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voir, from which are fed the streams and springs, it is hard to 
conceive of a better cover than the dense mass of trees, shrubs, 
ferns and undergrow^th that together make up our native forest. 
Its value is too evident to require argument. 
But under present day conditions such a forest can only be • 
permanently maintained by being cared for. That this may more 
effectively be done, forest reserves have been created and a gen- 
eral program drawn up looking to the adequate care of the for- 
est. But such a plan takes time to carry into eft'ect and the co- 
operation of all forest owners, be they the general public, inter- 
ested as joint owners of the public domain, or more directly, be- 
cause they themselves control land in fee simple. 
A good start has been made, but much of what has so far been 
accomplished is but preliminary to what waits to be done. Be- 
fore the house can be built the foundations must be laid. So 
with the creation of a forest reserve system. The fixing of 
boundaries, the proclamations, and the coloring in of areas on a 
map are but steps toward the realization of an ideal. The time 
has now come in Hawaii when we must go further. 
And why is it that we must do this? Why this constantly 
recurring talk of forests and forest protection? Why not leave 
it to the government officials to look after the forests? That is 
what they are paid for. 
The answer to these questions is simply and solely because 
in Hawaii forestry is a business necessity. Wood and water 
are the first needs that must be satisfied in any community. 
Both are products of the forest. Wherever it can be got water 
is the most valuable product that the native Hawaiian forest can 
be made to yield. In Hawaii, without the native forest we 
should be without water. And in our planted forests, we have, 
too, an asset of constantly increasing value ; for the production 
of wood is one of the pressing needs of local conservation. 
The truth of these assertions is self-evident. But notwith- 
standing, there is much delay in putting into practice things 
which everybody agrees ought to be done to make our forests 
render their full quota of service. The object of this meeting 
is to bring home to those on whom rests the duty of managing 
the material resources of Hawaii, the fact that wise use means 
not alone the prevention of waste but as well, and even more, 
the full utilization of all our resources. The prevention of waste 
does not mean the locking up of our natural resources. That is 
no part of the conservation program. On the contrary the key- 
note of conservation is use. But use from the standpoint of con- 
servation essentially means wise use — use by which we may enjoy 
the benefits from a given resource, not only today but also in the 
years to come. And in Hawaii this cannot be brought about 
save through the cooperation of all concerned. 
Now obviously the first step in wise use is to stop waste. And 
unfortunately all over the Territory waste is now going on — 
