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How to Help

  • Prevent the spread of ROD fungus by washing your vehicle with a pressure-washer and detergent if you’ve been off-roading or have picked up mud from driving. Pay special attention to getting soil out from tire treads and wheel-wells. (Photo by C. Yanger)

    Wash your vehicle

  • Use a stiff-bristled brush to get all soil off yours shoes and then spray the soles with 70% rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol to kill ROD fungal spores. (Photo by A. Tagawa)

    Clean your shoes


REPORT

We do not have any confirmed cases of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death from any island other than the Island of Hawai ʻi. 


ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI

Landowners who suspect their trees are infected with Ceratocystis on Hawaiʻi Island are encouraged to contact Corie Yanger with reports and locations of these trees. 


NEIGHBORING ISLANDS 

If you see a tree with ROD symptoms (browning crown or limb over a few days or weeks) on another island, please contact the local Invasive Species Committee: Kauaʻi 808-821-1490 (kisc@hawaii.edu), Oʻahu 808-266-7994 (oisc@hawaii.edu), Molokaʻi 808-553-5236 ext. 6585 (lbuchanan@tnc.org), and Maui 808-573-6472 (miscpr@hawaii.edu). Please include a photo and description in all email correspondence.


HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD

There is no effective treatment to protect ʻōhiʻa trees from becoming infected with Ceratocystis or cure for trees that exhibit symptoms of the disease. Therefore, we have an important role to help prevent the further spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. There are 5 simple things we can all do to help in this effort:

1) Don’t move ʻōhiʻa wood or ʻōhiʻa parts. If you don’t know where the ʻōhiʻa material is from, don’t move it.

2) Don’t transport ʻōhiʻa inter-island. Follow the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture quarantine rule and don’t move ʻōhiʻa off of the Island of Hawaiʻi.

3) Avoid injuring ʻōhiʻa. Wounds serve as entry points for the fungus and increase the odds that the tree will become infected and die from ROD. Avoid pruning and contact with heavy equipment wherever possible.

4) Clean gear and tools, including shoes and clothes, before and after entering forests. Brush all soil off of tools and gear, then spray with 70% rubbing alcohol. Wash clothes with hot water and soap.

5) Wash your vehicle with a high pressure-hose or washer if you’ve been off-roading or have picked up mud from driving. Clean all soil off of tires and vehicle undercarriage. 


SHARE

While we have many people involved in efforts to understand and educate communities about Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, we can always use your help. Share the 5 preventive measures and this website with your friends, family and community so that together we make a unified effort to save our ʻōhiʻa trees. Engage with us on Facebook and come out to learn more at community meetings and tabling events listed in our Events Calendar. If you own a business or work for an organization that would like to make our ROD brochures available, email or give us a call to request brochures. If you are a teacher, print some of the educational materials and share them with your class, or develop your own materials and share them with us! 



ORGANIZE & VOLUNTEER

Talk to members of your community about organizing a community meeting and inviting us to share the latest updates and answer questions. Think of ways to organize your own community to prepare for the effects of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death or to help provide support for neighbors who have already been affected. Another great way for us to share facts and recommendations about Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death is to provide informational tables. If you want to help us staff these tables at local events, please contact the educational specialist.