Newell 
 
 Hawaii, its Natural 
 
 Resources and Opportunities 
 
 for Home-Making
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 60th Congress "I 
 2d Session / 
 
 SENATE 
 
 / Document 
 
 I No. 668 
 
 .^) 
 
 HAWAII 
 
 ITS NATURAL RESOURCES 
 
 AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
 
 HOME-MAKING 
 
 BY 
 
 F. H.^NEWELL 
 
 Director of the Reclamation Service 
 
 ^ 
 
 January 20, 1909. — Ordered to be printed 
 ■with accompanying illustrations 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 1909
 
 HC 
 
 oo:?^TE]srTs. 
 
 Pag*?. 
 
 Introduction 7 
 
 Land surface 8 
 
 Arid lands 10 
 
 [Lands in public ownership 10 
 
 [Lands in private ownership 12 
 
 [Land subdivision 12 
 
 [Land values , 15 
 
 gWater supply: 
 
 Units of measurement 16 
 
 Duty of water 16 
 
 Prices of water 17 
 
 ^Irrigation development: 
 
 Hawaii 18 
 
 Maui 20 
 
 Molokai 21 
 
 Oahu 21 
 
 Kauai 22 
 
 [Reclaimable lands 23 
 
 [Water rights 25 
 
 [Water power 26 
 
 iForest preservation 28 
 
 [insect pests and blights 32 
 
 [Population 34 
 
 llndustries: 
 
 Sugar 38 
 
 Rice 39 
 
 Diversified industries 40 
 
 fLabor: 
 
 Importing labor 44 
 
 iHome making: 
 
 Homes on public lands 47 
 
 Is home making practicable 49 
 
 [Summary 50 
 
 ILLU8TRATIO]:^S. 
 
 Page. 
 
 iFiG. 1. Area of Hawaiian Islands compared with area of Colorado 9 
 
 2. Classification of all lands as regards character 10 
 
 3. Ownership of land n 
 
 4. Distribution of public land 13 
 
 5. Classification of public lands 14 
 
 6. Forest areas and forest reserves 29 
 
 7. Population changes 35 
 
 8. Voters, 1908 " 36 
 
 9. All school children, 1908 38 
 
 10. Production of sugar 40 
 
 3 
 
 1324553
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Under instructions of July 7, 1908. from the Secretary of the Inte- 
 rior I visited the Territor}^ of Hawaii and made the memoranda sub- 
 mitted herewith rehiting to matters of interest in connection witli the 
 possibility of reclaiming the arid public lands and of utilizing these 
 for homes. 
 
 I arrived in the islands on September 23 and left on November 18, 
 being eight weeks in the Territor}-, spending the greater part of this 
 in travel, during which time I made a circuit of the island of Oahu, 
 visiting in order Maui, Kahoolawe, Hawaii, ]Molokai, and Kauai. In 
 the course of the various trips I traveled approximately 700 miles on 
 interisland steamers, 750 miles by carriage, automobile, or railway 
 train, and 450 miles on horseback. I had an opportunity^ of meeting 
 many people of the islands in their homes, as relatively little time 
 was spent in hotels. I also had opportunities of being present at 
 various popular gatherings and associations where matters of interest 
 relating to the development of the Territory were discussed. 
 
 In making this report I have tried to present the larger features of 
 a complex situation, and at the same time preserve a certain freshness 
 of impression, amplifying the details which strike the newcomer and 
 which are not readily found in reports or books on the islands. The 
 impressions of a first visit differ widely from preconceived opinions 
 obtained from reports or from descriptions which necessarily deal 
 largely with special features. This will explain why I have gone 
 somewhat fully into matters which are elementary to the people of 
 the islands, but which seem to be overlooked by the average Ameri- 
 can citizen. 
 
 The descriptions of irrigation and other works dealing with sizes, 
 capacities, and cost have been compiled from memoranda somewhat 
 hastily prepared. There has not been opportunity for securing veri- 
 fication of these data from the owners or engineers of the works. The 
 object of inserting the descriptions has been to call attention to the 
 fact that considerable development has taken place and to indicate 
 in a general way the character of this development. It is hoped that 
 in the future a more careful description may be prepared of these 
 works, and to this end information is being obtained to bring these 
 statements up to date. The purpose of this report is amply served 
 by calling attention to the present knowledge of the existing con- 
 ditions. 
 
 In my trips among the islands I have had the advantage and per- 
 sonal pleasure of being accompanied by Gov. Walter F. Frear. His 
 broad knowledge of local conditions has been invaluable. He has 
 already thought out and called attention to or put into practice as 
 
 5
 
 6 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 far as possible many of the important principles of conservation of 
 the resources of the islands. His annual report exhibits concisely the 
 existing conditions and calls attention to needed legislation in the line 
 of progress. In it he emphasizes the fact that the sentiment among 
 the thinking public on the islands is rapidly growing in favor of 
 bringing in or encouraging the larger introduction of laborers who 
 are or will become American citizens, thus gradually reducing the 
 proportion of aliens, mainly Orientals, who form over half of the 
 jiOjDulation. 
 
 A sentiment toward changing the character of the laborers from 
 aliens to citizens has been aroused among the thinking people of the 
 islands. It is accompanied by a realization of the fact that the 
 laborers — who will be voters — must have a home and ownership of a 
 small tract of land if they are to be a stable and conservative force in 
 government. This brings us face to face with the overshadowing 
 problem of home making and home preservation, and through home 
 making the permanent increase of a working population with the 
 civic capacity which is essential to the safety of an x^merican com- 
 monwealth. Many attempts have been made in this direction with 
 little success, but as a result of the experience had in the arid States 
 and Territories it is believed that lands now arid and mainly in public 
 ownership can be reclaimed, divided into small tracts, and the owner- 
 ship gradually passed to American citizens, including both laborers 
 and small farmers. 
 
 F. H. Newell. 
 
 December 21, 1908.
 
 HAWAII. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Hawaiian Islands are a part of the United States lying 2,000 
 miles off the coast of California and several hundred miles easterly 
 from the farthest western possessions of the United States in Alaska. 
 These islands are now and have been for eight years (since June 14, 
 1900) an integral part of the territory of the United States. This 
 fact seems to be not generally appreciated by the great mass of citi- 
 zens on the mainland. As a consequence, the opportunities offered 
 by the islands and the duties of the United States as a whole to the 
 Territory have been quite largely overlooked. The opportunities are 
 those offered by a rich soil, a highly developed civilization, and, most 
 notably, by a climate ideal as regards comfort and suitability for 
 high physical development. 
 
 The duties of the nation to this Territory arise from the fact that 
 this island outpost is the gateway through which passes most of the 
 traffic to and from the Orient, and where diseases inimical to the 
 human race, also the insect pests or blights injurious to animal and 
 vegetable life, must be caught and destroyed or j^revented from 
 further progress. From the political standpoint the importance of 
 keeping these islands thoroughly American in racial and social affini- 
 ties can hardly be overestimated. There is not sufficient area to develop 
 at once a State so great and independent that its demands will be 
 prominent at the federal capital. It is therefore incumbent upon the 
 National Government to see that this community is given the needed 
 encouragement and support which will lead to its best development 
 along traditional American lines. 
 
 The health of the bod}^ politic demands that this small but impor- 
 tant territory should have a full recognition and constant considera- 
 tion. It is unnecessary to enter upon any argument along military 
 lines. This has been widely discussed, but it is significant to point 
 out that this gatewa}' to and from the Orient is the abiding place for 
 Orientals now comprising 50 per cent of the population. Counting 
 with these the peoples from southern Europe — landless and largely 
 migratory laborers, with no inherent loyalty to republican institu- 
 tions — the total forms nearh^ three-fourths of the whole jiopulation 
 of the islands. Add to this the fact that the natives, who comprise 
 nearly three-fourths of the voters, are still uncertain in their civil 
 attitude — are easily swayed by specious arguments — and there arises 
 a condition where common prudence demands careful thought, result- 
 ing in a definite plan, followed by action. There is a striking defi-
 
 8 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 ciency in numbers of what have been called the '• plain people '' — 
 citizens descended from generations of freemen — in whom thrift, 
 energy, and civic virtues are inborn. This lack notably of the "small 
 farmer " has long been recognized. It is the duty of the nation to 
 assist in filling this need. 
 
 liAND SURFACE. 
 
 The land surface of the eight inhabited islands aggregates a little 
 under 6,500 square miles, or, in round numbers, a little over 4.000,000 
 acres, being a little less than the area of the State of New Jersey. 
 The largest island, Hawaii, has an area of 4,015 square miles, or about 
 the same as Connecticut. 
 
 Compared with Porto Rico, which has an area of 3,435 square miles, 
 the Island of Hawaii is one-sixth larger. In population, however, 
 the islands as a whole have only about 170,000 persons, or 20 per 
 square mile, while Porto Eico has about 1,000,000, or nearly 300 per 
 square mile. 
 
 In extent the islands cover an area comparable to a belt extending 
 diagonally across Colorado, as illustrated by figure 1. 
 
 *~Tlie lands are made up almost entirely of lava flows, some of 
 great antiquity, others quite recent. The upper layers of the older 
 lavas, where they have decayed on the surface, furnish soils which, 
 though very fertile, are frequently eroded by ravines or canyons. 
 The lands covered b}^ the most recent lavas are practically valueless, 
 the rough surface, not yet disintegrated by the weather, being bare 
 of vegetation and in many places impassable to man or beast. 
 
 On the 4,000,000 ircres of land surface, probably one-third (see 
 fig. 2) is of little or no use, consisting of fresh lava or of cliifs, 
 canyons, and ravines too steep even for the growth of forest trees. 
 The most valuable land is that now utilized for the growth of sugar 
 cane^ This aggregates about 213,000 acres, of which 34,000 acres 
 belong to the Government. ^The cane land is located on the alluvial 
 flats and lower slopes of disintegrated lava flows. Above or adjacent 
 to these is the belt of land too high or too dry for sugar, but used 
 largely for grazing^ This aggregates about 1,500,000 acres. Higher 
 up the mountain slopes, extending on the windward side to the tops 
 of all but the highest mountains, are the forests, the collecting ground 
 for the water supply of the lower lands. j These embrace over 1,000,000 
 acres, of which three-fourths have been or will soon be set aside as 
 territorial forest reserves. About 70 per cent of the area of the 
 reserves belongs to the Territory, the remainder being in the hands 
 of individuals or corporations, who are working with the territorial 
 officials in preserving the forest cover. 
 
 ' Altitude and exposure to the wind governs largely the productive 
 capacity of the land areas. The soil, though all of volcanic origin, 
 varies in quality largely through differences in exposure to the 
 weather, to dryness, ancl consequently to the degree to which the 
 parent rocks have disintegrated. 
 
 At altitudes below 1,000 feet the climate is truly tropical, especially 
 on the leeward or sheltered side, while on the mountain tops, above 
 10,000 feet, the climate is almost arctic in its severity. As a whole,
 
 NATUBAL. RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 only about one quarter of the area of the islands is below 1,000 feet 
 above sea level, another quarter is from 1,000 to 3,000 feet in altitude, 
 and the remainder above 3.000 feet. It is in this belt of land above 
 1,000 feet and reaching well up on the mountain slope that the 
 
 r' 
 
 ! ^ 
 
 I 
 
 highest development of small farming and diversified industries 
 appear probable. The elevation is sufficiently great to insure a 
 climate suitable for the comfort of the white race and yet is suf- 
 ficiently warm for the raising of many valuable products-^
 
 10 
 
 NATUEAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 ARID LANDS. 
 
 Over one-third of the entire land surface of the islands is arid for 
 the greater portion of each year. Taking into consideration only the 
 areas which possess a soil of agricultural value, it may be said that 
 one-half of all the good soils of the islands require the artificial appli- 
 cation of water to be of the highest value in crop production. Much 
 of the lands now used for grazing can be utilized for crops if water 
 can be had at the right time. 
 
 It is popularly supposed that the islands are saturated with mois- 
 ture. This is because of the fact that at certain points, notably on 
 the windward side, the precipitation is exceedingly heavy and has been 
 
 Fig. 2. — Classification of lands as regards character. 
 
 SO frequently commented upon, that this fact of heavy rainfall at a 
 few points has overshadowed the equally important fact that other 
 parts of the island* have a deficient water supply ._, 
 
 LANDS IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP. 
 
 The total area of public lands owned by the Territory of Hawaii is 
 estimated at a little over 1,000,000 acres, or one-third the entire land 
 Burface. Practically all of this is under lease and is being put to some 
 use. Much of it has little value, being composed of recent lava flows, 
 or is cut up by great canyons. About 34,000 acres, or 2 per cent, is 
 now in sugar cane, and about 500,000 is included in various ranches,
 
 NATUEAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 11 
 
 being cut up usually by stone walls into grazing fields or paddocks. 
 Much of the remainder, or 273,912 acres, is included in territorial 
 forest reserves, and additional area up to a total of about 300,000 
 acres will be thus set aside. 
 
 Many of the leases on the larger tracts of public lands were origi- 
 nall}^ executed in the years from 18C0 to 1890, and had a length of life 
 of fifty years or less. As each lease expires the question arises as to 
 the disposition to be made of this particular area. Thus the broad 
 question as to the future of all the i^ublic lands has not been forcibly 
 presented at any one time. Executive action in carrying out any 
 future policy must await the opportunity when each lease expires in 
 turn. 
 
 Fig. 
 
 50 
 
 -Ownorship of lands. 
 
 There is little in the public land situation in the islands which 
 is directly comparable with that on the mainland. On the islands 
 the public lands are now, and have been for generations, occupied and 
 put to some use. They are more or less highly developed, and are 
 under cultivation as far as the arid conditions will ])ermit. They 
 can be compared, perhaps, most nearly to the abandoned military 
 and similar reservations in the arid Western States, Avhere houses 
 have been built, ditches constructed, fields fenced, and a comparatively 
 large population has found a homo. They are included within or are 
 bounded by tracts of private land of equal or greater size, Avhich also 
 have been occupied and used for generations. They do not, as on 
 the mainland, consist of vast stretches whose resources are little
 
 12 NATUKAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 known and where the newcomer must select his homestead on untried 
 areas remote from human habitation; on the contrary, most of the 
 arable public lands on the islands show evidence of former occupa- 
 tion or agricidtural improvement, and has been the home of genera- 
 tions of tillers of the soil. Every little hill and valley and each nat- 
 ural feature has now, or did have, a Avell-recognized name, and com- 
 plicated rights of w^ter have vested from time immemorial. 
 
