493 



shallowness of the soil and other unfavorable factors, and al- 

 though homesteads have repeatedly been taken up in this region 

 and a lot of money spent in improving them, no one has been 

 successful in raising any crops. 



With this demonstration in view, and with the idea of making 

 some use of the land, four leases have been made during the 

 past two years by the Land Office of a part of the land at the 

 lower or makai end. consisting of a total of 8<S(S6 acres, at nom- 

 inal rentals, with the idea that cattle could be raised on the 

 land. All of these leases are held by Japanese, who are about 

 the only people who will live in this wet region. In connection 

 with one of these leases, the largest, consisting of 8589 acres, 

 portions of the land have been subleased to four other Japanese. 

 These men are making an unsuccessful attempt at raising a few 

 head of scrubby cattle in the forest. At the time the first lease 

 was assigned to a second party in April, 1918, 175 head of cattle 

 were supposed to have been turned over with the lease, but on 

 account of the heavy growth of forest the assignees have been 

 able to find only 100 head. 



Recently an application was made for a lease of the balance 

 of this forest land for grazing purposes, but at my request the 

 application has been held up. If further extended grazing is 

 permitted on the land it will, in time, become similar to adjacent 

 lands makai — a useless waste of dead trees, fallen logs and Hilo 

 grass. Such a large stretch of forest cannot help but exert a 

 favorable influence on the surrounding climate, and this is of 

 importance to the Olaa Sugar Plantation just below, which suf- 

 fered from the effects of drought two summers ago. 



As stated above, the soil throughout the region for the most 

 part is shallow and is best suited to forest growth. Continued 

 grazing in the region on any scale will in time reduce the forest 

 to a useless waste. 



Sufficient land has been left out of the area recommended to 

 be set aside to provide for the need of additional homesteads at 

 the makai or lower end where soil conditions are more favorable, 

 and a sufficient area at the high elevation near the upper end, not 

 far from the Volcano House, has been reserved for additional 

 summer lots. 



For the reasons above set forth, I recommend that the Board 

 approve the project of creating the Olaa Forest Reserve, as 

 described above, and that the Governor be requested to take the 

 necessary steps toward this end. 



Respectfully submitted, 



C. S. JUDD, 

 Superintendent of Forestry. 



