THE NATIVE FORESTS. 11 



THE NATIVE FORESTS. 



All of the live important islands are mountainous, their highest 

 points ranging from 4,030 feet on Oahu to 13,760 feet on Hawaii, and 

 all the mountains are to a considerable extent forested. 



SITUATION. 



The forests are distributed on the different islands approximatelj'' as 

 follows: 



KAUAI. 



The forest covers the highest portions of , the mountains toward the 

 central part of the island, extending down to an elevation of about 

 1,200 feet on the windward (northeast) slope, and 1,500 feet on the 

 leeward slope. It is practically^ all in one bod}^, surrounding Mount 

 Waialeale. 



OAHU. 



There are two distinct ranges of mountains on this island, both 

 of which are forested. The Koolau Range, on the east side of the 

 island, has much the larger forest. On this rang-e a fairl}^ good 

 growth of timber extends from Pupukea and Paumalu on the north to 

 Palolo on the south, above an elevation varying from 1,000 to 1,500 

 feet. The forest extends over the highest peaks of the range. The 

 Waianae Mountains, which form the western rim of Oahu, support a 

 fair growth of forest al)ove 2,000 feet. As the lower elevation of this 

 range receives less rainfall than the Koolaus the forest is limited to 

 higher elevations. 



MOLOKAI. 



The onlj^ forest now remaining in the mountains of Molokai is found 

 at elevations above 1,500 feet at the east end of the island. This for- 

 est is extremelv inaccessil)le on account of the precipitous character 

 of the mountains. 



MAUI. 



The western peninsula of Maui, though small, has mountains over 

 5,000 feet high. These are forested above 1,200 feet on the windward 

 side and 2,000 feet on the leeward side. 



The windward slope of Haleakala, which rises to an elevation of 

 10,030 feet on the main part of Maui, is densely forested up to an 

 elevation of 8,000 feet. In this case the forest extends down to 

 within 1,000 feet of the sea level, or even lower. The slope which it 

 occuY-)ies is cut by so man}^ deep gorges that it is practically inacces- 

 sible, and has never been explored. This forest extends around the 

 eastward slope of Haleakala, through the district of Hana, and a belt 