 LANDS IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. 
 
 The title to all lands in private ownership dates from about 1848. 
 Prior to that time the lands and waters belonged to the King and 
 were divided by him among his chiefs or followers, who in turn 
 alloted portions to the people. Land tenure was then comparable 
 to that under the feudal system in Europe. In 1846 to 1855 a division 
 of all lands was made, resulting in approximately the following 
 allotments : 
 
 Acres. 
 
 To the Crown 1,100,000 
 
 To the Government 1,413,000 
 
 To chiefs and people 1,647,000 
 
 Total 4, 160, 000 
 
 This ownership applied mostly to Hawaiians, as the laws until 
 1859 practically prohibited aliens from such land ownership. There 
 were approximately 11,000 native owners who received an average 
 of from 2 to 3 acres apiece, these being the small kuleanas or taro 
 patches, occupied and tilled by each man at that time. This division 
 of the land illustrates the fact that the needs of the common people 
 were filled and a relatively high state of cidture developed by indi- 
 vidual work on very small tracts; in fact, the native under best 
 conditions, can rarely make use of a larger area. 
 
 Bishop estate. — The largest private landowner in the islands is 
 the Bishop estate, the lands being those resulting from descent in 
 the extinct Kamehameha line of kings. At present these lands are 
 held as a source of revenue to be devoted to certain schools. The 
 estate is estimated to include 375,000 acres, or about 9 per cent of the 
 entire land surface of the islands, but it is claimed that only 5 per 
 cent of this 375,000 acres is suitable for agriculture. It is probable 
 that in the case of any general system of reclamation being under- 
 taken by the Federal Government this large estate as well as other 
 landowners would cooperate in making available the reclaimable 
 land for settlers on small tracts. 
 
 LAND SUBDIVISION. 
 
 r 
 The rectangular form of subdivision adopted throughout the 
 greater part of the mainland, both in the United States and in 
 Canada, is unknown in the island^, and is inapplicable to the phj^s- 
 ical and cultural conditions there existing. This system was origi- 
 nally devised for the broad prairies and plains of the West and is 
 of a special value where the land is of uniform character for hun- 
 dreds of miles. On the islands there is no such thing, the typical 
 condition being that of a mountain mass sunk partly beneath the 
 sea but with the top projecting out of the water. From the moun-
 
 NATURAL EESOUECES OF HAWAII. 
 
 13 
 
 tain top the surface slopes in all directions to the shore. On the 
 windward side this otherwise gentle slope has been abruptly ter- 
 minated at the sea by erosion forming high cliifs and deep gorges. 
 On the leeward side the slope has frequently been prolonged b}^ coral 
 reefs aided by soil washed or blown from the upper lands. Going 
 
 around the islands there are belts or zones of land having similar 
 climatic conditions, the successive zones becoming less and less trop- 
 ical as the mountain side is ascended. These horizontal belts are, 
 however, deeply cut by canyons or gorges, which radiate from the 
 central cone. ,
 
 14 
 
 NATURAL EESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 This ideal arrangement is interfered with on several of the islands 
 by the fact that there are two or more distinct mountain peaks, but 
 the original subdivision of the land by the natives was made largely 
 with reference to this typical condition of topography and of the 
 common needs of the peoplQ'. Each chief Avas allotted by the King 
 a piece of land not lying in a continuous strip along the seashore 
 or on the mountain side, but was given a wedge-shaped slice extend- 
 ing from a point at the mountain top down to the sea, widening out 
 toward the shore. In this way each principal man had a part of the 
 sea frontage for fishing, a little lowland for cocoanuts or taro, some 
 higher ground for dry-land crops, above this some forest for wood 
 for various purposes, including canoe making, and also some of the 
 grazing or waste land^ Thus a diversion was made of all classes 
 
 . Fig. 5. — Classification of public land. 
 
 of .surface, the size of each individual holding being proportional to 
 the importance of the chief. 
 
 The adoption by the natives of this method of land subdivision 
 is a natural consequence of the topographic structure. They had 
 originally in their language no expression for the points of the com- 
 i:)ass, but instead of fixed directions, commonly used two words, which 
 pass current even with the white men, that is, the term " mauka," 
 to signify toward the mountain, and " makai " toward the sea. It is 
 curious to note that even though a man is accustomed through long 
 usage to speak of directions as north or south, east or west, as is 
 done habitually on the mainland, yet on coming to the islands he 
 quickly falls into the habit of indicating directions by the simple
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 15 
 
 ■words '' mauka " or '•' makai," as every point on the islands is thus 
 quickly described with reference to other adjacent points. Instead 
 of describing a place as being on the right or left hand side of the 
 road, it is always *' mauka *' or " makai '" of the road. 
 
 These native subdivisions, or ahupuaas, the result of j'ears of expe- 
 rience, became crystallized into definite holdings at the Mahele of 
 18-1:8. Their boundaries were as a rule general in character, and it 
 has been a work of great magnitude to establish and mark upon the 
 ground the exact limits of these ahupuaas. This delimiting each 
 holding would have been comparatively easy were it not for the fact 
 that within each of these larger holdings there are smaller tracts, 
 averaging 2 or 3 acres, kuleanas of the natives. To each of these 
 there attaches a more or less definite right to certain waters used from 
 time immemorial in cultivation of taro or other crops on the kuleanas. 
 
 The descriptions of all lands, whether public or private, is neces- 
 sarily by metes and bounds and not by any simple numerical system 
 such as that made easy by the rectangular surveys on the mainland. 
 Every tract of land, no matter how insignificant, has its individual 
 name. From the fact that the Hawaiian alphabet is limited to a few 
 letters, and certain sjdlables are in frequent use, it results that the 
 names of these lands are frequently similar in sound or the same 
 ame is repeated in various localities and are thus confusing to the 
 stranger. 
 
 The land surveys, considering the difficulty of the work, have been 
 made with extraordinary accuracy. They are based upon triangula- 
 tion, and the original maps are a matter of public record. Titles may 
 be registered and transferred b}^ the Torrens system. 
 
 LAND VALUES. 
 
 Land values appear to be very high compared with those existing 
 throughout the arid West of the United States. It is, however, diffi- 
 cult to make comparisons as the crop-producing capacities of the 
 lands are so different. On the sugar lands, for example, eighteen 
 months is required for producing a crop, while in the case of some 
 other products two or even three crops a year can be had. 
 
 Few if any agi'icultural lands are on the market. Even city or 
 suburban lots were obtainable with great difficulty until within a few 
 years. The lack of real estate agents in the islands is very noticeable, 
 especially when a person has become accustomed to the constant 
 importunities of men offering agricultural and other lands for sale 
 in the vicinity of every town or city on the mainland. 
 
 Leasing real estate instead of selling is prevalent, and it is a matter 
 of surprise to learn the large sums received for tillable lands, such as 
 those rented by the orientals, notably the Chinese, for rice produc- 
 tion; $20 to $25 per acre per year is not uncommon, and instances 
 have been seen where rents as high as $40 or even $60 per acre per 
 year are collected. For banana land the prices may be from $5 to 
 $15 per acre. The tendency is for the orientals, and to a less extent 
 the Portuguese, to rent rather than obtain an absolute title to the 
 land. It is impossible to assign any one cause for the condition, 
 anomalous in American territory, of high rentals and few if any 
 sales.
 
 16 NATURAL EESOUECES OF HAWAII. 
 
 The origin of the custom lies in the history of the land titles and 
 in the peculiar character of the population. Up to the time of the 
 establishment of a permanent government there prevailed such uncer- 
 tainty as regards the future that investors preferred to keep tlieir 
 money in negotiable securities. Even after the establishment of the 
 territorial government there was little tendency to invest in land or 
 speculate in the rise in value of real estate. The sugar planters have, 
 of course, endeavored to purchase the lands needed for their business. 
 Failing in this they have leased from the government, the Bishop 
 estate, and other holders. The lands which might be useful for other 
 purposes have not as a rule been put upon the market and would-be 
 jDurchasers of small tracts have difficulty in obtaining any land suit- 
 able for farming. 
 
 The leasing system has been denounced by some as the curse of the 
 country, although it is recognized that there are conditions such as 
 those surrounding the occupation of the land by the natives where the 
 long-time lease is the only way by which they can be assured of a 
 permanent home. The high prices of land have also forced men of 
 small capital to lease land so that they might use their resources in 
 cultivation and marketing the crops. 
 
 AVATER SUPPLY. 
 
 There is probably no part of the United States where in as small 
 an area there is as great a diversity in the quantity of water and its 
 availability. At one point the annual rainfall may be over 300 inches 
 in depth; only a few miles distant, extreme aridity prevails. Even 
 with the heavy rainfall on the mountain slopes, which are exposed to 
 the trade winds, there are relatively few rivers or living streams. 
 Much of the water sinks into the porous lava and penetrates to the 
 innumerable pipes or tunnels left by the fluid rocks as they originally 
 flowed toward the sea. 
 
 Units of measurement. — In statements regarding the quantities of 
 water the unit commonly employed in the Hawaiian Islands is the 
 United States gallon of 231 cubic inches. The flow of streams is 
 given in millions of gallons per twenty-four hours. Transferring 
 this unit to the one in ordinary use in the United States of the cubic 
 foot per second (or second-foot), there is found to be a convenient 
 relationship in that a stream delivering a million gallons during 
 twenty-four hours is equivalent to a flow of a little over 1.5 second- 
 feet. The second-foot is roughly equivalent to two-thirds of a mil- 
 lion gallons per twenty-four hours, or is 50 " miners' inches," thus 
 making the million gallon per twenty-four hours equivalent to about 
 75 miners' inches. 
 
 The common unit of volume of water — for example, that contained 
 in a reservoir — is in the United States the acre-foot (13,560 cubic 
 feet) . A volume of a million gallons is thus equivalent to 3.06 acre- 
 feet, or 1 acre-foot equals a little less than a third of a million gallons. 
 
 Duty of ivate7\ — The duty of water in irrigation of the arid lands 
 is stated generally to be a million gallons per twenty-four hours, flow- 
 ing continuously, for 100 acres of sugar cane. Many soils require a 
 larger quantity of water and a million gallons (or 1.5 second-feet) 
 will irrigate considerably less than 100 acres, in some cases as low as 
 60 acres or even less, where the ground is excessively sandy or porous.
 
 NATURAL ItESOUECES OF HAWAII. 17 
 
 The sugar cane is grown in furrows about 5 feet apart, into which 
 water is turned from the distributing ditches. The newly planted 
 seed is watered every three or four daj's. Later, water is applied once 
 in ten to sixteen days if available. If water can not be had, the sugar 
 cane will continue for some weeks or even months without serious 
 deterioration, but will not make any notable growth. There is a 
 limit to its endurance, and when once passed subsequent irrigation 
 will not revive the plant. Sufficient water is applied to the cane fields 
 to cover them to a depth of from 10 to 12 feet each year. Without 
 irrigation sugar cane is said to yield a profit where the rain is not 
 less than 3 inches each month. 
 
 Xot only is water developed for use in irrigation, but it is also 
 employed in creating electric power, which, after transmittal, is in 
 turn used for pumping water for irrigation. Large volumes are also 
 used for conveying the ripe sugar cane to the mills from the fields 
 situated at distances of several miles and at several hundred feet 
 greater elevation. INlany of the cane fields are on steep slopes, and 
 from these it is impossible to convey the cane at reasonable cost ex- 
 cepting by flowing water. The water is conducted in V-shaped 
 flumes built of so-called " northwest " lumber or Douglas fir. The 
 California redwood is more permanent as regards freedom from 
 decay, but has been found to be too soft for conveying the cane, as 
 the friction quickly wears it out. 
 
 Pi'ices of tcater. — Water for irrigation is not generally sold, most 
 of the ditch systems having been built by the plantations. In a few 
 cases water not needed by the plantation has been sold at the rate of 
 from $6 to $8 per million gallons, or, in round numbers, from $2 to 
 $2.50 per acre-foot. 
 
 For a continuous flow of water the prices have ranged from $2,000 
 to $3,G00, or even in one case as high as $G,250 per annmn per million 
 gallons per twenty-four hours of continuous discharge. This is at the 
 rate, in round numbers, of $1,100 to $2,100 up to $1,000 per cubic foot 
 per second, a price which would be prohibitory in the arid region of 
 the United States, as on a basis of 100 acres to the second-foot this 
 would be an annual charge of $11 to $21 or $10 per acre. The highest 
 charge known on the mainland, excepting in extraordinary emergen- 
 cies to save an orchard, is rarely above $5 a year per acre. 
 
 IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 There are now under irrigation, mainly in sugar cane, about 110,000 
 acres. The investment in ditches, tunnels, reservoirs, pumps, etc, 
 amounts to over $15,000,000, or at a rate of about $110 per acre. The 
 older ditches — some in rock tunnel — were begun by the natives in 
 prehistoric times. The latter larger works have been built mainly 
 by the sugar planters. 
 
 Irrigation development in the islands differs widely from that on 
 the mainland in the character of construction and cost per unit of 
 water handled. On the mainland the greater part of the water is 
 taken from perennial streams and carried in broad, shallow canals 
 having a capacity of several hundred cubic feet per second. On the 
 islands most of the water is taken from very small streams. The 
 ditches head in high and exceedingly rough mountain regions, the 
 
 S. Doc. GGS, GO-2 2
 
 18 NATUEAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 ridges being so narrow and the slopes so steep that the water is con- 
 veyed Largely in tunnels. The tendency is more and more to do a\vay 
 with open ditches, and practically honeycomb the catchment region 
 with underground works. 
 
 Storage reservoirs on the islands are small compared with those on 
 the mainland. There are no large natural basins adapted to holding 
 water. In most cases the underlying rock, consisting of lava, is very 
 porous, and water is held only by the relatively thin layer of soil on 
 top of the lava, in which there is usually little or no clay. On the 
 island of Hawaii considerable difficulty has been experienced, as the 
 soil of the basins there used as reservoirs has been penetrated by 
 roots, which, decaying, form almost innumerable passages from the 
 surface to the porous lava. Water may stand in such a reservoir at 
 a depth of say 10 feet without serious loss, but when the height is 
 increased to say 15 feet many holes will develop. Attempts have 
 been made to pack the soil by turning in cattle and sheep, in the hopes 
 that the constant tramping will close all openings. Expensive tests 
 have also been made of various ways of plowing the soil and subsoil 
 and compacting this by heavy rollers or hammers. In each case, 
 although temporary relief has been had, the increase of pressure on 
 the reservoir has resulted in breaking through the earthy lining. The 
 cost of completely stripping the reservoirs and of relining them is 
 practically prohibitory. 
 
