With partners from Maui, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Hilo and Kona, CTAHR’s Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death team hosted the statewide seventh annual ‘Ohia Love fests. This year’s theme was Ka ʻUpena O Ke Ola, a metaphor for how life is interconnected mauka to makai, like a fishing net, and ʻōhiʻa is a keystone species that holds it all together, explains Charlotte Godfrey-Romo.
“We reached hundreds of members of the community of all ages!” she says. “And for the first time, we could host two fests on Hawaiʻi Island, one on the windward and another on the leeward side.”
At the Komohana Research Extension Center, where the public took advantage of interactive educational booths, games, and even live music, one guest told Charlotte the festival felt like “one giant hug, bringing the community together at a facility like this one where everything is in one big circle.”
The ROD team have plenty of folks to thank for the festivals’ success:
- Terraformation for the use of their beautiful facilities, and for providing tours of their native seed and plant nursery.
- Kimberly DeSouza, local artist, forest steward, and conservationist who created and gifted the art for the logo.
- Plant Pono and the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, who hosted a ‘Ōhiʻa-free wreath-making workshop
- The Invasive Species Committees from each island, Birds Not Mosquitoes, HAVO, Center for Mauna Kea Stewardship, USDA Forest Service, Akaka Foundation, and many others for sharing relevant and important information to the public.
The ROD program focuses on educating the community about the devastating fungal pathogen, providing the latest information and best management practices to help slow, contain and stop the spread of the disease, Charlotte describes. They educate the public on how goats and other hoofed animals, as well as ambrosia beetles, are involved in the spread of ROD.
“Ōhiʻa is a critical keystone tree species in the state and in Hawaiian culture,” she adds. “They provide water, food and shelter for hundreds of other species. In coming to these events, you are learning about the steps that you can take in order to prevent this disease, and also spread awareness to others. The ‘Ohia Love fests are for all people in the community, whether you are ranchers, farmers, hunters, lei makers, growers or members of the general public. We all come together as a community to help keep native forests healthy and do our best to take care of the land so it will take care of us.”