Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-10

Fisher: Do fhey own their lands?
Aiken: They own their own lands.
Fisher: How did they acquire
title-by purchase from individuals,
or by homsteadings from the Govern
ment?
Aiken: Most of them were ac-
quired by purchase; but some were
acquired from the Government by
homesteading.
Fisher: Had the lands which they
acquired ever been used to raise
sugar cane?
Aiken: No. they had never been
used for that purpose.
Fisher: Was none OF this land
which Is held In small tracts ever
used for sugar cane land?
Aiken: Well, with the exception
of a part of the tract have and a
little below, that is lower down, but
not much Of II.
Fisher: Are there large sugar
plantations In that vicinity?
Aiken: Yes, within a mile of my
place there is a plantation camp, but
they are for the most part further
down. believe / am. the highest
planter I'm the Territory Tin eleva-
toni.
Fisher: Would this land belonging
to these small holders be adapted to
raising sugar cane?
Aiken: Yes, certain varieties.
Fisher?4 is there any reason why
the lands to which you have referred
could not be used to raise sugar cane,
except that the people prefer to raise
other crops?
Aiken: No, they are not as well
adapted to cane raising. but cane can
be raised there
Fisher: TIE fact that cane is not
raised here is not due to. any unwill-
ingness on the part Of the plantation
to take the sugar that is raised?
Willing to Take Sugar.
Aiken: The plantations are always
willing to take any sugar that is
raised.
fisher: When did you become con.
nected with the Government, and in
what capacity?
Aiken; In 1901 was employed in
the Tax Department. where ! worked
for awhile.
Fisher: What duties did you have
in this office? rs
Aiken: 1 was Deputy Tax Asses
sor and Collector for the district.
Fisher: Then you are thoroughly
familitr with the land situation there.
Aiken: Yes, sir.
Fisher: Have you been connected
with. the Government ever since?
Aiken: Yes.
Fisher: In what capacity?
Aiken: was Tax Assessor for
some IL years; and in 1905 / was APP
pointed Land Agent for the district.
Fisher: What are your duties
Aiken: As Land Agent I super
wise the government lands there, 1
chiefly; and latter the lands are
opened up and cut up into lots for
homesteads everything lis put in my
hands to receive applications: II
have general charge over the whole
ching. Us
Fisher: How much land has been
opened to homesteaders under your
supervision, approximately, Of course?
Aiken: ! suppose perhaps 5000 or
Z 900 acres. so
Fisher: Tell us In your own way
what your experience has been with
the lands that have been opened up.
Aiken: Well. the first tract open
ed was in the Nahiku District, about
100 acres of land. In4s1S97. great ex-
pectations were had for this land as |
coffee land. 1t seemed very. WE'LL
adapted as coffee land. However,
there seemed. to be no money in the /
coffee industry, as the cost OF plant |
Ing was too great. But most OF the |
settlers proved up by living there the |
required TINE A majority were Por-l
tuguese. Some Of the lands were
taken up by white settlers under Spe-
ciai agreements, which contained mol
residence clause but required thatl
money be put in improvements. Most |
OF the lands were acquired by, the
settlers and patents issued.
Fisher: What happened after they
cot their patents?
. Aiken: Well, later the coffee III
dustry proved not to be uccess. The
land then laid idle for some time.
Then an attempt was made to start |
4 sugar plantation. there.
Fisher: Who attempted to start a |
sugar plantation there?
Proved Failure.
Aiken: It was started among the
settlers themselves. But it proved q
failure. as the land proved not to be
adapted to cane, so the plantation
was finally closed down. Since that
time the lands have been standing
Idle.
Fisher: Have they been sold?
Aiken: Three rubber companies
IRE planting rubber there now.
Fisher: Who are the people?
Aiken: The holdings are quite
numerous.
Fisher: Are they people OF. large
u. small means?
Aiken: People of moderate means.
Fisher: Even the rubber experi1
nert is not being carried on by peo-
,le of large means?