 Pumping water for irrigation has been developed on the islands to 
 an extent far in excess of anything in the United States, over GO per 
 cent of the water used on plantations being pumped. On the main- 
 land a height of 30 or 40 feet is considered for most crops the limit, 
 but in the islands with higher crop values pumping to 10 times this 
 height is not unusual. Much valuable experience has been obtained 
 as a result of experiments made on a large scale with various forms 
 of pumping apparatus. The direct-acting, slow-moving pump has 
 been generally done away with, and most of the new pumps are of 
 the relatively' high speed, fly-wheel type, with triple expansion cylin- 
 ders and piston velocity up to 500 feet per second. These elevate 
 water to a height of a little under 200 feet up to a maximum of 550 
 feet, at a cost of approximately $7.85 per million gallons (or $2.50 
 per acre-foot) for 100-foot lift^ For different heights the costs are 
 given as follows per million gallons : 
 
 Cost of pumping, per mUUon gallons."' 
 
 100-foot lift $". 85 
 
 200-foot lift 11. 57 
 
 250-foot lift 13. 44 
 
 300-foot lift 15. 30 
 
 350-foot lift 17. 17 
 
 There are reported to be 111 pumps in operation, with a capacity 
 of 580 million gallons for twenty-four hours, or 900 second-feet, sup- 
 plying about 60,000 acres of land, about a million gallons to 100 
 acres or 1 second-foot to 64 acres. One acre requires about 5 million 
 gallons or 15 acre-feet to produce a crop. 
 
 The following paragraphs give some of the more striking details 
 of the irrigation works now in use: 
 
 Hawaii. — On the largest island of the group, Hawaii, having an 
 area of over 4,000 square miles, there is a much larger proportion of 
 
 " Planters Monthly, October, 1904, p. 417.
 
 NATURAL EESOURCES OF HAWAII. 19 
 
 cultivated land depending directly on rainfall than on the other 
 islands. Of the six districts in which the island is divided, there is 
 only one, that embracing the greater part of the Koliala Mountains, 
 in wliich irrigation construction has reached a considerable degree 
 of completeness. On the windward side, throughout the greater 
 part of the Hamakua coast, and especially in the Hilo district, there 
 is an abundance of rainfall, and the principal use of water by the 
 sugar plantations is in conveying sugar cane from the fields to the 
 mills. In Puna the rainfall is also usually sufficient for crops. The 
 westward or Kona side of the island, although protected from the 
 trade wind, has considerable rainfall, this being due probably to 
 the fact that the great height of Mauna Loa gives rise to local pre- 
 cipitation independent in part of the typical island conditions. 
 
 In the district of Kau, on the extreme southern side of the island, 
 water has been developed mainly for use in fiuming sugar cane by 
 means of tunnels driven into the forested slopes at altitudes of about 
 4,000 feet. There is not a sufficient precipitation to form perennial 
 streams similar to those on the Hamakua side, but there are innumer- 
 able marshes or soft places where small quantities of water can be 
 collected by tunnels driven a short distance beneath the surface. It 
 has been found as a rule that deep tunnels do not obtain any con- 
 siderable increase of water over those that penetrate to a horizontal 
 depth from about 100 feet to 150 feet. 
 
 Along the seashore, especially near Punulua. are many fresh-water 
 springs, resulting from the fact that most of the rainfall on this side 
 of the island penetrates beneath the surface and, gathering presum- 
 ably in volcanic pipes or tunnels, finds its way to sea level. Many 
 attempts have been made to trace the course of these underground or 
 percolating waters, but with little success. It is believed, however, 
 that the value of the water is such as to justify further systematic 
 search carried on under the guidance of a competent geologist and 
 engineer. It is probable that no investment will yield larger returns 
 to the plantations than a small amount of money systematically ex- 
 pended under competent guidance through a number of years. 
 
 In the extreme northern part of the island in the Kohala Mountains 
 there has been considerable activity in ditch construction. Here are 
 found also prehistoric ditches popularly said to have been built by 
 Kamehameha I, but probably antedating his time. The excavation of 
 the solid rock in the process of tunnel building is especially notable 
 because of the fact that this was done by stone implements, the rock 
 being presumably first disintegrated by fire. 
 
 Most of the water occurs at or near the summit of the Kohala 
 Mountains and on the northeastern or windward slope. This has 
 been deeply cut, forming great canyons or gulches with nearly vertical 
 sides. There has recently been built two water-supply systems, one 
 known as the Kohala ditch, extending northwesterly parallel with 
 the coast and capable of extension to reach arid lands on the western 
 slope of the Kohala Mountains; the other s^'stem consisting of the 
 upper and lower Hamakua ditches extending easterly and southerly 
 toward the Hamakua district. 
 
 Kohala ditch. — fhis ditch, completed in January, 190G, supplies 
 water for the Kohala plantations, in the extreme northerly part of 
 the island of Hawaii. It receives the water at an elevation of 1,030
 
 20 NATURAL EESOUECES OF HAWAII. 
 
 feet from Honokane and adjoining streams. In ordinary seasons it 
 carried about 20 million gallons per day, and lias an extreme capacity 
 of TO million gallons. The flow of 1907 varied from a maximum of 
 30 million gallons in July to a minimum of about 10 million gallons 
 in November. For a great part of its length it is in tunnels, there 
 being 44 of these, 7 feet high and 8 feet wide. Fourteen miles of 
 ditch have been built out of 21 miles projected. The cost is estimated 
 at $600,000. 
 
 Vfyer Hamahua ditch. — This heads in the Kohala Mountains, 
 about 5 miles south of the head of the Kohala ditch, and at an eleva- 
 tion of about 4,000 feet. It receives water from several small streams 
 before these fall over the palies or cliffs into the Waipio Valley. It 
 continues, by a series of tunnels and semicircular steel flume running 
 along the upper edge of the palies, through the forest reserve and 
 easterly to the open country, where a series of small reservoirs are 
 being constructed. The total length is 23 miles. The flow is 11 
 million gallons per day, and the capacity of the reservoirs 350 million 
 gallons. The cost was about $300,000. 
 
 Lotoer Hamahua ditch. — This ditch heads near the intake of the 
 ujDper Hamakua ditch, but about 3,000 feet lower. It receives water 
 from springs and also a small quantity from the surplus left b}^ the 
 upper ditch. Its tunnels are in a general way parallel to the upper 
 ditch covering the lower part of the same plantations; flow, 65 to 70 
 million gallons per day ; cost, $800,000. 
 
 Maui. — The principal sources of w^ater on this island are on the 
 northeastern side, on the windward or Koolau district. Here, as in 
 the case of the Hamakua coast on Hawaii, the rainfall retained for 
 a time in the marshy forested area soon finds its way into the deep 
 canyons which run back from the coast. A number of ditches have 
 been built, intercepting waters of the small streams and taking these 
 out by means of tunnels carrying the water northwesterly to the 
 depression or low-lying plain which lies between the two great 
 mountain masses which make the island. Here the climatic condi- 
 tions are such as to render sugar cane highly productive. The 
 earlier ditches took water out at elevations of about 200 feet, but later 
 and more complete sj'stems bring it to higher altitudes. 
 
 The western portion of this depression is also supplied with water 
 from the mountain region of west Maui. 
 
 The earliest ditch on Maui, known as the Hamakua ditch, was 
 built by H. P. Baldwin in 1878 to take water for the Haiku and 
 neighboring plantations. The next year another ditch, known as 
 the Haiku ditch, was built in the same section by Claus Spreckels, 
 to take water to the vicinity of Spreckelsville. This is about 20 
 miles long, has a capacity of 50 million gallons daily, and delivers 
 water at an elevation of 250 feet. This ditch was later supplemented 
 by the Lowrie ditch, built in 1900, delivering water at an elevation of 
 450 feet. 
 
 Lowrie ditch. — This is one of the earlier ditches on the island of 
 Maui. It was completed in September, 1900, with a capacity of 60 
 million gallons. Its total length is 22 miles, of wdiich 4 miles con- 
 sist of tunnels, 1 mile of flumes, and 17 miles of open cut. In 
 ditches built at a later date the proportion of tunnels has been in- 
 creased, as the experience with this ditch has shown that greater
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 21 
 
 economy is secured b}' keeping the ditch under ground as far as 
 possible. 
 
 The ditch heads at Kailua at the same point with the older Haiku 
 ditch. The latter delivers water in the vicinity of Spreckelsville 
 at an altitude of 200 feet, while the Lowrie ditch delivers it at an 
 altitude of 457 feet. The total cost is approximately $-250,000. 
 Several siphons have been built with a diameter of 4-t inches. The 
 total area irrigated is G.OOO acres. 
 
 Koolau ditch. — This was built for the Hawaiian Commercial and 
 Sugar Company, suj^plying water to the Haiku and Paia planta- 
 tions. It was completed in 1904. It is 10 miles long of which 
 nearly 8 miles are in tunnels. There are 38 of these. They are 7 feet 
 high with a maximum width of 8 feet. The daily capacity is 85 
 million gallons. It takes water from the Xahiku rain belt at an 
 elevation of 1,250 feet and discharges into the lower older ditches. 
 The tunneis were excavated by Japanese working with hand drills, 
 and the finished cost was about $7 per linear foot. The cost was 
 approximately^ about $315,000. 
 
 yVaUiee Canal. — This takes water from the Waihee stream and car- 
 ries it to the sugar lands in the vicinity of Wailuku on the island of 
 Maui. The head is at an altitude of 650 feet and on the stream at a 
 distance of 2| miles from the ocean. The total length is about 10 
 miles, of which over 3 miles is in tunnels, numbering 22, with a 
 height of Gi feet and greatest width of about 6^ feet. There are also 
 39 flumes. This ditch is 225 feet above the level of the old Waihee 
 ditch. Starting from a dam in the Waihee stream, the ditch passes 
 along the south bank and into a series of tunnels to the north bank 
 of the lao Valley, back of the town of Wailuku ; this valley is crossed 
 by an inverted siphon. The water is then conveyed to new cane lands 
 near Waikapu and Puuhele, where there are located several reser- 
 voirs. The steel pipe crossing lao A'alley is 1,250 feet in length and 3 
 feet inside diameter. The capacity is 45 million gallons per day, or 
 about 70 second-feet. The cost was about $160,000. 
 
 Ilonolialiaii difcJi. — This ditch, on West Maui, has a capacity of 
 30 million gallons daily; it is 13^ miles long and has 200 feet of 
 36-inch siphon pipe and 3^ miles of tunnels. It cost $185,000, and 
 delivers water at 700 feet elevation. It takes water from the Hono- 
 kahau Valley to the cane fields in the vicinity of Lahaina. 
 
 MoLOKAi. — An attempt was made about 1900 to develop water for 
 irngation for the lands on the south side of the island by means of 
 artesian wells. Large expenditures were incurred in erecting pumps, 
 laying out cane fields, building a railroad, and putting up buildings, 
 but after the pumping plant was installed it was found that the 
 water obtained was too brackish for irrigation. The work was at 
 once abandoned without, apparently, testing the limits of supply. 
 The water resources of the island have been reported upon by Wal- 
 demar Lindgren, an abstract of his report being printed as " Water- 
 Supply Paper No. 77 " of the United States Geological Survey. 
 
 Oahu. — The principal part of the water supply comes from the 
 Koolau Range on the windward or northeasterly side of the island. 
 The amount obtained from relatively small forest-covered areas is 
 remarkably large. There is also a very heavy artesian flow obtained 
 on the southerly side of the island, where there are found a number 
 of large springs. The water rises in the artesian wells from 25 to
 
 22 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 35 feet above sea level. It is pumped to altitudes as high as 500 feet 
 above sea level. The aggregate yield of all the wells on the island 
 is roughly estimated at 300 cubic feet per second. 
 
 Several storage reservoirs have been built, the most notable of 
 which is that at Wahiawa. A dam 136 feet high and 4G1 feet long" 
 has been built below the junction of the forks of the Kaukonahau 
 stream, and forms a narrow, winding lake extending for 7 miles 
 through the fields of the Wahiawa Colony. The total drainage area 
 above the lake is 8,000 acres, located on the slope of the Koolau Moun- 
 tains. The capacity of the reservoir is 2,500 million gallons, or about 
 7,500 acre-feet. The cost was $300,000. Water is used for the Waia- 
 lua plantation, the outlet of the reservoir extending through 4 miles 
 of ditch and tunnels and issuing on the sugar lands at an elevation 
 of 730 feet above sea level. This ditch brings 12,000 acres of cane 
 land under gravity flow. The altitude of the reservoir is about»l,000 
 feet. The water is sold at the rate of $6.17 per million gallonSj and 
 is measured by automatic registers. 
 
 Water for the Wahiawa land is not obtained from this reservoir, 
 but by a ditch system at a higher altitude, taking water from the 
 Koolau Mountains through 4 miles of main ditch, including 38 tun- 
 nels. This ditch was used during the construction of the dam for 
 sluicing earth. It not only supplies water to the colony lands, but 
 will be used for power purposes, the surplus flowing into the reservoir. 
 
 Kauai. — The greater part of the water supply of this island comes 
 from the high mountain or plateau on the north side. The fall of 
 the streams is very rapid, there being many localities where power 
 has been and can be developed. 
 
 Beginning on the southwest side of the island and extending east- 
 erly around the island, the principal works for supplying water are 
 as follows : 
 
 Kekaha ditch takes its water from Waimea River, 8 miles from 
 the sea, at about 550 feet elevation. It passes through a series of 
 tunnels and crosses Waimea Valley by means of an inverted siphon 
 of 48 and 42-inch diameter, 2,190 feet long. The tunnels are 6 feet 
 high and 8 feet wide, and have an aggregate length of nearly 2 miles. 
 The ditch has a capacity of 55 million gallons per day above the 
 siphon and 45 million gallons below. The water supplying the low- 
 land is used to develop 750 horsepower. Other drops can also be 
 utilized. The total cost was $275,000. 
 
 Waimea River also supplies the town of Waimea by a conduit 
 having a capacity of 6 cubic feet per second. 
 
