David McHattie Forbes
Encyclopedia
David McHattie Forbes was a Scottish
botanist, ethnologist, explorer on the island of Hawai'i. He practiced forestry, agronomy, and horticulture and served as the first district forester of South Kohala in 1905, and twenty years later was appointed a judge in Waimea. He was the discoverer in 1905 of what became known as the Forbes Collection, the greatest collection of Polynesian artifacts ever found. His family preserved his third of the found objects for half a century and then donated them to the Volcanoes National Park in 1956. The objects were on public view for 34 years until 1990, when with the passage of NAGPRA in 1990, they were each evaluated to be priceless as well as subject to repatriation and removed permanently from the public. The remaining two thirds of the objects found in the Forbes Cave, were sold to the Bishop Museum by Forbes' two expedition partners.
, the son of Alexander and Mary (McHattie) Forbes, he was educated in common schools in Scotland.
. In 1883 he became the Foreman Forester for the estate of Fletcher's Saltoun Hall
, the seat of the oldest and largest private library in Scotland. In 1887, at the behest of William H. Purvis
, he traveled to Kukuihaele, Hawaii, via Cape Horn, to manage an experiment in cinchona cultivation above the sugar line. Purvis, who had already introduced the macademia nut from Australia, recognized the potential benefits to finding a species of tree that would thrive in the land above the sugar cane, and the bark of the cinhona he imported from Ceylon had a promising yield ration between bark and quinine. When Purvis' plantation was transferred to the Pacific Sugar Mill Company, D. M. Forbes succeeded C. Von Mengersen as manager, running the Pacific Sugar Mill from 1893–1907.
He was appointed as
He returned to Scotland in 1910, and then back to Waiakea
, Hilo in 1912. He took the position of manager of the Waiakea Mill Company of Hilo. Finally settled in Waimea and was appointed to the rank of District Magistrate, South Kohala
, Hawaii in 1929, and reappointed in 1932. He was the founder of Scouting
in Waimea.
, Hilo, on August 7, 1895. They had five children, Blodwyn, Merlyn, Allister, Dyfrig and Elizabeth.
trees, from which quinine
is made. They were planted by David McHattie Forbes in 1887 on the forest lands of the Pacific Sugar Mill Company, one patch of approximately 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) extent at an elevation of 2000 feet (609.6 m), the other patch of 10 to 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) is at 2200 feet (670.6 m) elevation. Despite the best available location, ample drainage and good soil, the Cinchona
trees did not grow as healthy as most exotic plants introduced from a warm climate. Their value became so low compared to the price of labor that the attempt was abandoned in 1905.
A Banyan Tree still stands in David McHattie Forbes honor at Banyan Drive
in Hilo, Hawaii, known as the "Hilo Walk of Fame." Next to Forbes, visitors will find such names as Amelia Earhart
, Babe Ruth
, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt on plaques affixed to the trees.
Forbes originated the "Waimea Fair" to promote the welfare of the local community.
Forbes planted some camphorwood seedlings in the grounds of the manager's house of the Pacific Sugar Mill Company in the 1880s. Half a century later he used the fragrant wood of these same trees to carve the altar for the Honokaa Union Church. Carving of the altar was completed after his death by his son David Merlyn Forbes.
He introduced the Jack Fruit tree to Hawaii.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
botanist, ethnologist, explorer on the island of Hawai'i. He practiced forestry, agronomy, and horticulture and served as the first district forester of South Kohala in 1905, and twenty years later was appointed a judge in Waimea. He was the discoverer in 1905 of what became known as the Forbes Collection, the greatest collection of Polynesian artifacts ever found. His family preserved his third of the found objects for half a century and then donated them to the Volcanoes National Park in 1956. The objects were on public view for 34 years until 1990, when with the passage of NAGPRA in 1990, they were each evaluated to be priceless as well as subject to repatriation and removed permanently from the public. The remaining two thirds of the objects found in the Forbes Cave, were sold to the Bishop Museum by Forbes' two expedition partners.
Early years
Born in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of Alexander and Mary (McHattie) Forbes, he was educated in common schools in Scotland.
Career
He began working in the private estate nurseries of Moray, Scotland in 1879 and later in the forests of the same estate. In 1882, he worked in the nurseries of Dixon & Co., EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. In 1883 he became the Foreman Forester for the estate of Fletcher's Saltoun Hall
Saltoun Hall
Saltoun Hall is an historic house standing in extensive lands off the B6355, Pencaitland to East Saltoun road, about 1.5 miles from each village, in East Lothian, Scotland...
