Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-16
Prof. Vaughan MacCaughey
Announces Results of Inquiry
on Landscape Gardening

Results OF IOTmal inquiry VI nv
nolulu citizens 10 determine Wha'
lines Identification of the cit!
should take were announced last even
ing by Prof Vaughan MacCaughey oi
the College OF Hawaii
Prof, MacCaughey calls his inquiry
"a QUESTIONABLE upon landscape gard
cning of Honolulu" In the Following
announcement he shows what the re-
suit Of the investigation is:
In connection with an address upon
"The Identification Of the American
= City" recently delivered before the
Outdoor Circle, a questionable was
sent 10 a number of persons who were
known to- he interested in the lanq-
scape paintings OF Honolulu.
This query comprised three specific
questions. Representative replies to
these questions are tabulated here
with, and will serve to indicate the
general trend of intelligent local opin-
ion Of these topics.
Question One.
Should the general planting effects
OF Honolulu, considering the city as
a unit, be formal or informal?
Replies. .....
Informal. but with one general
plan controlling ii all
3 Informal, except possibly two
or three formaLroads or avenues"
3. "I do not know that ! would care
TO confine the city exclusively to eth
er the formal or informal type or
landscape work. IN general, about the
residential portion Of the country,
very much prefer the informal type.
About the larger buildings at the civic
center or elsewhere within the bust
ness part of town, possibly the Formal
type would be, better adapted" 49,.
4. Il should thing that one of the
charming things OF our city rs our.
great variety. There are so many
cities laid out in such a formal man.
ner that | believe Honolulu would
prove more attractive and interesting
il informal effects predominate."
S. I'm a broad way / favor formal,
but not in too strict sense"
6. As to whether thinks should be
laid out formally or informally
should say decidedly the latter. Don't
have anything stiff" II. !. -
Conclusions. ..-...
The general sentiment seems to in
dictate an informal type of planting.
The writer's point of view may be con-
cisely stated as follows:
(a) General plan informal, but not
formless. as at present.
(b) Emphasis upon broad-crowned,
shade-producing hospitable trees, and
upon striking mass-effects of brilliant
color.
(c) A number Of long avenues and
bouleyards with formal planting Tex
ample, royal PALM.
(dl Residential districts with
paintings more uniform over larger
areas; present planting, spotty, indi.
vidualistic, ineffective and often ugly.
Question Two.
Should the landscape effects be
composed chiefly OF exotic (introddc.
ed vegetation, or should the indigen-
Gus Hawaiian types of vegetation pre-
dominate?
1. 81 believe that we should, as far
as possible, plant as many indigenous
Hawaiian types. OF vegetation as we
can, although many of the plants in
troduced here are much more striking
and effective. / believe that the
plants and trees. which are different
from those on the mainland prove OF
particular interest. to our visitors. IT
seems to me that it lis impossible to
have any particular type predominant,
but what seems attractive and inter
esting should be used. Yet | believe
that as far as possible indigenous
types should be used where effective"
2. ST would make use Of any beau.
tiful plants which thrive well under
conditions existing here, regardless
of their being exotic or indigenous. 1t
would be interesting to have some
where a collection of indigenous
plants so far as they can be made to
prosper in any one locality, but for
the general purpose of landscape eff
fects do not think we should confine
ourselves to indigenous plants.
8. in certain sections we have
aimed to use only indigenous types,
but these are so limited We are using
chiefly the introduced tropical pltnts
and trees"
4. Exotic chiefly. as many of the
native trees which used to grow and |
do we'll on low levels are so delicate
ID that they are the prey OF destruc-
tive pests"
s. The beautiful. Hawaiian trees |
must not be left out, but the Towering |
foreign trees and plants. which are be-
wildering in their beauty and variety, |
we must surely have with the Hawai-
IAN" E
6. Both, according to surround
ings." -... -9 i
Conclusions. r.. 49,. 49,. 49,
The replies point to the adequate |
utilization Of both indigenous and
exotic vegetation. The writer's atti- |
tude is this:
a. A much larger representation of
native Hawaiian plants than exists at |
present 49,. r
b. Special emphasis on indigenous
vegetation along the beaches lex
ample, milo. kou, coco palm, haul; |
ard I'm the humid valley and ridge dis