 The Makaweli lands are supplied by two ditches, the first the Hana- 
 pepe, built by H. P. Baldwin in 1890, taking water from the stream 
 of that name; the second the Olokele ditch, built in 1903. The Hana- 
 pepe ditch delivers water on the plantation at an elevation of 450 feet. 
 It has over 7,000 feet of 40-inch riveted steel siphon, over 1,000 feet 
 of tunnel, and nearly 3 miles of flume in a total length of 10 miles, 
 of ditch. The capacity of the Hanapepe is 35 million gallons. The 
 Olokele ditch delivers water at an altitude of 1,075 feet and has a 
 capacity of 60 million gallons. It has 8 miles of tunnel 7 feet high 
 and 7 feet wide. The total cost was $360,000. A droj) has been ob- 
 tained for use for electrical power; reservoirs have been built to 
 regulate the supply.
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 23 
 
 The McBryde plantation has several storage reservoirs for storm 
 water with a permanent flow from mountain streams. The principal 
 supply, however, is pumped from wells by power obtained from a 
 hydro-electric j)lant on the Waniha River on the north side of the 
 island. This was finished in August, 1906, and is one of the most 
 notable developments in the Territory. The power canal heads at 
 an elevation of 710 feet and extends with a fall of 2 feet in a thou- 
 sand for a distance of about 7 miles at an altitude of G55 feet. There 
 are 32 tunnels 6 feet wide and G feet high, the total length of these 
 being a little over 3 miles. 
 
 At the end of the power ditch there are two 42-inch outlets having 
 a length of 1,700 feet and dropping from an altitude of G55 feet to 90 
 feet above sea level. The pipe tapers to 30 inches where it enters the 
 power house. The Avater is delivered against two Pelton wheels, 
 direct connected to two 1,200-kilowat generators. From the power 
 house power is transmitted over a j)ole line 35 miles long, practically 
 encircling the island and leading to the pumps of the McBryde 
 plantation. Power is generated at 2,200 volts and transmitted at 
 33,000 volts, aluminum wire being used. The efficiency of the appa- 
 ratus has been estimated as follows: Water wheel 80 to 83 per cent, 
 generator 95 per cent, step-up transformers 97 per cent, line 92 per 
 cent, step-down transformers 97 per cent, and motors 92 per cent. 
 Taking this into account the amount of power actually delivered 35 
 miles awa3'*is Gl per cent of the theoretical jDower in the water. With 
 an efficiency of 7G per cent from the pumps the total water which can 
 be delivered will be -IG per cent of tiie actual water flowing into the 
 Y>ipe line above the power house. (See also page 2G.) 
 
 AVhat is known as the Marsh reservoir of the Koloa plantation has 
 a capacity of approximately 1,500 million gallons, or 4,500 acre-feet. 
 It is located in the southern part of the island of Kauai, and receives 
 water mainly from storms on the drainage basin of the river, in- 
 creased by water brought by the Wilcox ditch from Kuia River in 
 Lihue. This has a capacity of 80 million gallons per twenty-four 
 hours. The cost of construction of this reservoir and feed ditches 
 was a little over $100,000. The annual cost of maintenance of the 
 system, including loss of crop from the land covered Ijv the reservoir, 
 is $16,000. 
 
 On the easterly side of Kauai, in the vicinity of Lihue, in Kapaa, 
 and adjoining lands, water for irrigation is derived from small 
 mountain streams, several storage reservoirs having been built for 
 regulating this. 
 
 RECLAIMABLE LAXDS. 
 
 The impression derived from a general examination of lands and 
 waters on the islands leads to the belief that there are excellent op- 
 portunities for reclamation of public and private lands suitable for 
 homestead purposes. The sugar companies have, as a rule, already 
 irrigated most of the lands suitable for the production of cane, but 
 there are considerable tracts of other lands not as well adapted to 
 sugar cane which will have a great value when water is brought to 
 them and they are intelligently cultivated. It is not practicable nor 
 would it be desirable to attempt to point out at this time any par- 
 ticular localities, but sufficient has been seen to justify a thorough
 
 24 NATUEAL EESOUECES OF HAWAII. 
 
 survey and examination such as would result from the making of a 
 topographic map, the measurement of streams, and the combining of 
 the facts thus obtained with necessary engineering data. 
 
 It is probable that over 100,000 acres of land now practically use- 
 less or furnishing only indifferent grazing can be reclaimed. Any 
 estimates at the present time must be mere guesses, as there are no 
 general data on the water supply available or the opportunities for 
 storing floods. On this basis, however, it would be possible to furnish 
 5,000 farms having an average size of 20 acres each. This would be 
 ample for most purposes, although in some instances the area of the 
 farm should be larger, in others smaller. In laying out these farm 
 units, they would probably include, besides an average of 20 acres of 
 irrigated land, an additional area not irrigated, but suitable for 
 other agricultural purposes, such as pasture and places for buildings. 
 
 On this basis there would be added to the population of the Terri- 
 tory at least 20,000 persons, including 5,000 land-owning voters. 
 
 Before any comprehensive system of reclamation can be wisely 
 undertaken, either under territorial or federal auspices, it will be 
 necessary to bring together all available data, and with these as a 
 basis to take up systematically the collection of knowledge of the 
 surface elevations and of the water supply; in other words, it is 
 essential to have a good contoured topographic map of the islands 
 such as that being made by the United States Geological Survey 
 throughout the arid regions. Such a map, showing all elevations of 
 the surface, the location of streams, and the position of the forested 
 areas, gives at a glance the outline of the catchment of the streams, 
 the position and size of natural reservoir sites, and other facts needed 
 in a general cognizance and broad understanding of the relative 
 position of the mountains, the streams, and the irrigable lands. 
 There are, of course, other engineering data which must be studied 
 and obtained by subsequent field examination, but the topographic 
 map is the basis on which general j)lans must rest. 
 
 Coordinate with the making of a good contour map should be car- 
 ried on the systematic examination of the w^ater resources. Much 
 valuable information has already been brought together by indi- 
 viduals and corporations in connection with the proposed develop- 
 ment of specific areas. Much of this material can doubtless be had 
 by official inquiry, but it must be supplemented by further and more 
 general investigation. It should be rounded out by studies relating 
 to all of the streams, as well as those now known to be needed for 
 particular tracts of land. 
 
 Work of this kind has been conducted systematically since 1888 by 
 the water-resources branch of the United States Geological Survey 
 under general authority of law to investigate the extent to which the 
 arid regions can be reclaimed and under specific appropriations for 
 such work. The same system should be extended on this territory 
 of the United States. 
 
 Through the information thus given by a contour map and by data 
 on stream flow, it will be possible to make broad and comprehensive 
 plans for development of waters by tunnels, by storage reservoirs, 
 by pumping, or other means. These plans, not confined to any par- 
 ticular tract of land, will necessarily be somewhat ideal in character, 
 but once having the ideal system fully in mind it will then be practi- 
 cable to fit this system in part at least to existing conditions of vested
 
 NATURAL EESOUECES OF HAWAII. 25 
 
 rights in lands or Avaters. Experience on the mainhmd has shown 
 that, having a broad, comprehensive project, it has been possible to 
 adjust the various difficulties or complications of vested rights and to 
 secure a favorable outcome without recourse to condemnation or any 
 form or force other than the pressure of enlightened public opinion. 
 With the knowledge at hand it is apparent that there are excess or 
 flood waters and some reservoir sites not yet utilized, and various 
 tracts of public and private land which can be reclaimed, but to de- 
 termine Avhether these particular localities are the best there must be 
 a broad survey or general " taking account of stock." 
 
 WATER RIGHTS. 
 
 On the mainland two distinct systems are recognized as regards 
 ownership and control of the flowing waters : First, that in the east- 
 ern humid States, where riparian rights prevail and where each land- 
 owner is entitled to enjoy in perpetuity the flow of streams along or 
 through his land, undiminished in quantity and quality; second, in 
 the arid States, where water is the basis of all land values and where 
 the doctrine of appropriation prevails. 
 
 In the most advanced stage of the theory of appropriation, the 
 ownership of all flowing water resides in the people. Any individual 
 can lay claim to unappropriated water, and having put it to beneficial 
 use is thereafter entitled to continue that use. The first in time is 
 first in right, and beneficial use is the basis, the measure, and the limit 
 of that right. Position on a stream or away from it confers no bene- 
 fits, as a prior appropriator, located near the lower end of the stream 
 or 10 miles away from it, can compel persons above him or nearer the 
 stream to permit the water to pass by them untouched. 
 
 In the Hawaiian Islands a system radically diflerent from either 
 of these has grown up, largely as the result of ancient usage. There 
 water is considered as appurtenant to the land upon which it orig- 
 inates and as belonging to the owner of that piece of land. He may 
 lease it or sell it separate from the land itself, and may convey it to 
 distant tracts of land, subject, however, to any vested rights which 
 may come down from ancient times or more recently have been ac- 
 quired by prescriptive use, such, for example, as the rights of the 
 natives to the use of the water on their small taro patches. Riparian 
 rights do not appear to be recognized excepting for water for domes- 
 tic purposes, nor does the theory of appropriation hold excepting in 
 the cases above noted of ancient or prescriptive rights which have 
 grown up through the needs of the people. 
 
 There is no system in vogue of ascertaining officially the amount of 
 water available nor the amount which has alreach^ been claimed and 
 put to use. There appear to be many unsettled questions which must 
 be taken into consideration in advance of any future general system 
 of development; in fact, an essential preliminary to any thorough 
 project of utilizing the water resources of the islands is the prepara- 
 tion of a code of water laws covering the question of ownership and 
 control of the flowing streams and of the waters which may be held 
 in storage reservoirs.
 
 26 NATUEAL EESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 WATER POWER. 
 
 The absence of coal and similar fuel, the limited supply of firewood, 
 and high price of imported fuels have resulted in attention being- 
 directed to water as a source of power for pumping for irrigation and 
 for other incidental purposes. A report on the subject has been pre- 
 j^ared for the territorial conservation commission by Alonzo Gartley, 
 chairman of a connnittee on waters. From this report the following 
 general facts have been obtained : Among other matters, it is pointed 
 out that developments have already been made which are of con- 
 siderable economic value, and there are great possibilities for future 
 development. At the present time practically all the water power is 
 in use generating electric power to supply motive power for irrigating 
 pumps, the most important one being the Kauai Electric Company 
 on the island of Kauai, where two 1,200 kilowatt generators are in- 
 stalled in Wainiha Valley, on the north side of the island, utilizing 
 some 40 million gallons per day (or 60 cubic feet per second) at a 
 head of 575 feet. Power is transmitted 35 miles around the island 
 to the south side of the McBryde Sugar Company's plantation and 
 there utilized in operating six multiple-stage centrifugal pumps di- 
 rect-connected to motors of an aggregate horsepower of 4,000. These 
 jDumps have a cajDacity of 31 million gallons, or 45 second-feet, at a 
 head of 175 to 400 feet, thus serving to irrigate over 3,000 acres of 
 cane. (See page 23.) 
 
 At Kekaha, Kauai, water is taken from a high-level irrigating 
 ditch and dropped 275 feet to irrigate the low-level lands. At this 
 point a 600-kilowatt generator is installed to furnish power for four 
 motors direct-connected to multiple-stage centrifugal pumps having 
 an aggregate horsepower of 700, the pumps having a capacity of 
 7 million gallons at a head of 300 feet. The water for these pumps 
 is taken from an irrigating ditch and pumped to a level above the 
 ditch, thus rendering 700 acres of good cane land available. 
 
 The Pioneer Mill Company, at Lahaina, Maui, has installed a 250- 
 kilowatt generator, operated by water power, which furnishes current 
 for a 200-horsepower motor operating a triplex reciprocating pump 
 which delivers 9 million gallons of water against a head of 100 feet. 
 
 The Oahu Sugar Company, on the island of Oahu, takes water 
 from an irrigating pipe line and develops 120 kilowatts which sup- 
 plies a 100-horsepower motor direct -connected to a centrifugal pump. 
 
 The Makee Sugar Company, at Keakia, Kauai, has installed and in 
 operation a 300-kilowatt generator supplying current to a 225-horse- 
 power motor operating a reciprocating pump having a capacity of 
 2,8 million gallons of water against a head of 250 feet. 
 
 The Waianae Sugar Company, on the island of Oahu, has installed 
 two 200-kilowatt generators supplying current to motors of 375 horse- 
 power to pump 6.5 million gallons of water against a head of 150 to 
 280 feet. 
 
 The Hilo Electric Light Company, on the island of Hawaii, de- 
 velops 750 horsepower to operate a generator of an aggregate capacity 
 of 450 kilowatts to supply light and power for the city of Hilo. 
 
 The Territory of Hawaii has installed and has in operation in 
 Nuuanu Valley, island of Oahu, water-power-driven generators of 
 400 kilowatts capacity for supplying arc lights and territorial govern- 
 ment lighting in the city of Honolulu.
 
 NATURAL EESOURCES OF HAWAII. 27 
 
 There are several small water-power developments in mills varying 
 from 10 to 50 horsepower which are used for operating machinery or 
 electric generators. 
 
 The aggregate of these developments is approximately 6,500 horse- 
 power. 
 
 It is impossible to make an estimate of the prospective power 
 development, and at best only a few can be mentioned. These are 
 such powers as have been rendered available through partial devel- 
 opments made for irrigating purposes, or where the possibilities are 
 self-evident. The conservation and development of water at high 
 levels for irrigating purposes will render many other plants both 
 possible and expedient. A close approximation of the ultimate i^os- 
 sibilities can only be made when complete survej^s of the watersheds, 
 records of the rainfall, and the cost and economic value of the 
 developments are obtained. 
 
 The island of Kauai presents a fertile field for future development, 
 and there are at the present time some 2,000 horsepower additional 
 at Wainiha which is not being utilized ; possibly 4,000 horsepower at 
 Hanalei; and 1,500 or 1,800 horsepower at Makaweli; 500 or 600 
 horsepower at Hanaj^epe, and by the development of reservoirs 
 back at Waimea, Wahiawa, Koloa, Wailua, Kapaa, Anahola, and 
 Kalihiwai several hundred horsepower can be made available. 
 
 On the island of Oahu possibly 2,000 horsepower can be developed 
 at Wahiawa and from the new high-level reservoir in Xuuanu 
 \'alley. 
 
 On Maui the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company at Kanai 
 and in lao Valley can develop about 2,500 horsepower; and there are 
 several hundred horsepower available at "Waihee in the development 
 of the Wailuku Sugar Company. Some 1,200 horsepower could be 
 rendered available at Lahaina from the development of the Pioneer 
 Mill Company. 
 
 The power resources of the island of Molokai are practically un- 
 determined. 
 
 On the island of Hawaii it is estimated that in the AYaipio Gulch 
 some 8,000 horsepower can be rendered available by the present irri- 
 gating-ditch development, and on the north coast from Waipio to 
 Hilo there are large quantities of water going to waste, or in use for 
 fluming cane, Avhich could be developed. Xo estimate of the amount 
 of this power is available, but it would amount to several hundred 
 horsepower. 
 
