Ohia trees are dying rapidly, Why?

[Midnight Rambler]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

Locals tell me they've seen ROD-like ohia death since 2000 or earlier, up mauka, many miles away from PGV.

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This seems unlikely. Many of the big ohia around Hawaii Volcanoes (especially between Kipuka Puaulu and Kipuka Ki) and at Manuka have been dying since that time, but it's not the same thing. The trees drop their leaves, then sometimes struggle on for a few years with just a few branches alive, before finally dying completely. That's more likely drought-related dieback as those places don't get as much rain and fog as they used to (almost all the hapuu at Manuka have died as well). And actual ROD still isn't in those areas.