The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-11-21
THE TERRITORY
IS LOSING A
WHOLE ISLAND
Continued from page one).

.ory of a whole island. The goats
Keep down vegetation and destroy trees
and they trample up canyons and send
lvalanches of rock down mountain
sides, carrying everything along. The
winds sweep tons of soil in the form
Of clouds of dust, into the ocean, be-
sides carrying away plants which try
to get root. Torrents of rain are tear
ing gulches in the mountain sides but
none of the water stays on the island.
There are practically no forests to
hold it and an hour or so after the
heaviest rain, it is all in the ocean.
This is the gloomy picture which
Governor Carter found when he visit
ed the islands and now he is consider
ing what should be done to reclaim the
island. Lanai has an area of $4,000
acres and is listed as one of Hawaii's
populated and productive islands, but
will have to be done to keep
it i'm the populated class. The census
of 1900 showed it's population to be
619. This has dwindled to two help
less old natives and the few employees
of Gay, who leases the entire island
from the government for $4,000 a year.
Before Gay took the island there was
no fencing and sheep and cattle roamed
everywhere, starting the ruin which
the goats and the winds seem able to
complete. During the past year drought
compelled Gay to open his fences and
let the animals roam again and even
then he lost 1000 sheep.
From Maui 1 have often seen the
into the sea" said the governor, land
one may see much the same on Lanai.
Mr.. Gay has done something to in
troduce the kiawe bush but of course
he cannot do enough. Mr. Morehead,
manager who was there in Gibson $
time showed much foresight and did
some work that is still showing results.
He dug holes and planted maniania
grass. The grass came up and hung or
and the wind piled dust on it. Then
rains helped the grass to shoot up again
The wind in turn buried it and so the
routine has kept up for years and now
there are acres and acres of these
mounds, each showing where Morehead
planted a bit of the grass. In some
places there is also some pilipiliul'
grass which makes good food.
Lanai serves to show us that nature
will not always respond. Many think
that we can go on for years taking
what we want from the soil and giving
no care and that nature will always
respond. Lanai, in danger of becom-
ing another and larger Kahoolawe
shows that this idea is wrong. The
island needs to be saved"
The Governor said he thought the
goats played a large part in damaging
the island. There are thousands o.
them. They are remnants of Lanai!
more prosperous days. Twenty year;
ago each native family on the islanC
had it's tame goats, for milking. AZ
/ human population died out the goats
were left behind and the herds which
roam today are descendants of the
abandoned property. The governor
| told of drive" for the benefit o
some visitors some years ago. Gays
natives did the driving and the visitors
| shot 200 goats and had enough of 1t
The natives said they only drove 200 De
cause they thought it would be enough
| here" the governor suggested 1T nigh
! let the boys land on Lanai and marci
! from end to end driving and shooting
| the goats. The formation of the isl
and is such that this could be done.
would be a good outing for the boy
and good target practice"
Sisal would probably grow on Lana
and honey might be produced Their
profitably, the governor thinks, bu
sisal is out of the question under tn
lease laws, for no one wants to star
a seven year crop under a hVe yea
lease. The water problem remains l
honey is experimental with, for tn
remaining natives, only two in numbe
4 couldn't get enough to keep them allV
without help from Gay. AS for I'm
proving the island, restoring it b
scientific foresting, no one wants to pu
money into such a scheme when IN
government may step in and take tn
results. 'The lease system is at II
very worst on Lanai" says the cover
nor.
The problem of Lanai will probabl
be presented to the next legislature
, well as to the Board of Agriculture an
Forestry. 1t is the problem of saVin
a whole islaid and the governor ma
taken it up seriously since making
visit and inspecting the place. Unde
the lease system private capital Wi
never do it, hence, it is argued the Tst
ritory should either take hold of tn
problem or sell the land outright
? those who will.
p aAAHG