 Storage capacitj^ constructed in the Kohala Mountain would ren- 
 der power available, but at present the quantity is entirely undeter- 
 mined. 
 
 At many places the permanency of the flowing streams is not 
 assured, but the development of storage capacity would render the 
 power secure, and in manj^ cases would increase the estimate of the 
 amount available. However, the broken character of the country 
 Avhere these powers are available and the limited amount of arable 
 land and water available for this land make the economic value of 
 the development of these powers questionable. 
 
 The production of fertilizers from atmospheric nitrogen by the use 
 of electricity may render the water power extremely valuable at such 
 places where the power can not be used for pumping Avater for irri- 
 gating purposes.
 
 28 NATURAL. RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 FOREST PRESERVATION. 
 
 ''The primary need for forest preservation on the islands arises from 
 the fact that the permanent water suppl}' comes mainly from forest 
 areas, and its quantity and time of occurrence is vitally affected by 
 the character of the forest. There is probably no part of the United 
 States where the relations between available Avaters and forest cover 
 are more intimate and more delicate. The natural balance is easily 
 disturbed. Changes made by man, too slight to be noticed by ordi- 
 nary observation, have produced disastrous results. 
 
 The island forests have use as furnishing a wood supply and some 
 commercial timber, but, speaking broadly, nine-tenths of the value 
 of the forest resides in its protection of the water supj^ly. The rapid 
 diminution in area of the forest has led to corresponding decrease 
 in available waters and to the abandonment of hundreds of acres 
 formerly cultivated, but now barren of vegetation. 
 
 The retreat of the forest has been due primarily to unregulated 
 grazing. Cattle, sheep, and goats tramping through the forest eating 
 some of the underbrush jDroduce a condition which, although hardly 
 \isible to the eye, is unfavorable to the best growth of the forest. 
 "With weakened vitality the trees quickly succumb to the attacks of 
 insect pests or blights. These enemies exist at all times, but under a 
 healthy and undisturbed condition of the forest their presence is not 
 apparent. 
 
 The very delicate relations which exist can hardly be appreciated 
 unless by actual observation. A forest absolutely free from intru- 
 sion by cattle will usually have its floor covered with a heavy plant 
 growth; the soil is marshy to a degree that it is almost impossible 
 to traverse the area< Let a few cattle run in the forest, making 
 paths and nipping the younger foliage, and that although the ab- 
 sence of the plants can hardly be detected, yet there is a rapid drying 
 out of the ground. The stranger will see an apparently untouched 
 forest, and yet he finds that the soil is not marshy, and that the 
 trees have begun to assume an unhealthy appearance and pests 
 abound. 
 
 It results from the peculiar character of the forests that, as a rule, 
 lumbering can not be carried on, nor the mature trees removed 
 without destruction of the forest or injury as regards its capacity 
 to protect the water supply. This is notably the case with the Ohia 
 Lehua {Metrosideras ijolymoryha Gand), where the cutting of the 
 larger trees lets in the sunlight and quickly results in destruction of 
 the wooded area. This important tree is parasitic in origin, has no 
 tap root, and depends for its life largely on protection afforded by 
 smaller trees and shrubs. In the case of the Koa, the so-called 
 Hawaiian mahogany i^Acacia Koa Gray), the conditions are different, 
 as the removal of the older trees is not so injurious, and if men 
 and cattle are excluded and the Hilo grass {Paspalum, conjugatum 
 Berg) gains no foothold, the young Koa trees will rapidly increase 
 and in ten or fifteen years a good start toward commercial timber 
 can be had^ 
 
 There are a few forests so situated that their influence on the 
 water supply maj^ be neglected, and these can be safely lumbered 
 without injurious effects, but taking the forests as a whole, it must 
 be said that the development of the islands requires that they be
 
 NATUEAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 29 
 
 permanently reserved, protected by fencing, and carefully supervised 
 b}^ qualified rangers. In this respect a beginning has been made, 
 but it is apparent that larger expenditures are absolutely necessary 
 to aft'ord full protection to the forest growth, and consequently to 
 the water supply upon Avhich in turn depends the value and capa- 
 bility of the agricultural lands to support a dense population. 
 
 The general conditions of the forests have been discussed by a 
 subcommittee of the Territorial Conservation Commission of Hawaii, 
 consisting of Ralph S. Hosmer and xUonzo Gartley. From their 
 unpublished report the following facts are taken. This'^report calls 
 attention to the fact that for a clear understanding of the forest 
 situation in Hawaii it is necessary that one be acquainted with the
 
 30 NATURAL EESOUECES OF HAWAII. 
 
 conditions of topography and local climate. As the Hawaiian Islands 
 lie in the belt of the northeast trade winds and are mountainous, 
 they have a climate characterized by contrasts. On the windward 
 slopes of the mountains is an area of high precipitation; in the 
 leeward districts scant rainfall, even approaching aridity, is the 
 rule. These facts, coupled with the remarkable porosity of the soil, 
 due to its volcanic origin, have a very direct bearing on the forest 
 situation. 
 
 There are two main classes of forest in Hawaii. Both are of eco- 
 nomic value; one because it helps to conserve the water needed for 
 irrigation, power development, and domestic supply; the other be- 
 cause it produces wood and timber. The forests of the former class 
 are, as a rule, situated on the moist, windward slopes of the higher 
 mountains. They are essentially " protection forests " in that their 
 main value rests in the Avater that can be got from them. Those of 
 the latter class, the commercial forests, are found in the districts where 
 because of the absence of running streams watershed protection does 
 not figure. The forests of the first class are by long odds the most 
 important, for in Hawaii the relation between sustained stream flow 
 and a watershed protected by a forest cover is intimate and pecul- 
 iarly direct. 
 
 HaAvaii is a country essentially dependent on agriculture. The 
 main crop is sugar cane. On more than half of the plantations irri- 
 gation is essential for successful cultivation, for although the soil in 
 the leeward districts is rich, it requires water to be made commer- 
 cialh^ productive^; Water is also needed on the nonirrigated planta- 
 tions for the development of power and for the fluming of cane. 
 The important part that irrigation plays in Hawaii may perhaps 
 be made more apparent by the statement that over $15,000,000 has 
 been expended, wholly by private enterprise, in developing the irri- 
 gation S3'stems that supply water to the cane fields of the irrigated 
 plantations. 
 
 The importance of the forest is generalh' recognized in Hawaii 
 and has led to a strong public sentiment in favor of forestry. This 
 finds expression in a Territorial Forest Service charged with the 
 creation and administration of forest reserves and with the prosecu- 
 tion of other forest v^'ork. During the past five years under a definite 
 forest policy systematically followed 16 forest reserA^es haA^e been 
 set apart, with an aggregate total area in 1908 of 444,116 acres. Of 
 this area 273,912 acres, or 61 per cent, is land belonging to the terri- 
 torial government. The remainder, 170,204 acres, or 39 per cent, is 
 in priA^ate oAvnership, but for the most part the owners of the lands, 
 fully aware of the benefits of forest protection, cooperate actiA'^ely 
 Avith the territorial government in the management of the forest 
 reserves. 
 
 '"There are three main types of forest in Hawaii, the Koa and Ohia 
 forest lying between the elevations of two and six thousand feet; the 
 Mamani forest, a pure stand of another native Hawaiian tree, found 
 on the upper slopes of the higher mountains; and the introduced 
 Algaroba forest, which occurs at the loAver leA'els on the leeAvard side 
 of each of the larger islands. 
 
 The typical HaAvaiian forest is of the first type. The forest con- 
 sists of a dense jungle of trees, high-growing shrubs, tree ferns, and 
 climbers, with much undergrowth and a heavy ground coA^er of ferns
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 31 
 
 and bracken. Altogether it is a plant community admirably adapted 
 for the conservation of moisture, for preventing erosion, and for serv- 
 ing as a reservoir to feed the springs and streams that rise within its 
 bounds. The most important trees are Ohia Lehua {Metrosideros 
 polymorpha) and Koa {Acacia Koa).j 
 
 The forest in all the forest reserves is of this type. A recent com- 
 pilation of the forest areas of the Territory shows that the Koa 
 and Ohia forest covers approximately 1,175,000 acres. Of this area 
 it is estimated that eventually about three-cjuarters of a million 
 acres will be included within forest reserve boundaries, of which 
 about 70 per cent will be Government land. 
 
 ^bove the level of the Koa and Ohia forest, on the slope of Mauna 
 Kea (elevation, 13,825 feet) on the island of Hawaii, is found a 
 nearly pure stand of another native Hawaiian tree, Mamani (So- 
 phora chrysophyUa). This forest occurs in a belt Wing between the 
 elevations of 6,000 and 8,500 feet. The area of the Mamani forest on 
 Mauna Kea is G3,500 acres. Mamani occurs elsewhere in the Terri- 
 tory, but does not at the present time form what may be called for- 
 ests. It is, however, spreading rapidly, so that in future years it will 
 play a much larger part than it does now.j 
 
 Mamani makes excellent fence posts, for which purpose the trees 
 in the upper forest belt are cut for local use. Xo accurate figures as to 
 the number cut are now available. Otherwise this type of forest 
 is unimportant commercially. 
 
 The Algaroba (Prosopis juUfora) is the mesquite of the southwest. 
 This tree was introduced into the islands in 1837. It has now 
 sj)read so as to cover between 50,000 and 60,000 acres below an 
 elevation of 1,000 feet in the leeward districts of the larger islands 
 of the group. It is spreading rapidly along the leeward coasts and 
 is also gradualh' climbing to a higher elevation^^ 
 
 The algaroba forest is the largest single source of fuel supply 
 in the Territory. It is estimated that over 3,000 cords are sold annu- 
 ally in Honolulu. The price varies from $12 to $14 a cord, delivered. 
 
 The algaroba forests are further of value because the pods make 
 good stock feed and also because the tree is one of the important 
 plants locally for bee food. It is estimated that for the calendar 
 year 1907 the total amount invested in apiaries and other equipment 
 for the manufacture of algaroba honey was $125,000 and that the 
 gross receipts for algaroba honey products for the vear were over 
 $25,000. 
 
 It has already been shown that the primary value of the Hawaiian 
 forest rests in the influence it exerts on the conservation of water, 
 and that the connnercial aspect relatively takes second place. But 
 in the leeward districts on the island of Hawaii are considerable 
 areas where oAving to the great porosity of the soil there are no per- 
 manently running streams.^ Here the main value of the forest rests 
 in the wood and timber that it can be made to produce. The two 
 Hawaiian woods of commercial importance are the koa and ohia 
 lehua. Both are heavy, close-grained hardwoods. Koa is used for 
 interior finish, furniture, cabinetwork, and veneering. It is now sold 
 in the markets of the American mainland under the name '' Hawaiian 
 mahogany."' Ohia is valuable for railroad ties. The systematic 
 lumbering of this class of Hawaiian forest began in Octofjer, 1007, 
 when a contract for 90,000,000 board feet of ohia railroad tie
 
 32 NATURAL EESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 material was made between a local compan}^ and the Santa Fe Rail- 
 way Company. 
 
 A tie mill with a daily capacity of 2,500 ties has recently been 
 erected. The first regular shipment of ties is to be made in the win- 
 ter of 1908-9. No accurate estimate either of the amount of timber 
 or the exact area covered by forests of the commercial class have j^et 
 been made, but the area is sufficient and the stand heavy enough to 
 justify the continuation of lumbering operations for a considerable 
 time. 
 
 The fact that none of the native trees in Hawaii furnishes con- 
 struction timber has led to extensive tree planting, both by the terri- 
 torial government and by private interests. This work has been 
 going on for the last thirty years and is constantly increasing in 
 extent and importance. The trees principally planted are several 
 kinds of eucalyptus, the Australian ironwood and silk oak, and the 
 Japanese cedar. Wood and timber cut from the planted forests in 
 Hawaii are now being used for fence posts, railroad ties, bridge tim- 
 bers, and wagon work. Practically all the construction timber used 
 in Hawaii is imported from Puget Sound and northern California, 
 mainly redwood and northwest (Douglas fir). 
 
 In the reports of the United States Department of Commerce and 
 Labor it is stated that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, there 
 were imported into Hawaii from the mainland 30,003,000 feet b. m. 
 of timber, boards, and planks, valued at $565,425. For the same year 
 17,476,000 shingles, valued at $39,207, and other unmanufactured lum- 
 ber to the value of $116,756 were also imported, making in all a total 
 of $721,388 for unmanufactured wood products. The value of manu- 
 factured wood products imported during the same fiscal 5'ear was 
 $214,648. Further comment on the desirability of doing even a little 
 toward securing a local source of supply is unnecessary. 
 
 A forest fire law similar to that of California was enacted by the 
 territorial legislature at the session of 1905. The territorial superin- 
 tendent of forestry is ex officio chief firewarden, and provision is 
 made for a corps of district firewardens to be paid for duty actually 
 jDerformed. 
 
 As a matter of fact plantation managers and other influential citi- 
 zens agreed to take these positions without remuneration. The law 
 provides j)enalties in case of damage resulting from the careless or 
 malicious use of fire. Since its enactment there have been few fires 
 of consequence, due in large part to a better public sentiment created 
 by the presence of the law on the statute books and to the interest 
 aroused in the matter at the time of the enactment of the law. 
 
 INSECT PESTS AND BLIGHTS. 
 
 In consideration of new agricultural industries or increase of 
 present products one of the greatest difficulties met is in the insect 
 pests or blights. AVlien the islands were first discovered the country 
 Avas singularly |ree from these. The fly and mosquito quickly came 
 with the Europeans, and from, time to time other insects have been 
 accidentally introduced. Freed usually from natural enemies the 
 conditions on the islands have been remarkably favorable for the 
 spread of insect life as well as of plants and animals. The uniform 
 climate, the absence of frost, the fertility of the soil, and the absence
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 33 
 
 of enemies have resulted in a rapid spread of new life almost un- 
 precedented in the history of other parts of the world. This is true 
 also of parasitic or similar diseases of men and animals. The islands 
 have furnished a wonderful breeding ground and held for experiment. 
 
 A recognition of this fact has led to the establishment of as strict 
 a quarantine as possible, not only against the diseases of human and 
 animal life, but also against the enemies of plant life. This quaran- 
 tine, however, was begun too late to intercept some of the worst 
 pests. Already the losses to the sugar business alone through insects 
 have amounted to millions of dollars annually. It has thus been 
 necessary to vigorousl}^ fight these pests and endeavor to restore the 
 equilibrium, such as that brought about by nature in other parts <jf 
 the world. 
 
