Ohia trees are dying rapidly, Why?

[Guest]

Yes you are correct again leilanidude, everyone should be concerned about this environmental disaster even the papaya farmers to the retired bed a breakfast or vacation home owners who have come as transplants recently.

[Justin]

I hate to be a negative nelly when it comes to this, but figuring out exactly how this started, or what exacerbated the spread, is not really all that relevant. Assuming we can figure out exactly who/what to blame, it won't bring any of the trees back.

The fungus killing the trees has no known cure, and in the time it will take to figure out if there is a cure - or even a way of preventing further spread - I fear it will be too late. That's not me being a pessimist, that's me be realistic and practical in view of how quickly the disease spreads, and how quickly infected trees die.

In my opinion, we should be devoting much more time to determining what other sorts of trees would be best served to help reforest, so that Albizias and Strawberry guavas don't choke everything else out.

[rainyjim]

I'm assuming that metalaxyl or ridomil will kill the fungus. Whether or not people want to spray that in large volumes is an entirely different matter.

Keep in mind that researchers *think* this fungus is the cause. It may turn out to be something entirely different!

[Obie]

"we were concerned about our homes and children brushing their teeth and showering with the disease matter from the decaying Ohia leaves. "

And normal decaying leaves aren't a problem ??

You have decaying leaves in your catchment and you are worried about dying ohia's ?

You have previously stated that you once worked for a wood salvager. Is it possible that you and he introduced this pathogen ?

It seams to be centered around your house in Leilani !

Could the rabid anti-geothermal faction have introduced this pathogen in the mistaken belief that it would further their cause ?

Only time will tell.

In the meantime you should really be arrested for child abuse if you really believe everything you have posted here.

[Guest]

Some trees along the highway between leilani and pahoa were planted about a decade ago. They look to be thriving and doing well, while the Ohia are frying and dying. The trees look to have been planted as a project or experiment of some sort, anyone know anything about these trees? They may be a great tree to replace the indigenous Ohia, sooner the better? Good thing land in puna is cheap. Some folks may have bought 50 + acres of a beautiful ohia rain forest, now some have 50+ acres of dead, or dying ohia and plenty of staghorn.

[ElysianWort]

Just saw this issue on the state TV news. They said it is affecting only certain varieties of Ohia. Wonder how many types there are? Also the DLNR said they were talking about quarantining the areas because the fungus can survive for long periods without even being on the host ohia. So it can be spread just by touch. Hah! Quarantine?! That's absurd. No way that will work.

[rainyjim]

Shut down access to mauna kea, shut down access to the forest reserves and state parks.

Public land - aptly named!

[dan d]

Instead of speculation,heres the latest update on the situation.

http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/di..._wilt.html

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The ceratosystis wilt of the Ohias in the puna district is the definitive cause of the Disease thats killing the trees. It is a fungal infection ,it attacks the cambium layer of the tree( This is the transport mechanism for nutrients to go up the tree to the crown) The tree starves and usually dies in weeks.

They have found that the powder from boring beetles is viable and deadly to the trees. Also the spores can travel on tools( The spores are sticky),vehicle tires etc when moving from a contaminated site to a pristine Ohia area.

So if you have dead ohias please dont
(1) Take them to the land fill
(2) Dont sell them as posts
(3) If you cut them down clean your tools

Aloha

Dan Dolaptchieff

[rainyjim]

"See a short video on how to take samples from #699;#333;hi#699;a suspected of having Ceratocystis wilt or Rapid #699;#332;hi#699;a Death. WARNING: Injuring #699;#333;hi#699;a trees like this may kill them. Be sure the tree you are cutting is already dying. "

Be sure the tree is aready dying? Then whats the point of taking samples? Kind of silly.

[dan d]

Hi Jim,
Dept of Ag would like you to ONLY take a sample if your dead Ohias are out of the zone found in the Map on the link posted. Ohias are very susceptible to damage at there roots etc. They are hardy but damage easily.

There fore taking a sample might kill it . Thats why you should make sure the it is dying first


Dan D
HPP