Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-08-15
DETAILS WATER
CONDITIONS OF
THESE ISLANDS

l. . = .
The latest press bulletin of the u.
S. Geological survey contains the first
official publication of the water re-
sources of Hawaii, as follows:
Water for irrigation Is the life blood
of the Hawaiian islands During 1911
nearly 80 ner cent of the exports of
the islands .te-the United States, val
ued at more than $4,000 900, consist
ed of agricultural products, and of this
amount SO per cent had either been
absolutely dependent on irrigation for
its growth or had required the appii-
cation of water at some period or
other to give the largest and most
profitable, yield. Recognizing the ne
cessity for the careful study of the
water resources of the islands, the
territory of Hawaii in 1909 enacted a
law providing for special income
tax. one-fourth of the proceeds to be
devoted to the conservation of natural
resources, and entered into a coop
eratiye agreement with the United
States Geological Survey to make a
comprehensive study of water re-
resources. Since that time about $685.
600 has been expended on this work,
ever $1,000 having been con-
tributed by the territory and nearly
$4,000 by the federal government. The
work has been carried on by and I'M
der the direction Of the geological
survey, with mucb. assistance on the
part of the territory and private cor
porations and individuals. As result
the geological survey has just issued
a large volume of $50 pages de-
scriptiye of the water resources of the
Hawaiian islands-Water Supply Pa
per 31S, by w. F. Martin and c. H.
Pierce. This volume includes the re-
suits of daily measurements of the
flow or volume of the principal
streams and irrigation bitches in the
islands in the last four years.
The critical period is approaching in
Hawaiian agriculture, and the point
has been reached in the utilization of
water at which it Is necessary to have
definite information regarding the
available sources of water before fur
Their progress can be made. AS the
limit of agricultural development in
the islands is controlled principally
by the possible water supply, it is nee
essary either to tap new and undevel-
oped sources or else to save losses in
existing supplies and so increase their
economic value. The work of the geo.
logical survey has already proved of
the greatest Importance, some of the
largest irrigation bitches, for example,
having been found to be delivering
much Lose uafor- fban uoc Cuproood
The investigations of stream flow are,
however, by no means complete nor
90 they include all the streams that
might advantageously be studied. The
work is still in progress and is being
pushed as rapidly as the combined ap-
preparations of the territory and the
United States will permit.
The three principal crops of Hawaii
are sugar, rice and taro. Sugar is by
far the most important product, and
large areas planted in cane depend en-
tirely on irrigation. Some of the lands
are naturally adapted to the growing
Of rice but require a certain quantity
CT water varying in amount with the
stage of the crop. Taro is also an i'm
rortant crop, furnishing the staple
food for a considerable part of the
population; it requires a continual APP
blication of water during it's growth.
Taro is large plapt which yields a
root tasting somewhat like an Irish
potato. 1t is grown to a considerable
extent in the United States as an orna-
mental plant and is popularity known
as elephants ear. i.