 The first and most obvious method of fighting insect and other 
 pests is by direct attack, by poisoning, or mechanical traps. The 
 failure of such methods in the case of many of the common insects 
 and vermin is attested by the fact that although white" men have 
 been carrying on this warfare for ages, the ordinary household pests 
 flourish throughout the civilized world, notably the common house 
 fly, rats, mice, mosquitoes, fleas, etc. On the islands surprising prog- 
 ress has been made along a different line, nameh', that of fighting 
 the foe by enlisting its natural enemies. The most striking case of 
 success in this line has been the victor}^ over the leaf hopper, a small 
 fly which literally swept out of existence thousands of acres of valu- 
 able cane and threatened to bankrupt the sugar men. This insect 
 was probably introduced from the Orient ; innumerable devices were 
 tried for killing it by spraying and other mechanical means. It 
 was reasoned, however, that in the country from which it probably 
 came there must be natural enemies to prevent its becoming con- 
 spicuous, as it was not known to have wrought serious injury else- 
 Avhere. Accordingly, search was made for its habitat, and this being 
 found, its natural enemies were also discovered, brought to the 
 islands, cultivated, and given facilities for attacking the leaf hopper. 
 The result has been phenomenal and is a striking tribute to the 
 sagacity of the men who initiated and financed the investigation, and 
 both from a scientific and business standpoint carried it to a con- 
 clusion. In a single season the pest was reduced to insignificant 
 proportions, and the last year's sugar crop, that of 1908, amounting 
 to 521,123 tons, has exceeded all anticipations. 
 
 Other destructive insects have been introduced, and in spite of pre- 
 cautions it is possible that still others will come. The most de- 
 structive now known to the interest of the small farmer is the so-called 
 "melon fly" {Danes cucarhltoi cog.)^ Avhich destroys cucurbitaceous 
 vegetation, or the gourd, cucumber, tomato, and similar plants, largely 
 raised for home consumption as well as for shipment. This fly now 
 greatly injures the gardens on the islands and efforts are being made 
 to prevent its spread to California. To guard against further in- 
 troduction of similar pests, it is necessary to maintain a strict inspec- 
 tion of all vegetable products brought from the Orient. 
 
 The history of the introduction of new species of animal and vege- 
 table life in the islands is exceedingly interesting, as each in turn dis- 
 turbs the balance of natural conditions which had been previously estab- 
 
 S. Doc. 068, GO-2 3
 
 34 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 lished and results often injuriously or beneficially to human health 
 or business prosperity. It is impossible to predict what success will 
 be obtained with any given new plant, because its enemies are not 
 known ; in the same way it is difficult to anticipate the benefits or 
 injury from bringing in a new animal. The story of the mongoose 
 is well known, this little animal being introduced to keep down the 
 rats, but it soon became a question as to whether the benefits in 
 killing rats were made up by the injuries in destroying birds and 
 barnyard fowl. Great care is being taken in regulating experiments 
 of this kind to see that no further mistakes are made. 
 
 On these islands, isolated for centuries, the life, both animal and 
 vegetal, has developed along lines entirely different from that on the 
 continental areas, being relieved largely from competition with other 
 migratory life. The natives, freed from contact with other races, 
 have not had the advantage which results from the weeding-out 
 process due to the continual introduction of various diseases. Thus 
 it has resulted that the island life is peculiarly susceptible to invasion 
 and responds very quickly to any disturbing influence. 
 
 POPULATION. 
 
 The population of the islands has declined rapidly within the his- 
 toric period. Tradition has it that the population had already 
 begun to decrease notably when the islands were visited by Capt. 
 James Cook in 1778. His estimate was approximately 400,000. 
 After the visits of Europeans, the decline was acceleratecl by intro- 
 duction of epidemic diseases, and notably from time to time by viru- 
 lent Outbreaks of smallpox and measles. The lowest point in total 
 population, that preceding the influx of Orientals, was reached about 
 1875, when the total number of inhabitants was not much over 56,000. 
 The natives have continued to steadily decrease in number, but there 
 has been a slight increase in part-Hawaiians resulting from the union 
 of natives with the whites and Asiatics. 
 
 The number of whites from America and Europe has steadily 
 increased from the time of the visit of the whaling fleets. The 
 most notable addition to the population has been through the intro- 
 duction of Orientals as field laborers. The Chinese began to come 
 in small numbers about 1870, the flood rapidly swelling and reaching 
 a maximum about 1896. Since annexation in 1898 as a result of the 
 application of the exclusion law, the number of Chinese has decreased. 
 
 The Japanese began to be brought to the islands about 1886 and 
 have come in larger and larger numbers until in 1908 the}^ formed 
 the greater part of the population, being estimated at 72,000 out of 
 a total population of 170,000, or 43 per cent of the total. There are 
 also about 5,000 Koreans in addition. 
 
 The necessities of cheap and effective laborers on the sugar planta- 
 tions has led to a search throughout the entire world for suitable men. 
 The history of the efforts made in this direction is instructive, al- 
 thougfi the results have not been wholly satisfactory from the 
 planters' standpoint. The chief white labor is now Portuguese, 
 largely from Madeira and Fayel, these having been brought to the 
 country at various times, the principal influx being about 1880. The
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 35
 
 36 
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 last estimate of population, that in the report of Governor Walter F. 
 Frear for 1908, gives the population in round numbers as follows : 
 
 Population of Hawaiian Islands. 
 
 Hawaiian and part Hawaiian 35,000 
 
 Teutons, including Americans, English, (ierman, and allied races 12,000 
 
 Latins : 
 
 Portuguese ^ 23, 000 , 
 
 Spanisli 2, 000 
 
 Porto Ricans 2,000 
 
 27,00* 
 
 Oriental : 
 
 Chinese 18,000 
 
 Japanese 72, 000 
 
 Korean 5, 000 
 
 95,000 
 
 Others 1,000 
 
 170, 000 
 
 Nationality of voters in 1908. 
 
 Although the Orientals aggregate 95,000 or 56 per cent of the pop- 
 ulation they can under existing law have no part in the civil gov- 
 ernment. Thus the greater part of the population of the islands are 
 aliens not eligible for citizenship. Comparing the voters with the 
 total population, it may be said that of the Hawaiians and part 
 Hawaiians 1 person in 4 is a voter. The same proportion holds in 
 the case of those of American or northern European origin. In 
 the case of the Portuguese or southern Europeans, 1 person in 30 
 is a voter. Among the Chinese, 1 in 100, and among the Japanese
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 37 
 
 1 in 10,000 is a voter from the fact that he was naturalized before 
 annexation. 
 
 This proportion will change rapidly as the children now in schools 
 reach the voting age. Then it is to be expected that the Portu- 
 guese and Spaniards will take a larger and larger interest in politi- 
 cal affairs, and the Oriental children born on the islands subsequent 
 to June 14, 1900, will take an active part in legislation. The num- 
 ber of children of Orientals eligible as future voters is now large. 
 The voting strength at present lies with the Hawaiians and part 
 Hawaiians, who comprise nearly three-fourths of the electors. 
 
 The estimata for 1908 is as follows : 
 
 Voters in 1D08. 
 
 Hawaiian and part Hawaiian 9,000 
 
 American : 2, 000 
 
 Teutonic European 1, 200 
 
 Portuguese 800 
 
 Chinese 2&4 
 
 Total 13, 264 
 
 The Americans — that is, those who have come from the United 
 States and who presumably have been brought up under republican 
 institutions — form only 15 per cent of the voters. 
 
 The variation in number of voters is shown by the following 
 statement : 
 
 Registered voters, 1900 to 1908. 
 
 1900 10, 180 
 
 1902 12, 612 
 
 1904 13, 449 
 
 1906 13, 577 
 
 1908 13, 264 
 
 As to the citizenship of the future, an indication is shown in the 
 nationality of the school children, as follows : 
 
 National Hi/ of school children. 1908. 
 
 Per cent. 
 
 Hawaiian 20 
 
 Part Hawaiian 15 
 
 American and Teutonic-English 5 
 
 Portuguese 19 
 
 Japanese 24 
 
 Chinese 11 
 
 All others 6 
 
 Total 100 
 
 Not all of the oriental school children were born in the United 
 States, and a considerable portion of them will probably return to 
 Japan and China, but the next generation of voters will have a large 
 proportion of Orientals. The small proportion of school children of 
 direct ^S.merican ancestry is very significant in this connection. As 
 to the attitude which may be taken by these future voters on terri- 
 torial and national questions it is impossible to predict, but it is 
 surely a national duty and a needed precaution to attempt to increase 
 and diffuse patriotic ideals and conceptions of the duties of citizen- 
 ship, such as is being done to a notable degree in the public schools of 
 the Territory. 
 
 The social condition of the inhabitants is indicated in part by their 
 religious affiliations. Accurate figures are not obtainable, but from
 
 38 
 
 NATURAL RESOUECES OF HAWAII. 
 
 the census of 1896 and estimates based upon it it is found that prac- 
 tically 40 per cent of the population support some oriental religion, 
 such as Buddhism or Confucianism, 24 per cent are Catholics, 21 per 
 cent Protestants, 5 per cent Mormon, and 10 per cent have no 
 affiliation. 
 
 Taking only the native Hawaiians and part Hawaiians, the re- 
 ligious preferences are indicated by the fact that 20 per cent report 
 no affiliations, 40 per cent Protestant, 28 per cent Catholic, and 12 
 per cent Mormon. 
 
 INDUSTRIES. 
 
 Agriculture forms practically the only general industry on the 
 islands, although there is a certain amount of manufacturing in con- 
 
 FiG. 9. — NationaUty of school children, 1908. 
 
 nection with it and a considerable amount of transportation inciden- 
 tal to handling the product. A notable exception in the case of manu- 
 facturing is the development of the Honolulu Iron Works ulong the 
 line of sugar-making machinery. Large mills have been built in 
 Honolulu and shipped to remote parts of the world. 
 
 SUGAR. 
 
 Sugar is the principal industry, over nine-tenths of the products of 
 the island being raw or refined sugars. The business is one which 
 under present conditions requires not only large capital but also a 
 very large amount of manual labor. Being carried on in competition 
 with countries where such labor is very cheap, the wages paid must
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII, 39 
 
 be correspondingly low. The islands have the benefit of the federal 
 protective tariff' on sugar and it is presumable that a continuation 
 of the industry rests largely upon this somewhat artificial and pos- 
 sibly insecure basis. The jiroduction of sugar has increased rapidly 
 from 282,807 tons in 1899 to 521,123 tons in 1908. (See fig. 10, p. 40.) 
 
 The business is conducted bv about 05 corporations organized with 
 capital of from $200,000 to $400,000 each and total of $150,000,000, 
 chartered usually under the laws of California. The stock of these 
 is held by 7,000 persons living largely in California and in the 
 islands, and possibly to a less extent in England and Germany. Some 
 of the plantations have made large profits and have declared divi- 
 dends up to 2 per cent per month. Others have never paid expenses 
 and some have gone into bankruptcy. Sugar stocks have been the 
 favorite form of specidation (not to say gambling) in the islands. 
 The production of sugar in 1908 — 521,123 tons valued at over 
 $40.000,000 — is equal to nearly one-fifth of the amount consumed in 
 the United States. 
 
 About one-half the area producing sugar cane is irrigated or, say, 
 105,000 out of 213,000 acres. This irrigated land was reclaimed 
 from aridity by private enterprise at a cost of about $15,000,000 or 
 about $140 per acre. In comparison with this it may be noted that 
 the cost of reclamation in the mainland — say for sugar-beet culture — • 
 has been about $40 per acre. 
 
 The sugar produced per acre ranges from less than 1 ton to 10 tons 
 and averaged for 1908 in round numbers 4^ tons per acre. From 
 irrigated land the average was 5f tons per acre and for nonirrigated 
 land 3 tons per acre. Only about on-e-half of the sugar land produces 
 each year. The value of the sugar is about $70 per ton, or from $280 
 to $420 per acre every other year. Over one-half the cost of the sugar 
 is in labor, this being about GO per cent, but the proportion is gradu- 
 ally decreasing as labor-saving machinery is introduced and laborers 
 become more efficient. 
 
 A large item of expense is that for fertilizers, over $2,000,000 per 
 year being expended for this purpose. An average of $4.65 per ton 
 of sugar, or $22.20 per acre of crop. 
 
 It requires from IS to 30 months to mature a crop of sugar cane, 
 so that the number of acres cultivated for each crop does not repre- 
 sent the total area in use. For example, the crop of 1906 came from 
 96,000 acres out of a little less than 200,000 acres, part of which was 
 lying fallow and part in young cane. 
 
 RICE. 
 
 Second in importance to sugar, but a long way behind it in value, 
 is the production of rice, estimated at $2,500,000'. as against $40,000,- 
 000 for sugar. This industry is wholly in the hands of Chinese, who 
 rent many of the marshes or wet lands formerly used by the natives 
 for raising taro. The plants are all set by hand, and the grain is 
 handled in a most primitive way, little or no machinery being used. 
 An acre of good land will produce two crops a year at a Value of $200 
 to $300 per acre. About 10.000 acres are cultivated mainly on Oahu 
 and Kauai. The rentals are from $10 to $50 per acre per annum, 
 with water. The fields are submerged for most of the growing season 
 and require a large quantity of water.
 
 40 
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES. 
 
 From the time of the discovery of the islands by white men at- 
 tempts have been made to introduce or develop various agricultural 
 
 / 
 
 A 
 
 N A 
 
 ^____^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 
 ( 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TONS 
 
 600,000 
 
 500.000 
 
 400.000 
 
 300,000 
 
 200,000 
 
 100,000 
 
 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 
 
 Fig. 10.— Production of sugar from 1899 to 1908. 
 
 industries, as the raising of rice, cotton, pineapples, coffee, tobacco, 
 and other crops suited to the tropical conditions. Greatest success 
 has been obtained with the sugar cane, and the large profits have re-
 
 NATURAL EESOURCES OF HAWAII. 4l 
 
 suited in directing principal attention to this crop. • Continued 
 efforts have, however, been given with varying success to the other 
 possible sources of revenue, as it has been appreciated that depend- 
 ence upon a single industry which in turn rests upon a protective 
 tariff and upon oriental labor is not a highly desirable condition. 
 The difficulty of obtaining adequate labor, the constant struggle 
 against insect pests and bliglits, the expense of transportation, the 
 former unsettled political conditions, have resulted in a slow prog- 
 ress, but there are still optimistic advocates of diversified farming 
 who expect, through the operations of the experiment stations stimu- 
 lating and supplementing individual efforts, to finally surmount all 
 obstacles. The rich soil and excellent climate promise success if only 
 sufficient skill or knowledge can be had to overcome what seems to be 
 minor difficulties. 
 
