The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-07-31

rock 'Pohakuwaawaa where the dilAl
tricts of Napali and Waimea meet anloa
looks southwark, and southeastwardssSs
toward the ridge of Waialeale the dam
age to the forest is patent to the most
careless observer. One naturally asks
why ridge after ridge rolling south
ward has a gray appearance. The for
est everywhere is a dark green, indi-
eating the lehua, with here and thereS
a ligh green spot where koa tree haEl
made stand for itself. Far oack e94
the slope of the ridge from WaialeaS%
the rolling hills have the gray appeal
ance of middle aged man whose blacfn
hair is fast being silvered with ageN
Closer observation shows that it ia due
to the fact that the lehua forest of
mature trees is dying out, and that
no young trees are taking their place.
The old trees are bearded with moss
and only the very summit branches
show the characteristic green of the
lehua.
"The cattle prefer to live on the
young shoots of the lehua. 1t is ~ y
habit of this tree to take root inlL&
rotten trunks fallen among the mi sfy
One does not see the young sI. ta
on these logs except where the dto
have been excluded. HE
"The consequence of this del
tion is clearly demonstrated. MjNd
tain flats that were once bogs dill N-
ing their waters gradually into VI
many streams are now dry, even II
commonest ferns do not flourish in (sA
open and new trees have not enoA%
moisture to take root.
"The lowlands consequently muv
suffer from great floods in storm
weather and the sea swallows up th4V
precious moisture that should feed thd
valleys during the dryer season.
"With these forests preserved, there
is great opportunity for extensive stor.
age systems in the canyons by storing
the waters as they seep from the
swamp lands around the summit, and
for delivery upon the fertile soil ON
the side of the mountain from the 1900
feet level, and below.
"This preservation of the forest
would serve to make more attractive
the many flats where campers could
find paradise for short trips and att
little expense, where trip. to the Coast
would not be necessary to get need
ed change of climate.
"The public will soon be in control,
of these forest and it would be a great
pity to allow the destruction of the
forests to go on. 1t also should be
known to be to the interests of every
one that these woods and the grand
scenery should not be controlled by
any private interests for a private
hunting preserve. They should be pre-.
served for the general public to enjoy
just as the Yosemite Park is a perpet.
ual delight to the campers of Califor-
mia.
'The best interests of the Territory
in developing the water for the arid
districts of Waimea and the best in Z
terests of the public, who ought III
have an easily accessible public pat
for camping in a temperate china q .
demands that the high lands be made
a forest reservation.
elf the United States government
extends its policy of irrigation of arid
regions into Kauai there will be great
opportunity for the American citizen
who can handle forty acres of cane Il.
take up homestead with many othes sN
and raise cane for a central mill. ThdAS
will be a real step toward manning thu
soil of Hawaii with Americans.
, "The time is not far distant when
our local government will be face to
! face with the necessity of adopting a
policy with regard to these mountain
lands, and it is important to every citi-
zen that the possibilities of these for
, ests for the pleasure of the public
! should be known as well as for the
/ profit of commercial enterprise, espe!
t cially when the two interests dorx
clash.
Q 81 hope to see the day when
: mer camps viii be frequent and IL
3 tiful throughout these mountains.
: Augustus Knudsen is taking gh
pains to show the beauties of tih
d forests to Honolulu people and let TIL
n see for themselves what grand "
main the public owns for a pus9
n park