Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 5, 1 May 2016 — ROD -- Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ROD -- Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death

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deadly new disease to both the science community and

the Hawaiian Islands known as Rapid 'Ōhi'a Death (ROD)

has moved swiftly across 34,000 acres of Hawai'i Island killing hundreds of thousands of 'ōhi'a trees. Its scientific name is Ceratocystis fimbriata. There is a sense of urgency for scientists struggling to find a way to curb or eliminate the disease because of the potential for it to kill the entire forested inventory of trees around the state. It is not known yet how the disease spreads from tree to tree or

from forest to forest. The disease is believed to have started in East Hawai'i Island in the Puna District. It is puzzling that the disease is found on other agricultural crops but only seems to attackthe ' ōhi'a tree. The cause is unknown and could be the result of root issues, insects, rooting animals or other sources. It first appeared about five years ago in a slow start but escalated rapidly. Black stains ean appear in the wood where there is living tissue and within two weeks, the tree dies. There is ' ōhi'a on every major island and it has proliferated across most climate zones from sea level to 10,000 feet high. Many of the trees are in areas where it's difficult to track. Currently the disease has stayed on Hawai'i Island and the State Department of Agriculture has set up emergency rules to keep ROD contained.

Quoting published literature relating to the crisis, '" ōhi'a Lehua, the most preva-

lent of the 'ohi'a species, is the backbone of Hawai'i's native forests and watersheds whieh are our source of fresh water in these islands. 'ōhi'a trees cover more than 1 million acres statewide - they are perhaps the most important tree in Hawai'i." 'Ōhi'a is also one of the most significant trees in Hawaiian culture. Its wood is used for a number of fundamental purposes that include rafters and posts for houses, all types of decking, seats and gunwales of canoes, as stock

for carving religious images called ki'i; flowers and/or leaf buds are used for lei and to decorate hula altars in ceremonial acknowledgment of the gods. In anticipation of losing mueh of the 'ōhi'a forests, prevention and mitigation plans have been developed. A set of emergency rules and sanitation protocols are in plaee to avoid spreading the disease to other geographic areas and islands by infected vehicles, shoes, and so forth. Moving ahead, the Lyon Arboretum is currently working on a seed bank to search for resistant varieties to use in a future reforestation program. Lor those interested in assisting the effort to address the crises, there is a Go Lund Me page (gofundme. com/ohialove) that is seeking donations toward building up the necessary resources in preparing the long haul to recovery. ■

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