145 



local sources of water may be protected and the flow from them 

 made more dependable, if indeed in some cases it cannot be in- 

 creased. 



The problem presented in these valleys is one common to all 

 the lands on the lee side of the Waianae Range. This is naturally 

 a dry district, with only a few permanent sources of water. Most 

 of what there are are at best intermittent. But in view of the 

 great need for water hereabout it is highly important that all 

 possible sources of supply should be conserved and developed. 

 As I have recently argued this point in a report on Nanakuli 

 (dated August 9, 1912) it is unnecessary further to enlarge upon 

 it here. 



Unfortunately the native forest on the slopes at the upper ends 

 of Makua and Keaau Valleys has suffered severely in the past 

 both from stock grazing from below and from the ravages of wild 

 goats from above. Through these agencies the former native 

 forest was opened up and the undergrowth destroyed. In many 

 places the old forest has now wholly disappeared. 



The natural consequence is that the springs have dried up or 

 have become very irregular in flow. With the restoration, as far 

 as is now possible, of the original forest conditions it seems to 

 me reasonable to expect an improvement in the local water 

 situation. 



Naturally the first step in such a program is to clear the slopes 

 of cattle and to get rid of the goats. A start has been made in 

 the latter particular by the hunting that has gone on at intervals 

 at Makua. Systematically followed up it ought now to be pos- 

 sible at reasonable expense practically' to exterminate the go:.ts 

 in this section. 



With the construction of several comparatively short stretches 

 of fence between natural barriers across several of the lateral 

 valleys cattle can be excluded from the mauka section. It is not 

 necessary that the whole forest line be fenced ; certain portions 

 only will be sufficient. 



Where there are still groups of trees left to furnish seed, the 

 native forest ought gradually to come back naturally. It goes 

 without saying that could the process be assisted results coukl 

 be hoped for much earlier than where nature is left to take her 

 own course. On the lower slopes of all the valleys the Algaroba 

 is spreading rapidly. It will soon form a cover, at any rate up to 

 an elevation of from 800 to 1000 feet. The principal purpose of 

 this Forest Reserve is to help in getting back the native Hawaiian 

 forest at the heads of the valleys where are most of the water 

 heads. 



The forest line across these lands was first laid out some five 

 years ago. This last spring the section across Makua was slightly 

 modified to facilitate fencing. As has already been said the lease 

 of Makua carries a fencing clause. The lower part of Keaau has 

 been cut up and sold as homesteads. It is required that the mauka 



