66 
the West Maui Mountain above a line so encircling the mountain 
as to exclude all agricultural land'. The proposed reserve con- 
tains an area of approximately 44440 acres. 
OBJECT. 
The object of the West Maui Forest Reserve is essentially to 
protect the forest cover on the West Maui Mountain. The 
primary value of this forest consists in its beneficial influence on 
the streams that rising on the West Maui mountains are turned 
to economic account for irrigation, power development, domestic 
supply and other uses. By preserving intact the present forest, 
and by extending it where it is necessary to again clothe with 
vegetation bare areas or open spaces within the reserve boun- 
dary, it is the purpose of the reserve to maintain and increase 
the favorable influence now exerted. The forest on the West 
Maui Mountain is therefore properly to be classed as a "pro- 
tection forest" and as such should be treated in the manner already 
recommended for other reserves of the protection forest class 
that have been created in the windward' districts on several of 
the islands in the Hawaiian Group. 
In the case of West Maui forest protection is a particularly 
important matter. With two or three exceptions, in the Kaana- 
pali district, all of the streams of any size coming from the West 
Maui Mountain are now put to use. In several cases the water is 
made to do double duty, by being forced to turn power wheels on 
its way to the irrigation ditches. Considering the large areas of 
Agricultural land that can only be made profitably productive 
through- irrigation with water from the West Maui Mountain, the 
protection of the streams from which it comes is highly import- 
ant. The West Maui Forest Reserve is therefore to be consid- 
ered as one of the essential units in the chain of Territorial forest 
reserves that is now being established. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Topography. 
In topography the West Maui Mountain is bold and rugged". 
An ancient volcanic uplift, the mountain mass is deeply fissured on 
all sides by great gulches that have been cut by long continued 
erosion. Narrow ridges and steep, often precipitious slopes fur* 
ther characterize the section and make it one of great scenic in- 
terest. Some of the gulches like the Iao Valley, back of Wailuku, 
are well known for their picturesque beauty. Others less often 
visited, like Ukumahame and Kahakuloa are quite as wonderful 
in rugged sides and wealth of vegetation. All the larger valleys 
carry streams that, beside making it a section of economic import- 
ance, add further to its beauty. 
