ic>9 
servation  can  be  seen  to  be  at  work  so  readily  as  here  in  these 
Islands.  Let  me  recount  briefly  the  reasons  why  this  is  so. 
Hawaii  is  essentially  a country  dependent  upon  agriculture. 
Lying  in  the  sub-tropics  as  this  group  does — mountainous  is- 
lands in  the  trade  wind  belt — it  follows  that  Hawaii  has  a 
climate  characterized  by  extremes.  In  the  windward  districts 
is  heavy  rainfall ; on  the  lee  side  of  the  mountains  dryness, 
even  approaching  aridity.  On  each  island  it  is  the  same : 
Hilo  and  Kau ; Hana  and  Kula ; Halelea  and  Waimea.  But  it 
does  not  follow  that  the  rich  land  is  necessarily  in  the  moist 
districts.  There  is  in  the  dry  districts,  even  in  the  districts 
which  approach  aridity,  much  rich  soil  which  with  water 
can  be  made  productive.  Hence  it  follows  that  irrigation  is  a 
natural  consequence  in  order  to  make  some  of  the  best  lands 
in  the  dry  districts  productive.  Without  moisture  these  lands 
are  of  little  value  and  so  it  follows  that  where  water  is  not  to 
be  had  naturally,  it  must  be  got  artificially — which  means  irri 
gation. 
The  Governor  has  already  pointed  out  how  the  large  planta- 
tions at  very  considerable  expense  have  brought  out  watei 
from  the  windward  side  to  irrigate  their  fields.  Fortunately 
on  the  windward  side  of  the  Islands  there  are  numerous 
streams,  which,  with  the  artesian  water  in  other  places,  are 
sufficient  to  supply  most  of  the  needs  for  water  if  the  forests 
and  the  streams  are  handled  in  a judicious  manner.  Because 
of  the  steep,  short  water  sheds,  it  is  essential  that  there  be 
maintained  a cover  of  vegetation  on  the  catchment  basins  of 
the  water  sheds.  Without  such  a cover  of  vegetation,  the 
water  quickly  runs  away,  not  only  being  lost  to  human  use, 
but  doing  considerable  damage  through  the  erosion  of  the 
upper  parts  of  the  valleys  and  the  flooding  of  valuable  lands 
below.  The  Hawaiian  forest  is  admirably  adapted  to  act  as 
a protective  cover  on  the  water  sheds.  When  the  water  shed 
is  covered  with  vegetation  the  dense  tangle  of  trees,  shrubs, 
vines,  ferns  and  moss  retards  the  runoff,  prevents  erosion  and 
stores  up  the  rainfall.  The  water  is  then  gradually  given  out 
to  feed  the  springs  and  streams,  which  results  in  a fairly  con- 
stant flow.  The  native  forest  is  the  best  possible  cover  for  the 
water  shed.  Consequently,  in  view  of  the  value  of  water  to 
the  Territory,  the  only  wise  course  is  to  protect  the  forest 
cover  on  all  the  streams  that  are  or  may  be  needed  for  econo- 
mic use.  The  preservation  of  the  forest  saves  the  waters. 
The  assurance  of  a dependable  supply  makes  possible  the 
development  of  land  that  could  not  otherwise  be  turned  to 
useful  account.  In  Hawaii,  lands,  waters  and  forests  are  in- 
terdependent, so  that  a policy  of  conservation  is  essential. 
The  Hawaiian  forest  is  easily  damaged  from  fire,  cattle  and 
from  other  causes  and  it  is  essential  in  order  to  get  the  best 
