in the Ewa Basin are of value almost solely by reason of the 

 water which originates in the area proposed to be reserved. 



The present annual output of sugar from the district, which 

 depends upon this water shed for almost its entire water supply, 

 is approximately $6,000,000. The sugar cane is raised in the 

 district referred to only up to an elevation of 600 feet above sea 

 level. The area between this level and the proposed forest re- 

 serve is pineapple land of the highest quality. There is now un- 

 der cultivation in pineapples upwards of 1000 acres, with every 

 indication that that area will be very rapidly increased. 



A very large proportion of the bananas and rice produced in 

 the Territory also comes from the same district. 



Your Committee consider the proposed reserve to be the most 

 important water shed of its size in the Territory. They are fur- 

 ther of opinion that not only should the reserve be made, but 

 that an earnest attempt should be made, at as early a date as 

 practicable, to reforest the slopes below the present forest line in 

 order to, as far as possible, conserve the rainfall and prevent the 

 rapid flow to the sea of the storm w^ater so as to make the same 

 available for longer periods between rains. 



It is the belief of the Committee that the heartiest co-operation 

 may be expected from the owners and lessees of private lands' 

 lying within the proposed reserve, not only in connection with 

 establishing the reserve, but in connection with the proposed re- 

 foresting. Mr. Low, manager of the Honolulu Plantation, has 

 already volunteered to carry out a tree-planting program on the 

 lands back of his plantation, not only within but below the pro- 

 posed forest lines. Such tree-planting program should receive 

 every possible assistance from this Board. 



Your Committee are of opinion that the reserve recommended 

 by Forester Hosmer should be recommended by the Board to 

 the Governor for formal reservation as a forest reserve, and 

 recommend to the Board the adoption of a resolution to that 

 effect. 



Yours respectfully, 



L. A. Thurston, 

 Alfred W. Carter, 



W. M. GiFFARD, 



Committee on Forestry. 