 Various tropical and semitropical fruits are produced successfully 
 and meet ready sale, such as bananas, dates, oranges, lemons, grapes, 
 cocoanuts, and avacados, P^nglish walnuts, apples, and plums grown 
 in the uplands, rubber, tobacco, and vanilla are being produced in 
 small quantities, and with the hope of extending these industries. 
 Hay and forage crops are successful, but all are awaiting the estab- 
 lishment of a steady market and better transportation by wagon road, 
 railroads, and steamship lines. 
 
 The annual production of coffee is about 1,500 tons, valued at 
 $300,000. About 4,500 acres are in bearing trees, all in the humid 
 portion of the islands. The prices have been so low that many coffee 
 raisers have gone out of the business, but the area planted to coffee 
 is now slowly increasing as the Hawaiian coffee is being better known. 
 It is well adapted to wdiite labor and to small homestead conditions. 
 With persistent organized effort this industry will undoubtedly 
 become more im})ortant. It has required years of exj^eriment to 
 determine the most favorable localities and conditions of humidity to 
 reach the best results. Many of the earlier plantations Avere in places 
 too rainy for success. 
 
 The pineapple industry is now regarded as offering the best oppor- 
 tunitfes for the white settler. There are now 9 pineapple canneries 
 in the Territory and nearly 5,765 acres in pineapples. Of this 85 
 per cent is controlled by small corporations and about 7 per cent by 
 Japanese. The area planted is divided about as follows : Hawaii, 350 
 acres; Oahu, 4,505 acres; jNIaui, GOO acres, and Kauai, 250 acres. At 
 present prices the value of the 1908 crop canned would approximate 
 $1,250,000. The total output is about 17,000 tons. 
 
 The sisal industry is one which is looked to as furnishing oppor- 
 tunitias for the utilization of large areas of land which otherwise 
 would lie waste. The plant requires relatively little water; as low, 
 it is claimed, as G to 9 inches of annual rainfall will produce fair 
 results. It flourishes best, however, when it has a larger rainfall. It 
 responds quickly to occasional showers, but during long periods of 
 droughts the plants stop growing and apparently show no injurious 
 effects. It will grow on very stony soil and appears to be well 
 adapted to the loAvlands near the seashore which are underlain with 
 coral or where the rocks nearly cover the surface. There the plant 
 inserts its roots between the loose blocks and seeks nourishment from 
 the thin soil.
 
 42 NATURAL EESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 Several small mills have been constructed for extracting the fiber 
 but the mechanical devices for this purpose are by no means satis- 
 factory. Improvements are constantly being made tending to reduce 
 the amount of hand labor. The fiber is excellent in quality, com- 
 manding, it is claimed, a higher price than the best from Yucatan. 
 
 The total imports of raw fibers into the United States is stated to 
 amount to $35,000,000. Of this amount from $13,000,000 to $15,000,- 
 000 is paid for sisal, which is admitted without tariff. It is believed 
 that on the islands there are upward of half a million acres capable 
 of producing sisal and having little value for other purposes. From 
 this there could be obtained a product of 150,000 tons, which at 
 cents per pound Avould produce $18,000,000. The prices now paid 
 range from a little over 6 cents up to 8 cents per pound. 
 
 LABOR. 
 
 For a half century the question of labor has been and still is a 
 most perplexing problem. The production of sugar, the main busi- 
 ness of the islands, is under present conditions dependent upon cheap 
 labor, mainly that of Orientals paid $17 or more in addition to house, 
 water, and medical attendance. There are approximately 95,000 
 of these aliens, over half of the entire population of the islands. 
 Besides the Orientals there are 27.000 Portuguese, including with 
 this Spaniards and others of Latin tongues. These men receive a 
 slightly higher wage, $22 per month and upward, and demand per- 
 haps better consideration than the Orientals, as they are eligible for 
 citizenship and are more effective as laborers. 
 
 With the rigid enforcement of the Chinese-exclusion act, the 
 st'opping of emigration from Japan, and the prevention of contract 
 labor from abroad, the supply of cheap laborers has been practically 
 cut off. Attempts are being made to bring immigrants from San 
 Francisco or even from New York, securing them as they arrive 
 from Europe. The difficulty of getting these people across to the 
 islands without losing them to other employers is very serious. 
 
 The labor market is now practically surrounded by an almost 
 impassable barrier; the number of laborers who are willing to work 
 in the fields at low wages is decreasing, while the demand is steadily 
 increasing. The planters, it is understood, have a fixed scale and 
 theoretically at least do not compete among themselves, although by 
 various methods of contract or bonus for length of service, there is 
 a tendency to increase indirectly the wages paid. It is generally 
 recognized that higher and higher grades of laborers must be secured 
 as the Orientals decrease through return home or through entering 
 into other industries. 
 
 Systematic efforts have been made to improve the condition of the 
 migratory laborers and to induce them to remain in a given locality. 
 The Japanese are readily moved and are quick to resent any griev- 
 ance. By impulsively shifting from place to place their effectiveness 
 is far less than though they stayed on any one plantation where they 
 could become familiar with conditions and the requirements of the 
 manager. Their capacity to work effectively without constant over- 
 sight and their initiation is reported to be somewhat lower than that 
 of the Portuguese.
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 43 
 
 In the case of the Portuguese and similar laborers not only is the 
 wage scale somewhat higher than that paid the Orientals, correspond- 
 ing to their greater efficiency, but inducements have been made in the 
 way of ofl'ering to them houses and small tracts of land on condition 
 that they will live on the ground for two or more 3'ears and will make 
 moderate payments in monthly installments. The offers of this kind 
 have frequently been regarded with suspicion, but in a few cases 
 they have been accepted. The average laborer would rather have a 
 dollar or two more a month in cash than twice its equivalent in real 
 property, ap he is fearful of being tied down or he suspects some 
 ulterior motive. 
 
 In some localities the offers of free land from the Government have 
 been accepted and small bodies of laborers are acquiring title. On 
 one of the plantations railroad facilities have been provided by which 
 the laborers located in their homes can reach other points of work if 
 they so desire. Where the laborer finds he is thus free to seek other 
 occupation he usuall}' prefers to stay near home, work on the adja- 
 cent plantation, and with the help of his family cultivate his own 
 little garden. Liberal treatment in such directions has been followed 
 by more effective work and by less desire to move about from planta- 
 tion to plantation. 
 
 On the Olaa plantation in Hawaii an acre of ground is given to 
 men who have worked for three years at regular wages. Over 50 
 Portuguese and 30 Spanish have availed themselves of this oppor- 
 tunity. With decrease in supply of labor from the outside the ef- 
 ficiency of the individual workers now employed is steadily increas- 
 ing, due to the more settled condition and to various other causes, 
 so that now it is believed that the individual Japanese worker, for 
 example, accomplishes 20 per cent more than he did when he first 
 came to the islands. This is due in part to the fact that many of the 
 Japanese are taking small contracts for cultivating or cutting the 
 cane; with aroused personal interest they are doing more and better 
 work; also it is asserted that during the war with Russia the Japanese 
 laborers were more or less excited and devoted considerable time to 
 war news. After the cessation of the war and with the stimulus of 
 rumors of possible troubles with the United States, the laborers re- 
 sumed work with renewed vigor with the idea of accumulating as 
 much money as possible in view of early return to their own country. 
 
 With the increase of effectiveness of labor through better work on 
 the part of the Orientals and higher grade of labor for the Latins, 
 there is coming about also a reduction in the amount of heavy man- 
 ual work. For example, the planters' experiment station has dis- 
 covered that the stripping of the cane, a very laborious process, does 
 not add to its value, but even the reverse. With the elimination of 
 the stripping, possibly 12 per cent of the labor on the plantation will 
 be reduced. The burning of the cane immediately before cutting 
 tends to reduce the amount of material to be handled. Machinery 
 is being introduced for loading cane as it is for unloading, and every 
 possible effort is being made to utilize labor-saving devices, although 
 it must be confessed that the progress in this direction has not been 
 as marked as it has been in many others. 
 
 The sentiment of the ])ul)lic as well as of the planters is rapidly 
 crystallizing into well-defined movements to bring about not merely
 
 44 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII, 
 
 a better physical condition of the laborers, but also to bring to the 
 islands only such men as are capable of becoming citizens. 
 
 It can not be said that action along this line on the part of em- 
 ployers is wholly altruistic. It is due in part to the recognition of 
 the fact that the public welfare demands that the greater part of the 
 population shall be no longer alien; as voters the field laborers must 
 ultimately yield a powerful influence. The evolution of the sugar 
 industry seems to permit or even demand a higher grade of laborer. 
 There is no doubt that the planters as a whole, actuated in part by 
 patriotic motives, will gladly employ a higher type of men if they 
 can be had. 
 
 The factors working together for raising the standard of labor 
 are national, territorial, and individual : National in the exclusion of 
 Orientals, territorial in the supervision of immigration and execu- 
 tion of public health and quarantine requirements, individual in the 
 work being done singly by the planters or through their association, 
 notably in experimental work. 
 
 One of the first steps in advance is that of improving the laborers' 
 quarters and of providing the more ambitious men with small homes, 
 where they can own the ground and become independent. The edu- 
 cation of the children of the laborers is also resulting in apprecia- 
 tion of and demands for better housing conditions, but the effect of 
 this education must be to keep a considerable part of the next genera- 
 tion out of the fields unless by that time labor-saving devices have 
 been developed to a point where manual labor is more largely re- 
 placed by exercise of intelligence. 
 
 The increase of product of sugar per individual employed in the 
 field is illustrated by the fact that in 1904 about 8 tons of sugar were 
 produced per man employed, and in 1908 there were 11 tons per man. 
 
 IMPORTING LABOR. 
 
 The labor question is by no means new now, nor is it wholly an 
 outgrowth of annexation. From the very beginning of the sugar in- 
 dustry it was seen that the dependence could not be put upon native 
 labor alone. The natives were not only decreasing in number, but 
 were unwilling to work steadily in the fields. As early as 1850 the 
 legislative assembly made provisions for contract labor. In that 
 year the Eoyal Hawaiian Agricultural Society was founded with a 
 view to promoting the interest of the planters. Under their auspices 
 in 1852 Chinese to the number of 293 were brought in, followed by 
 others annually, until in 1865 the board of immigration was created, 
 and the Government entering more and more into the details of immi- 
 gration finally became practically an employment agency, seeking 
 labor in all parts of the world, notably from China, Polynesiji, Japan, 
 Portugal, Spain, Germany, Norway, and Porto Ilico. 
 
 In all over 180,000 immigrants have been brought to the islands 
 since 1852, at a total cost of over $9,000,000, or $50 each. 
 
 The cost of bringing in the Japanese has been estimated at $70 per 
 individual, of Chinese $75, and of Portuguese $115. Of the total 
 imported, probably a half have gone home, others have died or left 
 the fields and gone into varied industries, leaving about 45,000 labor- 
 ers on the jilantations.
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 45 
 
 One of the latest and most successful attempts to bring in labor 
 has been that of introducing Portuguese and Spanish. Three steam- 
 ers brought in during 1907 an aggregate of 1,400 men, 1,143 women, 
 2,141 children, in all 4,684 individuals. This was done at an average 
 cost, including the general superintendence of the work, of $G2 per 
 individual or a little over $200 for each adult male. The wages paid 
 these men Avill average at first probably about $-20 per month. 
 
 As part of the systematic efforts of the territorial immigration 
 commission, there have been brought back to the islands from San 
 Francisco a considerable number of Portuguese laborers who left the 
 islands to seek work on the mainland, hearing of the high prices paid 
 in California after the earthquake. These people were glad to re- 
 turn to the islands, but did not have sufficient funds. The Territory 
 paid for their return passage at an average cost of $52 for each 
 adult male, or $28 for each individual. There were thus returned 187 
 men, 03 women, and 98 children. 
 
 HOME MAKING. 
 
 The supreme need of the islands from the standpoint of the 
 national interest is that of increasing the number of citizens owning 
 homes upon the lands. The relatively great proportion of laborers 
 who are not citizens and the fact that there is such a small number 
 of citizens who are landowners and who have been brought up under 
 democratic institutions, forms a source of weakness. Every possible 
 effort should be made by public and private interests to put upon 
 the land the best obtainable men, who will live upon small farms, 
 cultivate the soil and become independent, self-supporting citizens. 
 This need has long been recognized : many attempts have been made 
 to remedy conditions, but most of these have not been successful, 
 owing to a variety of reasons. 
 
 The development of an agricultural citizen class — intermediate be- 
 tween the corporations owning large sugar plantations and the land- 
 less migratory laborer — is favored by natural conditions and by popu- 
 lar sentiment. The chief obstacles arise from the overshadowing 
 interests of the great sugar industry and the resulting presence of 
 oriental or other low-grade labor, which tends continually to crowd 
 out or take the place of the citizen engaged in individual enterprise. 
 The Chinese in past years gradually replaced the small farmer and 
 the local tradesman and mechanic. In turn he is being displaced by 
 the Japanese, who, coming originally to labor on the ]ilantation, 
 sought easier work, took small contracts, started little stores to sup- 
 ply his countrymen, and now is getting into all agricultural lines 
 excepting rice. 
 
 It must be admitted that as matters now stand the newcomer finds 
 difficulty in getting located. He is welcomed and treated with hos- 
 pitality and if he is a laboring man or mechanic may find work, but 
 the demand for such men is not large. If he is a farmer he will be 
 more than welcome in sentiment, but from a business standj^oint he 
 Avill find it difficult to learn of a piece of land which can be secured 
 on reasonable terms. It is probable that he will fall in with several 
 of that numerous class of men who, not having succeeded themselves,, 
 spend their time in telling others of the disadvantages. This is a
 
 46 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 common condition thronghout all countries which have reached a 
 certain stage of development and where new men attempt to secure a 
 foothold. In initiating a number of the reclamation projects on the 
 mainland which have since proved successful, one of the first obstacles 
 encountered lay in the old inhabitants, who seemed to make it a busi- 
 ness to scoff at the efforts of the newcomers and to assure them that 
 the conditions were such that they could not make a living. The fact 
 that they had failed was to them proof that no one else could succeed. 
 
