Protecting Plants, When It’s Convenient
In celebrating 2003 as the Year of the Hawaiian Forest, Environment Hawai`i is reprinting historical records that depict changes in its forested landscape over the last two centuries. This month’s selection is taken from minutes of two meetings in 1945 of the Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry:
March 15, 1945:
The following communication from Edward G. Wingate, Superintendent, Hawai`i National Park, was read to the Commissioners:
December 5,1944
Dear Mr. Lennox:
On his last two visits to Kilauea, Mr. Joseph Rock, the botanist, urged that the National Park take some action toward preserving certain rare native forest plants that are in danger of extinction through browsing of cattle, increase in agricultural land, and so on. He suggested that an area within the park be set aside as a sort of botanical reserve.
We have given Dr. Rock’s suggestion consideration here, and following his last visit recommended to the director, National Park Service, that authority be granted for the establishment of such a botanical preserve. Park policy ordinarily would prohibit our considering such a venture since the purpose of the park is to conserve, unchanged in any way, all the natural objects, wildlife, etc., native to the particular park area. Many of the endangered Hawaiian forest plants are not native to either the Kilauea-Mauna Loa or Haleakala section of the park, and their introduction, even in the form of a botanical garden, would definitely intrude elements into the park that normally would not be found here. The director’s office gave consideration to our suggestion and, in reply, concurred in Dr. Rock’s suggestion but with certain limitations.
Since receipt of the reply from the director, Mr. Fagerlund, our former naturalist, has returned to duty here and the matter was referred to him for study. He has just handed me a memorandum on the subject. Briefly, he suggests that the park abandon the idea of having a botanical preserve within the park, but that we give every assistance possible in propagating endangered native species that, with your cooperation and the additional cooperation of interested land owners, might be set out either in the territorial Forest Preserves or on private or public lands, wherever a habitat suitable to the particular plant or tree might be found.
Knowing of your interest in the territorial forests and the Hawaiian flora itself, I have hastened to write you to present the thought for your consideration, that the Board of Agriculture and Forestry go on record as a definite policy that, in so far as within the scope of the board’s work, every effort would be made to conserve endangered species of native plant lifeÉ So much of our native plant life has, throughout the years, disappeared, much of it wholly unique, that it seems those of us who are concerned in these matters should give our best thought to assuring, as far as possible, the preservation of species now endangered.
Very truly yours,
Edward G. Wingate,
Superintendent
Mr. Fleming: I think this can be done by the territory very easily.
Mr. Crosby: Some work along these lines has been done by Mr. Bryan on Hawai`i.
Mr. Lennox: I would like to answer this letter. Does the board feel we should go into this?
Mr. Pemberton: I don’t think we should go into it to any great extent.
Mr. Podmore: But we would go along with this thing if we could conveniently do so.
Mr. Lennox: If no opinions to the contrary, we will go ahead on the basis of approving the general idea of preserving native plants and assisting with their preservation where possible, providing it does not take precedence over other more important matters.
July 26, 1945:
“Expedition to Pu`uwa`awa`a Area to Survey Native Trees and Take Measures to Protect Those Which Are In Danger of Extinction”
Date: May 24-25, 1945
Personnel: From Board of Agriculture and Forestry:
C.G. Lennox, Harold Yamayoshi, Duke Kawai, John Gouveia
From Hawai`i National Park:
G.O. Fagerlund, A.L. Mitchell
From Pu`uwa`awa`a:
Thos. Lindsay, Isaac Sanford
Trees protected by fencing with animal proof fence:
1. Small shrub of unknown genus called Wahine noho kula. Eaten down to a bare stump by animals. Said to be only one in existence by Sanford and Lindsay. (Elev. 2300′).1
2. Tetraplasandra meiandra – one large tree (14″ – 18″ trunk – 25′ – 30′ tall) which was nearly girdled by pigs. Fagara sp. (A`e, Hea`e), an extremely rare tree, was also growing in this area so this tree is also being protected by the same fence. (Elev. 3500′).2
3. Hibiscadelphus hualalaiensis (Hau kuahiwi) – stand of three or four.3
Other trees searched for:
1. Gardenia brighamii (Na`u) – No living trees found. Further search should be made when trees flower as their scent may assist in locating them.
2. Sophora chrysophylla, var. unifoliata (Mamani manu) – The trees were found to be the common mamani but infested with mistletoe (Korthalsella complanata) which at a casual glance gave the appearance of a different leaf type.
General Observations:
1. The gradual decline of many species of native trees in the Pu`uwa`awa`a region is no doubt due primarily to a profound change in plant associations due to heavy grazing by goats, sheep, pigs and cattle. However, the introduction of foreign insects and plants into the region is having a marked effect on the health of the trees.
2. The rapid spread of fountain grass (Pennisetum ruppelii) throughout this region is creating a fire hazard which may some day account for the total destruction of the remaining trees below the 3,000-foot level.
Recommendations to the Board of Agriculture and Forestry:
That an area be selected of fifty to one hundred acres where a representative population of native trees exists and be turned into a ‘Sanctuary of Native Trees.’ It will necessitate protection by a stock proof fence and continuous policing against injurious plants and animals. It will afford a place where native species can be replanted or encouraged to propagate themselves.
Such a project falls in the category of post war developments and is of secondary importance to watershed protection.
A suggested area would be a strip between `a`a flows which is located about 3 miles along the Belt Road south of the ranch gate and extends mauka about two milesÉ We rode through this area and noted many good specimens of:
Kauila (Columbrina oppositifolia)
`Akoko (Euphorbia olowaluana)
Koki`o (Kokio rockii)
Uhiuhi (Mezoneuron kawaiense)
`Aiea (Nothocestrum breviflorum)
Ala`a hua (Sideroxylon auahiense)
Maua (Xylosma hillebrandii)
Commissioner Henke moved “that the board take preliminary action to fence the area recommended and to take necessary steps in having the said area withdrawn from the general lease and make the same available for use as a reservation or arboretum.”
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kimi and carried.4
1. In Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i, Wahine noho kula is identified as Isodendrion pyrifolium A. Gray. This shrub was once found on Ni`ihau, O`ahu, Moloka`i, Lana`i, Hawai`i, and probably Maui. It is now thought to be extinct. See Wagner, Herbst, and Sohmer, ManualÉ, Vol. 2, p. 1331. With respect to the other plants named here, we leave it to the reader to track taxonomic changes over the last 60 years.
2. According to Jon Giffin, administrator of the Hawai`i district for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, years ago, one wild plant remained at Pu`uwa`awa`a Ranch. “We collected a gazillion seeds from it, and got three of them to germinate. Two survive in an exclosure [at Pu`uwa`awa`a] and started fruiting last year.” The last wild tree has died.
3. Giffin reports that the last wild tree died four or five years ago. The only trees left, he says, “are just outplanted progeny.”
4. As has happened frequently at Pu`uwa`awa`a, decisions that would have protected plants by removing land from grazing were never implemented. Much of the same area recommended for protection in 1945 was again proposed for protection in the 1970s. Since then, fires have removed much of the native vegetation and fountain grass and other invasive species have moved in.
Volume 13, Number 10 April 2003