Ohia trees are dying rapidly, Why?

[Jimbo2017]

There are many very close relatives of Ohia trees throughout the pacific. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosideros

Maybe some industrious plant nursery brought in some rooted air layered plant samples (totally legal, BTW) of a New Zealand Ohia relative tree, and that had the fungus. It's easily possible the fungus is not lethal on other Ohias, but is lethal to Hawaii Ohia. That pathogen transfer and effect is a much more likely cause than 'mutations by chemicals'.

Mauka Hilo-side