10 
In my opinion, the electorate can be depended upon to stand 
by a policy that is thus clearly necessary for the public welfare. 
However loud may be the clamor and however ingenious the at- 
tempt to confuse the issue, the special interests, whether large or 
small, cannot deceive the electorate for any considerable length 
of time. The fundamental principle of conservation, which is 
that of utilizing our lands and all our natural resources in the 
best possible way and for the common interests, must be main- 
tained. 
THE PART PLAYED BY THE FOREST IN CONSERVA- 
TION. 
Address by Ralph S. Hosmer, 
Superintendent of Forestry. 
The five cardinal points for which conservation stands are the 
right use of lands, waters, forests and minerals, and the systematic 
safeguarding of the public health. Here in Hawaii we are more 
intimately concerned with conservation than are most communi- 
ties. With us the very economic life of the islands depends on 
the wise use of waters, lands and forests. While standing as 
we do, the western outpost of our nation, this community has 
placed upon it responsibilities in matters affecting the public 
health that require a large measure both of zeal and discretion. 
My share on this program is to speak of the part that the for- 
est has to play in Hawaii and to point out certain things that 
must be done, if our local forests are to be made to render their 
full service to the people of this Territory. 
The forest situation in Hawaii is familiar to most of those in 
this audience. But let me briefly review the salient points. Ha- 
waii is essentially an agricultural community, largely dependent 
upon irrigation. Under our local conditions of sharply diversi- 
fied climate, of varied topography and of the need — the more pro- 
nounced because of our limited areas — of putting to its highest 
use every acre of our arable land, it is essential that provision be 
made for the wise utilization of every drop of water that can be 
made to do duty — be it used for irrigation, for domestic supply, 
for fluming cane or for power development. 
This can only be accomplished with the aid of the forest. With 
our short, steep watersheds, heavy rainfall and lack of adequate 
storage facilities it is self-evident that the function exercised by 
the forest on the catchment basins and in general over the water- 
sheds, is of much more importance here than in most other coun- 
tries. Far and away the chief value of the Hawaiian forest is 
as a protective cover for equalizing and making dependable the 
sources of our water supply. For retarding run-off, protecting 
the surface against erosion and helping to form a natural reser- 
