24 FORESTS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



of denuded watersheds has been accompanied by the most remarkable 

 results in improved water conditions. In some cases the water supply 

 has been in this wa} 7 so largely increased as to permit of considerable 

 extension of the cane fields. . 



The abundant evidence that the forest has a direct influence on the 

 increase of rainfall, at least in certain localities, has already been noted. 



Although the native forests are not of commercial value now, they 

 may be made so within a reasonably short time if placed under man- 

 agement. A large koa forest exists on the slopes of Mauna Kea and 

 Mauna Loa, the products of which would be highly valuable if got 

 out at reasonable expense and placed on a good market. A large part 

 of the rest of the native forests may be brought to commercial value 

 before many } T ears by the planting of valuable lumber trees. 



COMMERCIAL, INTERESTS CONCERNED IN THE FORESTS. 



Those business interests which, like rice and sugar production, are 

 largely dependent upon the mountains for a supply of irrigation water 

 naturally in most cases strongly favor preserving the mountain forests. 

 With them this means a regular and maximum flow of water, which in 

 turn means stead} 7 and heavy production of sugar. So strong has 

 been the interest of some of the sugar companies in the preservation 

 of the forests that they of their own account have maintained large 

 forest reserves above their plantations. Notably among them are the 

 Lihue plantation in Kauai, which has had fenced oft' for ten years a 

 tract of about 10,000 acres, and the Pahala plantation in Kau, Hawaii, 

 which for seven } 7 ears has maintained a reserve of some 50,000 acres. 

 Private and corporate landowners who lease land to ranches and plan- 

 tations have also reserved the forest, in some cases making it a condition 

 of the lease that the forest be fenced and fully protected. The B. P. 

 Bishop estate, the largest landowner in the islands, with the exception 

 of the government, has thus reserved five tracts on Oahu and Hawaii, 

 aggregating about 50,000 acres. 



Equally noteworthy is the tree-planting policy which has been faith- 

 fully carried out by a number of landowners. Rev. Hans Jsenberg, 

 president of the Lihue plantation, has planted several large blocks of 

 forest. The most extensive tree planter of the islands is Mr. H. P. 

 Baldwin, of Maui, who for years has systematically planted blocks of 

 forests on his lands on the lower slopes of Mount Haleakala. Mr. 

 Baldwin has now growing many hundred thousand planted trees of 

 eucalyptus, koa, Casuarina, Grevillea, and Java plum. 



Occupying a different position from those who desire to keep the 

 forests fully protected are those whose business is not dependent upon 

 the water supply from the mountains and who could really use the 



