28 FOEESTS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



will be necessary, and can be done with direct profit to the islands if 

 commercially valuable species are made use of and are planted in the 

 right situation. Conditions prevailing at 5,000 to 6,000 feet in Kula, 

 Hamakua, and Kan strongl} 7 indicate that Pacific coast species, such as 

 redwood and red fir, would do exceedingly well. Eucalyptus, Monterey 

 cy press, Casuarina, Grevillea, and several other trees have already 

 shown their adaptability for these situations. It is especially important 

 to find trees suited to these and higher elevations, because the native 

 forest is often deficient at such elevations, although the land is good 

 forest land and can never be used for other purposes. In some situa- 

 tions it may be desirable to plant species bearing edible fruit, such as 

 the alligator pear and breadfruit. 



For the present, forest planting should wait on the formation of the 

 reserves. Forests already planted on Mount Tantalus and in Nuuana 

 Valley should be cared for, and the nursery should be maintained, but 

 no extension of planting or of the nursery should be attempted until 

 the reserve system is fairly under way. 



LUMBERING. 



As soon as practicable, an examination should be made of the koa 

 forest on the east slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, to determine 

 whether or not it is feasible to build a road to it and locate a sawmill 

 in it for the purpose of lumbering the mature trees. Some of the koa 

 is without doubt very fine, and would form a source of revenue to the 

 Territory, to which it belongs, if it could be got out without great 

 expense. The law provides that any moneys which shall accrue from 

 such products shall be held available as a special fund for the preser- 

 vation, extension, and utilization of forests and forest reserves, in the 

 same manner as moneys appropriated by the legislature. This makes 

 it desirable as soon as possible to make the forest revenue producing, 

 so far as this is compatible with its preservation for other useful 

 purposes. It is believed that the situation and composition of the koa 

 forest is such that the removal of the mature trees could be accom- 

 plished without damage either to reproduction or to water supply. 



CLEARING. 



The law makes it mandatory upon the board of agriculture and 

 forestry to pass upon the disposition of any public land, not including 

 roads and city lots. All leases and sales of forest land, carrying the 

 right to cut timber or clear the land, must therefore be approved by 

 the board. Since the clearing of land for the extension of canefields 

 and for homesteads is at the present time making irreparable inroads 

 upon the virgin forest in important localities, it is of special conse- 

 quence for the board to act with the greatest caution on all permits to 



