151 



In the bottom of the main small valley, on the west side of the 

 reserve where running water is found, there are clumps of wild 

 native bananas growing almost to the top of the Waimanalo pali. 

 Just below the main belt of amaumau fern vegetation a clump of 

 alligator pear trees, quite old, occupies the valley bottom together 

 with tall introduced banana trees. Below this among the kukui 

 trees is a large clump of awa with Chinese bananas, ape and taro 

 plants. These seem to indicate the frequent presence of human 

 beings on the area in the past. 



Below the lower line of the present forest in this same valley, 

 forest denudation by stock has been followed by an invasion of 

 lantana, oi weed, guava and Hilo grass. In protected spots a 

 few ohia lehua, alahee, and olopua trees still remain. The pres- 

 ence of landshells in abundance on the lantana and oi bushes, on 

 ohia lehua, and on ti and awa would seem to indicate that the 

 region is permanently moist. 



Forest Destruction 



Cattle from the Maunalua Ranch which for some years past 

 have worked into the valley from the south-east and south-west 

 corners of the reserve have been almost entirely responsible for 

 the destruction of the native forest on a area of at least nine acres. 

 By their frequent travels to the land the cattle have worn 

 such distinct trails on the hillsides that they almost 

 appear to have been graded by human hands. The re- 

 sults of stock depredations are distressingly apparent. The 

 stream-bed is one soggy mass of hoof prints, the awa patch is 

 threaded with trails which lead to an impassable cliff up the 

 valley beyond which the cattle fortunately have not been able to 

 pass, and the ie-ie vines on the side hills appear as if clipped with 

 a scythe. This destruction will continue and the forest will keep 

 on receding until all stock is kept out. 



Wind is a second cause of damage in this region because of 

 aeolian erosion. A quarter mile below the reserve, the soil is be- 

 ing blown away by the strong trade winds on the top of Maunalua- 

 Kuliouou ridge at the rate of two feet per year. In this particu- 

 lar valley the main wind exposure is from an eddy of the regular 

 trade winds which blows toward the north-west. Damage from 

 this source will be much lessened when the forest is reestablished. 

 A windbreak should be planted on the boundary across the flat 

 shown in Fig. 1. 



The north side has been damaged by goats to only a very small 

 extent and the danger from this source may be considered 

 negligible as most of the wild goats have been exterminated and 

 the last one will no doubt be killed before long. 



Forest Protection 



To give this forest adequate protection against stock it is ad- 

 vised that fences sufficient to keep the cattle out be constructed 



