Inventory of Selected Water, Land, and Related Resources Data for the Island of Hawaii, Hawaii: A Type IV USDA River Basin Survey

Excerpts from the report: Hawaii is the southeasternmost and largest island of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Commonly referred to as the Big Island, Hawaii has a total land area of 4,038 square miles, or 2,584,320 acres, nearly two-thirds of the state's total land area. Almost half of the island is forest or brush-covered. Large parts of the forest land are vital watershed areas. The purpose of the study is to contribute to the coordinated development, management, and use of the water, land, and related resources of the island of Hawaii. The primary objectives of the study are to: (1) identify present and potential land and water resource problems and opportunities for solving them; (2) provide a basis for more effective coordination of USDA programs with the related activities of other federal, state and local agencies; and (3) provide a sound basis for the development of water and related land resources by means of Public Law 83-566 projects or other U.S. Department of Agriculture programs. The report includes: (1) an inventory of natural resources; (2) an analysis and projections of economic development; (3) a description of the causes and extent of the island’s resource problems; (4) an indication of present and future needs for resource conservation and development; (5) a discussion of existing resource projects and programs; (6) a description of the resource development potential; (7) an indication of the opportunities for development under USDA programs; and (8) suggested future programs and coordination needs among all groups and agencies.