I07 



the land was formerly covered with forest, made up of Ohia Lehua 

 and the various small trees characteristic of the low'er elevations. 

 In spots were dense masses of le-ie vine. With the running 

 of the homestead lot lines cattle had access to the forest and have 

 since worked hack and forth until the forest is now open. Above 

 the homestead tract is a strip of open grazing land, while again 

 above this is a belt of Koa timber of large size and excellent 

 quality. This is the area which it is desired to make a forest 

 reserve. Next to the Bishop Estate land of Keauhou it contains 

 the best stand of large-sized Koa that I have seen anywhere in 

 the Territory ; certainly the best on government land. As such it 

 has been my constant endeavor since first seeing it to have it set 

 apart as a forest reserve. Above the belt of Koa, Honuaula runs 

 up in a point to Hualalai, this portion being open grazing land, 

 with a scattering of Mamani trees just above the Koas. 



The portion of Honuaula above the homestead lots was former- 

 ly under lease to Mr. John A. Maguire. This lease ran till July 

 10, 1904, but at Mr. Magtiire's request it was put up at auction 

 under the two year clause on July 29, 1903, at which time he was 

 out-bid by Messrs. J. G. Henriques and Frank Gomes. Mr. 

 Maguire obtained a six months' extension so that the lease to 

 Messrs. Henriques and Gomes took efifect from Jan. 10, 1905. 

 The lease calls for 3044 acres — the annual rental $610.00. This 

 action took place during Governor Dole's administration. 



In February, 1904, Mr. J. W. Pratt, Commissioner of Public 

 Lands, referred the matter to the Board with a request for recom- 

 mendations. I had visited the land in February, 1904, and after 

 another visit, made in June, 1904, I recommended to the Board 

 that if possible an arrangement should be made through the 

 Commissioner of Public Lands, to cancel the lease, that the land 

 be retained as a forest reserve. The Board approved my report 

 on June 29th, 1904, and so notified Mr. Pratt, who then referred 

 the matter to the Attorney General. But it was ruled by him 

 that the lease could not be cancelled. Accordingly the lease was 

 signed and delivered to Messrs. Henriques and Gomes on Jan. 

 10, 1905. 



At the same time, as I w^as still anxious to secure the belt of 

 Koa forest as a reserve, Mr. Pratt agreed to make a pro rata re- 

 duction in the rental if Messrs. Henriques and Gomes w^ould sur- 

 render a portion of Honuaula. To this they assented and accord- 