 The attitude of the present landowners toward increase of settle- 
 ment is favorable in theory. Each man concedes that it is for the 
 public good to subdivide some of the larger holdings and to put these 
 in the hands of the best class of citizens. It is, however, inseparable 
 from human nature for Jones to think that Smith should subdivide 
 his land first. There are always some special reasons why Jones 
 thinks that his case is exceptional and he should not be called upon 
 to make possible concession to the public good. 
 
 There has been and possibly now is a fear among a few plantation 
 managers that the small farmer wall become a competitor in bidding 
 for the services of the laborers brought to the plantation at great 
 expense. There is some reason in this, but in the long run it is be- 
 lieved that the dangers imagined from this source will be more than 
 outweighed by other benefits. 
 
 The territorial government is attempting through the wise use of 
 the public lands to promote settlement, and has from time to time 
 modified the laws with this end in view. The practical difficulties are 
 great, but, nevertheless, continued efforts are being made and every 
 possible solution is being considered. The commissioner of the public 
 lands, having the disposal of lands in direct charge, is studying from 
 time to time the best method of subdividing each piece of government 
 land as the lease expires, but, with limited assistance and the restric- 
 tions necessarily imposed, these results come slowly. 
 
 The chief obstacles to more rapid subdivision of lands and settle- 
 ment of the islands lie, first, in the prevailing ignorance concerning 
 the country and its possibilities; second, in the present character of 
 the land ownership; third, in the presence of a gi-eat body of Ori- 
 entals; fourth, in transportation problems; and, fifth, in the absence 
 of local or agricultural banks. 
 
 First. Although the islands have been part of the United States 
 for more than ten years, it is' probable that relatively few persons on 
 the mainland seeking new homes or larger opportunities are aware of 
 the attractions afforded by the climate and fertile soil. This condi- 
 tion is being remedied by active efforts of the Territory and of vari- 
 ous semiofficial organizations, such as the promotion committee, which 
 is circulating literature and calling attention to the opportunities. 
 
 Second. The chief difficulty met by a prospective settler upon 
 reaching the islands is to find any piece of land available for his use. 
 It is true that the territorial government is subdividing lands and 
 offering these from time to time, but most of the attractive places are 
 immediately taken by men resident on the islands, some of whom may 
 already have a home elsewhere. There is practically no private land 
 for sale, but there is some offered for lease at what appear to be very 
 high prices. 
 
 Third. The presence of the oriental laborer, forming the great 
 mass of population, produces an artificial condition of social and
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 47 
 
 business life not conducive to settlement by whites. In the aiid States 
 of the mainland where men take up land and make it valuable by 
 their own labor, every man is on the- same social plane with his 
 neighbor and vies with him in physical as well as mental energies 
 expended in daily labor. In the island, however, where practically 
 all the ph3^sical labor is performed by Orientals, the tendency is for 
 the white settler to endeavor to have his work done by Orientals. 
 He tries to secure a larger piece of land than he could cultivate him- 
 self and to work it by cheap labor rather than take the small area 
 and intelligently till it by his personal efforts. It is not that the 
 climatic conditions are unfavorable to physical exertion, but largely 
 because it is not customary for the white man to do Avork which can 
 be performed by Japanese. 
 
 Another unfavorable condition growing out of the presence of the 
 Orientals is that they are willing to pa}' large rent for a piece of land 
 instead of trying to own it, and are content with relatively small 
 earnings. The white man can not compete with them in their own 
 lines. His standard of living is so different that although he may 
 possess superior intelligence he can not profitably utilize the ground 
 to the same degree as his oriental neighbor. 
 
 Fourth. The problem of transportation is one which is ever pres- 
 ent in a growing community. The present facilities of communica- 
 tion between the islands are in their way excellent and are constantly 
 improving. There are also on some of the islands the beginnings of 
 railroads more or less encircling them and bringing the products to 
 convenient ports. There are only three of these, however, where 
 steamers can lie at a dock, namely, at Honolulu, on Oahu, at Hilo, on 
 PaAvaii, and at Kahiihii, on Maui. At all other ports on the three 
 islands named, and at all points on the other islands, the products 
 must be lightered, usually in small boats, resulting in considerable 
 expense and some uncertainty and danger in transfer. 
 
 There are on most of the islands excellent wagon roads and others 
 projected to reach the productive land. These roads, originally built 
 by the i^rovisional government and continued by the Territory, are 
 now in the hands of county officials. Some are well maintained, on 
 others the funds have not been effectively expended. The cost of 
 transporting products, therefore, to the main lines of trade is fre- 
 quently high, but with increase of production it is proper to expect 
 that the facilities will be improved and the cost notably lowered. 
 
 Fifth. There are practically no banks or institutions advancing 
 money to farmers. The sugar industiy is financed by a few large 
 agencies who have little or no interest outside of this particular line. 
 The fruit raiser or packer or the small farmer does not have the facil- 
 ities of obtaining money possessed in most agricultural communities 
 on the mainland. The Japanese have already appreciated this fact, 
 and by white assistance are starting a bank to help their fellow coun- 
 trymen finance sugar-planting contracts and similar enterprises. 
 
 HOME MAKING ON THE PUBLIC LANDS. 
 
 The apparently obvious thing to do, and the action proposed by 
 every person when he first considers the subject, is to cut up the 
 public lands as soon as the leases run out and distribute the lands in 
 small tracts to citizens. For example, the Territory owns 34,000 acres
 
 48 NATURAL EESOUECES OF HAWAII. 
 
 of rich land now leased to the plantations and cultivated in sugar 
 cane. This land has a value of from $50 to $200 per acre, and would 
 yield an annual rental of $8 or $10 per acre or even more. The ques- 
 tion is frequently asked, Why not cut up this cane land into tracts of 
 40-acre homesteads? This seems to be a simple way of treating the 
 j)roblem. It has, hoAvever, been put to trial, without success. In 
 general effect it has proved as advantageous to the public as it would 
 have been to give to each applicant $2,000 to $8,000 in gold. The re- 
 cipient of this gift would be greatly pleased, but the public treasury 
 would be depleted by this amount. 
 
 The giving away of this rich, highly cultivated land upon condi- 
 tion of residence upon it has resulted in the recipient making some 
 indirect arrangement by which he virtually leases to the adjacent 
 plantation the land which has been given him. Pending the time of 
 securing complete title he establishes a nominal residence with the 
 apparent intention of selling the land as soon as he can obtain title 
 from the government. The home has usually consisted of the cheapest 
 possible house or shack in which a human being can sleep occasionally 
 and occupying the least possible amount of land, the remainder being 
 devoted to sugar cane or other plantation purposes. The homesteader 
 has not added to the value of the land in any respect, either by his 
 personal labor or by intelligent supervision of the work of others. 
 The conditions are similar to those on the mainland where homestead 
 entries were received on valuable timber lands. Merely nominal resi- 
 dence was established, and when title was received the land was 
 promptly sold to some large lumber compan3^ As far as benefit to 
 the commonwealth was concerned the government might better have 
 sold the land directly and converted the proceeds to public uses. 
 
 The experience had in these lines illustrates the fact that lands 
 which are most valuable for some established and highly profitable 
 line of industry will not be actually used as homesteads even if sub- 
 divided and given to applicants. No way has yet been devised for 
 keeping a man on his homestead after he obtains title if he believes 
 that he can make money more easily by selling his land to some 
 corporation. To have a successful homestead, one which is a benefit 
 in increasing the prosperity of any country, it is necessary to have, 
 first, a man who really desires to own and cultivate a piece of land, 
 and who has the ability, physical and to a certain extent financial, 
 so to do: second, the land open to homestead entr}'^ must be of such 
 quality and so located that the entryman can raise food for home con- 
 sumption and will prefer to live at home ; and third, the surrounding 
 conditions of market and transportation must be such that the prod- 
 ucts can be sold at prices profitable enough to support his family. If 
 he can make as good or nearly as good a living by renting his land 
 he will probably do so. Nothing can keep a homesteader on his land 
 but the fact that this is, in his own opinion, the most suitable place 
 to live, and when the earnings which he receives from cultivating the 
 soil are higher than those obtained in* any other way. 
 
 One of the difficulties of bringing about actual homesteading is that 
 inherent in distinguishing between the bona fide settler and the 
 speculator. At present the territorial laws do not limit the number 
 of homesteads that a man can take, with the result that having secured 
 one homestead the owner can dispose of it and get another and
 
 w 
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 49 
 
 another in succession without adding to the population of the country. 
 A somewhat active sentiment on the part of the majority of citizens 
 is to the effect that the preference should l)e given to natives. Tlie 
 idea prominent in public discussions when homesteads are mentioned 
 is that the public lands should be divided up among the present 
 population. 
 
 There is no question but that each native should have a home and 
 sufficient area for the support of his family, but it is not adding to 
 the strength of the commonwealth to divide land among men who will 
 not live upon it and improve it. The policy recently adopted of 
 leasing, for a term of 090 years, small areas to the natives has proved 
 most beneficial, both to them and to the public. In this way a man 
 and his family may have sufficient land for their support if the}' use 
 industr}', and this land Avill remain in the family as long as it is used 
 as a home. This policy appears to put a stop to much of the specula- 
 tion which has prevented effective homesteading in the past. 
 
 The disposal of the public lands in a limited number of small tracts 
 from time to time as leases expire has prevented any general adver- 
 tising of the fact that public land is available and thus has not at- 
 tracted the attention of possible settlers froju the mainland. It ap- 
 pears probable that if any considerable number of farm units could 
 be disposed of by lot, it would be possible to attract the attention of 
 desirable settlors and bring into the islands the class of men urgently 
 needed. 
 
 IS HOME-MAKING PRACTICABLE? 
 
 Is it practicable in face of existing conditions of land ownership, 
 of character of population, and of labor to greatly increase the 
 number of small independent farmers, men who can and will maintain 
 a relatively high standard of. living? Can the pioneer white farmer 
 get a foothold on the islands where good agricultural land now rents 
 each 3'ear at prices from $5 to $50 per acre ? Will he bring his family 
 to a comnuinity composed largely of Asiatics or the poorer gi'ades of 
 Latin races? Will he be content to labor in his field when most men 
 of his race now act as overseers or employers and where coolies or 
 peasants are hired for all manual work? Will he. on gaining full 
 title to his homestead sell or lease to an Oriental, or be gradually 
 crowded out, as has been the white mechanic and shopkeeper? It is 
 evident that unless he can obtain a foothold and will be able to main- 
 tain the standard of living and the social and civic ideals of the Re- 
 public, there is little to be gained by attempts to merely increase 
 l)opulation. 
 
 There is little or nothing in the climate to prevent attaining in the 
 islands as great or ev(Mi greater success in small farming as that 
 reached on the mainland. There are hotter parts of California and 
 more enervating conditions in various parts of the newly settled 
 AVest. There are similar difficulties in lack of transportation or in 
 j)hysical obstacles to be overcome. The problem is not so much one of 
 natural environment but of artificial or civic conditions. As a conse- 
 quence the remedy to be applied or the impediments to be removed 
 are mainly artificial or social. The bringing about of the desired con- 
 dition of a larger population and a greater percentage of intelligent 
 
 S. Doc. m% <><i-2 i
 
 50 NATURAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 
 
 voters must come in a different way from that on the mainland. 
 There a high devek)pment was reached by the single-handed combat 
 of each pioneer with his natural environment. On the islands, as 
 above stated, the chief obstacles are of human or social origin, end a 
 broad, intelligent cooperation must be had of all civic organizations 
 combining toward the common end. In this should be united the 
 agencies of the nation, the guardian of the Territory, as well as those 
 of the Territory itself and the commercial or semipublic organiza- 
 tions of the people on the islands. 
 
 Progress can not be made toward securing a larger settlement by 
 breaking down any of the existing industries or taking away lands 
 now devoted to high grades of agriculture. What is needed is to 
 supplement and add to the present industries rather than interfere 
 with them, or, putting the matter in more concrete form, it is not 
 for the best public policy to try to cut down the area in sugar for 
 the purpose of raising some other less valuable crop. Some well- 
 intentioned persons have argued that in order to increase the desirable 
 population of the islands the sugar plantations must be restricted 
 and the lands now in sugar cane divided up. It is believed that this 
 is neither practicable nor desirable. The sugar industry is the main 
 support of the islands and will probably so remain until conditions 
 have radically changed throughout the entire country. On the other 
 hand, there are knoAvn to be large tracts of land which are not being 
 put to their best use, largely because of lack of sufficient moisture. 
 These are held, generally, by estates or by the government, and in 
 some respect the problem of their use is similar to that which has 
 been successfully met by reclamation under the Federal Government. 
 The underlying principles there have not been to deprive any in- 
 dustry of needed land but to take the lands which otherwise would 
 be waste and desolate, bring water to them, and make it possible for 
 men with skill and energy to put the lands in such condition that 
 they become valuable and are capable of supporting the families 
 of their owners. 
 
 SUMMARY. 
 
 The Hawaiian Islands are a part of the United States forming 
 the Territor}^ of Hawaii. Though small in area the Territory, from 
 its location, has a peculiar importance in the national welfare and 
 defense. It is agricultural and now devoted practically to one in- 
 dustry — sugar. 
 
 The prosperity of the sugar industry and hence of the Territory 
 rests on the unstable basis of the federal protective tariff and a 
 migratory alien labor class composed mainly of Orientals. 
 
 There is a conspicuous lack of the body of citizenship which has 
 made possible the existence of the American commouAvealth, namely, 
 the " plain people," property owners of moderate means with thrift, 
 energy, and high civic ideals. 
 
 The climatic conditions and natural resources are highly favorable 
 to the increase" of diversified agriculture and to the building up of a 
 class of independent small farmers — needed for national growth and 
 defense. 
 
 The artificial conditions — those of human control^social and 
 otherwise, such as arise from the presence of a preponderance of 
 Orientals, are not now favorable to the success of this class.
 
 NATUKAL RESOURCES OF HAWAII. 51 
 
 It is possible by wiser use of natural resources and broader states- 
 manship to remove many obstacles and to stimulate the increase of 
 property-owning citizens. 
 
 This is being done in part by the territorial government utilizing 
 its public lands as far as practicable for homesteads, but, being done 
 in a small way. it is not bringing to the Territory the class of citizens 
 who are building up other Territories. 
 
 The reclamation of considerable areas of public land by the Federal 
 Government, as is done elsewhere under the terms of the act of June 
 17. 1902, would attract this class of small farmers and stimulate 
 diversified agricultural industries as no other known agency could. 
 
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 687 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 000 853 757 3 
 
 H