279 



Any influences therefore which affect adversely the forests, 

 which have such a direct relation to a constant and adequate 

 supply of water, are a menace to the main industry of this Terri- 

 tory and consequently to the prosperity and happiness of its 

 people. 



11. THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN EORESTS. 



Origin of the Hazcaiian Forests. 



The question of the origin of the native Hawaiian forests or 

 of where our forest trees came from has received more or less 

 attention by botanists who have expounded their theories, but is 

 a subject which does not concern us to any great extent. As is 

 perfectly well known to you all, these islands are of volcanic 

 origin and are more remote from any continent or high land of 

 considerable extent than any group of similar dimensions on the 

 t^lobe. They moreover contain, in proportion to the entire num- 

 ber of plants, more species that are peculiar to the group than 

 are to be found in any other region of the same area of the 

 world. This last phenomenon is accounted for largely by the 

 isolation of the group but does not settle the question of where 

 our smaller plants and trees first came from. Some have advanc- 

 ed the assertion that the seeds have been brought here entirely by 

 migrating birds, by ocean currents, or by winds, while others, 

 trom certain circumstances and the many examples of similarity 

 of plants found here to plants which occur to the south and west 

 of these islands, have added one other source by presenting the 

 theory of an ancient terrestrial plant immigration, when this 

 group was a part of or connected with large continental masses 

 now represented by Australasia and Indo-Malaysia, but which 

 have subsided and are evidenced here now only as superimposed 

 volcanic islands. 



The question of where the bulk of our flora came from is not 

 so important as the pressing demand that what remains of it be 

 protected and cared for in the best possible manner so that it 

 will properly serve our needs. It is certain, nevertheless, that 

 however it came, it has been here for a very long time because an 

 endemic fauna of birds and insects restricted to or dependent on 

 certain of our trees has developed and for this development a 

 long period of time has been necessary. 



.It is possible to account, with more confidence, for the arrival 

 here in prehistoric times of such trees as the kukui, ohia ai, 

 kamani, milo, kou, and breadfruit because they were probably 

 brought by human agency. It was perfectly natural for the early 

 comers, who settled these islands, to bring with them the trees 



