The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-02-09
EVA FOREST RESERVE
MATTER is DEALT WITH
lrrom Thursday.s Advertiser, !,

of Commissioners of Agriculture and
Forestry at their meeting yesterday
afternoon at the Bureau Of Agriculture
and Forestry headquarters.
There were present Chairman Il. A.
Thurston. Secretary G. S. Holloway, w.
NJ. Giffard and A. w. Carter, of the
Board r. S. Hosmer, Superintendent
of Forestry; Alexander Craw, Superin-
tendent of Entomology, and DR.. Nor
| gard. Territorial Veterinarian.
SUPERINTENDENT FOREST RE-
| SERVE REPORT.
| After the minutes of January 18th
had been read and amended, the report
of the Superintendent of Forestry re-
specting the Eva Reserve was present.
ed. This report reviewed the work
done up to date since the matter was
| first actively taken up three years ago
| by w. +. Dillingham;, the District For
ester for Eva, who submitted report
thereon to Gov. Dole. The area ap-
proved of in his report corresponds
very closely to that now under con-
sideration. This embraces the mauka
i portions of the lands lying between the
| western boundaries of Moanalua and
/ Wahiawa, the lower boundary follow
ing the lower edge of the existing for
est, although back of the Honolulu
Plantation, the Reserve extends fur
ther down the slope than at the north.
i The upper boundary is the main divide
Il along the crest of the Koolau noun
tains. All the lands except Waianae-
\ uka and Wahiawa are in the Eva dis
trict, the waters from the two named
lands flowing towards Waialua.
!, The purpose of the Reserve is to en-
sure the continuance of the forest on
the Koolau mountains and to increase
its efficiency as a protection forest foi
the water supply by bringing the area
under a system of forest administra
} tion.
The Eva basin contains some of tn,
most productive lands of the Territory
Three large sugar plantations Ewai
L Oahu and Honolulu, cover 20,5OO acres
producing 20 per cent of the Oahu su
gar output or 90 per cent of that oi
n the whole Territory. This land is de
= pendent on irrigation from water from
n the Koolau and Waianae mountain
G and from artesian wells, which latte
n depend largely upon the rain precipi
y tation on the Koolau slopes. 1t is I'm
s portant then that the forest on thi
n watershed be protected in order to cor
l. serve the rain waters and to protec
1t the low-lying lands from freshet wasl
,r outs.
\ The lands included are principal
NJ held by private owners, while much
= the government land is leased, in SON
= instances until 1912. Under one leas
- that of the lower portion of Waiman
10 the area under the existing forest fenc
was reserved while the fence was
% be built and maintained. On Wahiaw
the leasehold covers the water righ
L only, allowing the land to be set asit
lie as part of the Reserve. The Honolu
&c Plantation Co. hold subleases of Il
A area suitable for sugar cane on Hal
De wa b, Halawa A, Aiea, Kalauao, X
onohi Waieli and Waimanu. Simil'
subleases are held by the Oahu Sugi
r Company for the cane areas in Waia
r. Waimano, Manana, Waiawa and Wa
az pio Upon the expiration of the pre-
90 ent leases on Halawa A, Kalauao al
Kaonohi, new lease running till 49,
. is held by the Honolulu Plantation c
while new leases, reserving the fore
land. come into effect for long tern
on Waieli, Waimalu and Halawa
when existing leases run out. Th
after 1908 the only important lar
above the forest line remaining unr
served are Aiea government, P9h
kupa Catholic Mission) and Waian
uka CT. S. War Department., and pc
sibly arrangement regarding them ms
be reached with the present lessees
number of kuleanas are within tn
/ tract. few definitely located, and the
need not be considered.
The forest on the western slope
the Koolau mountains are described
characteristic of the elevations /
tween one and four thousand feet
, the Hawaiian group, Ohia, Lehua al
) Koa being the most important amor
the trees in mixture, while shrut
. largo ferns. climbing vines and 9th
plants form dense mass of vegatio
. In the gulches are Kukui, Guava al
= Lantana.
!. A proposition to plant trees betwe
T., the existing woods and the upper Ii
J; of the agricultural lands has been ma
by Jas. A. Low, of the Honolulu Pla
i tation. TO the Bishop Estate and t
\ other land owners back of the plant
tion. This plan is feasible and won
: be of benefit to the plantation, whi
s the Division of Forestry is keenly
: terested in Mr.. Lows proposal.
I An extension of the Eva Forest i
I serve could be advantageously ma
ON it's southern border to include I
mauka portions of the lands of Moar
? lua and Kahauiki, forest fence
L ready enclosing the forest and maxi
3 private reserve.
d In laying out forest line acr'
n private land. the desire of the owl
- has naturally much to do with
- location. Without exception these ov
T. ers are in favor of forest reservati
'r for they appreciate the need and
8, portnnee of safeguarding the +
l. waters bed. The area must, howev
= be brought under comprehens
system of forest management 10
= tain the wanted results. Such a =
& tenn Of efficient protection and for
ID extension, through planting would
m the Ewn Reserve 10 its best use q
~ increase its value.
I The Eva Forest Reserve is theref
:, recommended. and. the Board apr
~ ing, il is further recommended that
u Governor be requested 10 declare
H. area y forest reserve and to set ms