RAPID ʻŌHIʻA DEATH

Covering more than 800,000 acres across the State of Hawaii, Ohia forests are critical for recharging our island aquafers and stored carbon.

Covering more than 800,000 acres across the State of Hawaiʻi, ʻŌhiʻa forests are critical for recharging our island aquafers and stored carbon.

1. Brush/Scrape all dirt or mud off shoes. 2. Spray to coat the bottom of your shoes with 70% rubbing alcohol. Prevent spreading Rapid Ohia Death by following these simple steps before and after visiting forests. Click here to watch a quick video on sanitation.

1. Brush/Scrape all dirt or mud off shoes. 2. Spray to coat the bottom of your shoes with 70% rubbing alcohol. Prevent spreading Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death by following these simple steps before and after visiting forests. Click here to watch a quick video on sanitation.

The Rapid Ohia Death Working Group, led by the Department of Land & Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife among others, has released its second strategic response plan covering work to address ROD from 2020 to 2024.

The Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Working Group, led by the Department of Land & Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife among others, has released its second strategic response plan covering work to address ROD from 2020 to 2024

Saving Ohia-Hawaii's Sacred Tree has won 3 Emmy Awards! Check out this film capturing the story of Hawaii's battle to save ohia from the threat of Rapid Ohia Death disease.

Saving ʻŌhiʻa-Hawaiʻi's Sacred Tree has won 3 Emmy Awards! Check out this film capturing the story of Hawaiʻi's battle to save ʻōhiʻa from the threat of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death disease.

A newly identified disease has killed hundreds of thousands of mature ʻōhiʻa trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) in the South Hilo, Puna, Kaʻū and Kona districts of Hawaiʻi Island. (Photo by JB Friday)

A newly identified disease has killed hundreds of thousands of mature ʻōhiʻa trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) in the South Hilo, Puna, Kaʻū and Kona districts of Hawaiʻi Island. (Photo by JB Friday)

Crowns of affected trees turn yellowish (chlorotic) and then brown within days to weeks. (Photo by JB Friday)

Crowns of affected trees turn yellowish (chlorotic) and then brown within days to weeks. (Photo by JB Friday)

Ceratocystis fungus appears as dark, radial staining in the sapwood, sometimes accompanied by reddish reaction wood in the heartwood of the tree. (Photo by JB Friday)

Ceratocystis fungus appears as dark, radial staining in the sapwood, sometimes accompanied by reddish reaction wood in the heartwood of the tree. (Photo by JB Friday)

Don't spread ROD: Don't move ʻōhiʻa, clean your tools, your gear, your vehicle. (Photo by JB Friday)

Don't spread ROD: Don't move ʻōhiʻa, clean your tools, your gear, your vehicle. (Photo by JB Friday)

Fine boring dust produced by ambrosia beetles contains large numbers of fungal spores. Windblown boring dust could spread the disease long distances. (Photo by JB Friday)

Fine boring dust produced by ambrosia beetles contains large numbers of fungal spores. Windblown boring dust could spread the disease long distances. (Photo by JB Friday)


ʻŌHIʻA ARE HAWAIʻI'S FOUNDATION 

ʻŌhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha), the most abundant native tree in the state of Hawaiʻi, are dying from a new fungal disease. On Hawaiʻi Island, hundreds of thousands of ʻōhiʻa have already died from this fungus, called Ceratocystis. Healthy trees appear to die within a few days to a few weeks, which is how the disease came to be called “Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.” This disease has killed trees in all districts of Hawaiʻi Island and has the potential to kill ʻōhiʻa trees statewide.

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WHERE IS ROD? 

Hawaiʻi Island

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Kauaʻi

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Oʻahu

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Updated July 2021

 

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death disease has been found on the Islands of Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, Maui, and Oʻahu. Both Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi have confirmed Ceratocystis lukuohia (destroyer of ʻōhiʻa) and Ceratocystis huliohia (disruptor of ʻōhiʻa), the two fungal pathogens causing ROD. While C. lukuohia is a more aggressive fungus than C. huliohia, either species will kill ʻōhiʻa. In July 2019, a single tree infected by C. huliohia was detected on Maui and 5 trees was also detected with C. huliohia on Oʻahu. The tree on Maui was destroyed and there have been no positive ROD detections since.

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WHAT CAN WE DO?

Help prevent spreading Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death by practicing these five things:

1. Avoid injuring ʻōhiʻa.  

2. Don’t move ʻōhiʻa wood or ʻōhiʻa parts.

3. Don’t transport ʻōhiʻa inter-island.

4. Clean gear and tools, including shoes and clothes, before and after entering forests.

5. Wash the tires and undercarriage of your vehicle to remove all soil or mud.

We love ʻŌhiʻa

Wear it proudly

Keep ʻŌhiʻa on Hawaiʻi Island

Return lei to pono places

Clean soil off shoes and gear

We are helping prevent the spread of ROD by offering Hoʻihoʻi baskets to return lei safely to the forest. 

hoʻihoʻi baskets

Lei can also be returned safely to forests on Saddle Road (between mile markers 12-16) or along Stainback Highway (3 miles from Highway 11 along Stainback to N.Kulani intersection) within 20 feet in from forest edge. Please remove all non-biodegradable materials from lei.

ohia lei close up


MM HI red yellow ohia

 

To prevent spread of ROD,  please do not transport ʻōhiʻa, lei, flowers, or wood from Hawaiʻi Island.