is the Kohala mountain
reserve. This, in my judgment, is
where the first work of a forest nature
on Hawaii should be done, and I hope
to be able to return to that district
within comparatively short time.
The question of the location of home
stead tracts is essentially a forest
problem, because in most instances the
proposed locations are within the for
est belt. This question is one of the
live issues on Hawaii at the present
time and was constantly brought to
Governor Carriers attention during our
trip. Personally. I am distinctly in
favor of the homestead principle and
| believe that there are many places
on the Island of Hawaii where home
steads could be successfully made.
But l think this question, like other
forest problems, needs to be carefully
studied on the ground, before recon-
mendations can be made. Many of
the homestead tracts which our party
visited are so inaccessible that under
present conditions they can never be
successful. Transportation is the
crucial point in this matter and I'M
less the homestead tract is so located
that roads can be built and maintained
there is no use, it seems to me, in es-
tablishing it.
During our trip around the island l
had the pleasure of meeting a number
of the consulting foresters in the sew
eral districts. These gentlemen all
seem to be taking a real interest in the
forest work and gave me much valu-
able information in regard to forests
and forest problems, in their several
districts.
| was impressed in talking with these
gentlemen, by the work which has been
done in the introduction of exotic trees
in the island. 1t is my hope that
definite statements of what has been
accomplished may be got from the diff
ferent people, who have planted new
trees on the island, for l believe that
such information when compiled and
tabulated would be of no small value
1t is my intention to continue the work
Of introducing new trees especially
those commercially important. on these
islands and I hope to be able to find
certain species which can be used to
reforest waste and barren places.
Our first and most important twork,