, the seat of the oldest and largest private library in Scotland. In 1887, at the behest of William H. Purvis
William H. Purvis
William Herbert Purvis was a plant collector and investor in a sugar plantation on the island of Hawaii during the late nineteenth century....
, he traveled to Kukuihaele, Hawaii, via Cape Horn, to manage an experiment in cinchona cultivation above the sugar line. Purvis, who had already introduced the macademia nut from Australia, recognized the potential benefits to finding a species of tree that would thrive in the land above the sugar cane, and the bark of the cinhona he imported from Ceylon had a promising yield ration between bark and quinine. When Purvis' plantation was transferred to the Pacific Sugar Mill Company, D. M. Forbes succeeded C. Von Mengersen as manager, running the Pacific Sugar Mill from 1893–1907.
He was appointed as
He returned to Scotland in 1910, and then back to Waiakea
Waiakea
Waiākea is an ancient subdivision in the Hilo District of the Big Island of Hawaii, located in the area of .-Origin:The name comes from wai ākea in the Hawaiian Language meaning "broad waters", and sometimes what is now called Hilo Bay was called Waiākea Bay.Waiākea is home to many and has its own...
, Hilo in 1912. He took the position of manager of the Waiakea Mill Company of Hilo. Finally settled in Waimea and was appointed to the rank of District Magistrate, South Kohala
Kohala, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; Kohala , [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
, Hawaii in 1929, and reappointed in 1932. He was the founder of Scouting
Scouting in Hawaii
Scouting in Hawaii has a long history, from the 1900s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the unique environment in which they live.-Early history prior to statehood :...
in Waimea.
Affiliations
- Member, HamakuaHamakuathumb|right|280px|Districts of [[Hawaii |Hawaii island]]: from northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], Hāmākua , [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
Road Board; - Hawaii School Commissioner, appointed two terms for the Public Instruction Commission from 1922-25
- 1st LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the army of Provisional Government of HawaiiProvisional Government of HawaiiThe Provisional Government of Hawaii abbreviated "P.G." was proclaimed on January 17, 1893 by the 13 member Committee of Safety under the leadership of Sanford B. Dole... - 32° Mason (BPOE)
- Member of the Royal Arboricultural Society of Scotland.
Family
He married Catherine Lougher at WaiakeaWaiakea
Waiākea is an ancient subdivision in the Hilo District of the Big Island of Hawaii, located in the area of .-Origin:The name comes from wai ākea in the Hawaiian Language meaning "broad waters", and sometimes what is now called Hilo Bay was called Waiākea Bay.Waiākea is home to many and has its own...
, Hilo, on August 7, 1895. They had five children, Blodwyn, Merlyn, Allister, Dyfrig and Elizabeth.
Legacy
Kukuihaele is the site of the original Hawaiian Island stand of cinchonaCinchona
Cinchona or Quina is a genus of about 38 species in the family Rubiaceae, native to tropical South America. They are large shrubs or small trees growing 5–15 metres in height with evergreen foliage. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate and 10–40 cm long. The flowers are white, pink...
trees, from which quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
is made. They were planted by David McHattie Forbes in 1887 on the forest lands of the Pacific Sugar Mill Company, one patch of approximately 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) extent at an elevation of 2000 feet (609.6 m), the other patch of 10 to 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) is at 2200 feet (670.6 m) elevation. Despite the best available location, ample drainage and good soil, the Cinchona
Cinchona
Cinchona or Quina is a genus of about 38 species in the family Rubiaceae, native to tropical South America. They are large shrubs or small trees growing 5–15 metres in height with evergreen foliage. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate and 10–40 cm long. The flowers are white, pink...
trees did not grow as healthy as most exotic plants introduced from a warm climate. Their value became so low compared to the price of labor that the attempt was abandoned in 1905.
A Banyan Tree still stands in David McHattie Forbes honor at Banyan Drive
Banyan Drive
Banyan Drive is a tree-lined street at the shoreline of Hilo, Hawaii, coordinates . It is known as the "Hilo Walk of Fame" for the banyan trees planted by celebrities....
in Hilo, Hawaii, known as the "Hilo Walk of Fame." Next to Forbes, visitors will find such names as Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt on plaques affixed to the trees.
Forbes originated the "Waimea Fair" to promote the welfare of the local community.
Forbes planted some camphorwood seedlings in the grounds of the manager's house of the Pacific Sugar Mill Company in the 1880s. Half a century later he used the fragrant wood of these same trees to carve the altar for the Honokaa Union Church. Carving of the altar was completed after his death by his son David Merlyn Forbes.
He introduced the Jack Fruit tree to Hawaii.