The lehua blossoms of Luluʻupali. "Famed in songs of Kauaʻi were the lehua blossoms of Luluʻupali."
Mary Kawena Pukui
‘Ōlelo No‘eau - Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings
Honolulu. Bishop Museum Press, 1983.
New Detection in Kalalau Valley
In April, the Kauaʻi Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Rapid Response Team conducted helicopter surveys that identified an ʻōhiʻa tree in Kalalau Valley displaying visual symptoms consistent with the fungal disease known as Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. Subsequent testing confirmed the tree, found on a steep ridge in a remote area of the valley and away from maintained trails, tested positive for the fungal species known as Ceratocystis huliohia. This species, a canker pathogen, typically kills one limb at a time until the tree is dead; itʻs a slower process than how the more virulent C. lukuohia kills much more quickly by choking the water supply to the entire canopy of a tree at one time. No detections of either fungal species leading to ROD have yet to be made in the Alakai Plateau or in any of the west side valleys of Hanapepe, Olokele, and Waimea.
As of the end of May, a total of 155 trees have tested positive for C. lukuohia on Kauaʻi, 107 tested positive for C. huliohia, two tested positive for both species, and no Ceratocystis was detected in 232 sampled trees.
Events
Click on the photo to register for our next Forest Friday Conversation on Friday, August 6, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. Our topic for discussion: water.
Science
On Kauaʻi, we benefit from the extensive scientific research efforts taking place on Hawaiʻi Island. One such study taps the Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Lab (SDAV) from UH Hilo to conduct aerial surveys across Hawaiʻi Island to identify suspect ROD trees--as evidenced by canopies of reddish-brown leaves. (We do similar aerial surveys on Kauaʻi to identify suspect ROD trees.) One such study at the Kahuku Unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park looks at the abundance and distribution of suspect ROD trees in fenced vs. unfenced areas.
The red circles above are trees that have a high level of confidence for the presence of ROD while the orange circles are trees that have a medium level of confidence for ROD.
The green lines indicate fences along the border of the Park. The forest to the east (right) of the park is state Ka‘u Forest Reserve. Feral pigs and mouflon sheep have largely been removed from the Park, whereas pigs are abundant in the state forest. Open wounds serve as entry points for ROD. One of the major ways trees get wounded are from feral grazing hooved animals (ungulates) that peel the bark off trees and/or damage roots. This study's results are consistent with similar surveys conducted elsewhere on Hawai'i Island. These survey maps provide insight into management efforts that can help reduce the spread of ROD.
Faces of the Forest
Much of the work of saving ʻōhiʻa takes place in the forest. That is, behind the scenes. But who are these folks? Hereʻs a short video highlighting a few key dedicated people working to save Kaua'i forests on our behalf. Click on any photo to learn more about what they do.
Cultural
You Can Help Save 'Ōhi'a
1) Avoid injuring ʻōhiʻa. Wounds serve as entry points for the fungus and increase the odds that the tree will become infected and die from Rapid 'Ōhi'a Death. Avoid pruning, weed-whacking, blazing trails, and stepping on roots wherever possible.
2) Clean gear and tools, including shoes and clothes before and after entering the forest and areas where ʻōhiʻa may be present. Brush all dirt off tools and gear, then spray with 70% rubbing alcohol. Wash clothes with hot soapy water and dry on high heat.
3) Wash your vehicle with a high-pressure hose if you’ve been off-roading or have picked up mud from driving. Clean all mud off tires--including mountain bikes and motorcycles--and your vehicle's undercarriage.
4) Don’t move ʻōhiʻa wood or ʻōhiʻa parts, including adjacent soil. The disease can be spread to new areas by moving plants, plant parts, and wood from infected areas to non-infected areas.
5) Keep your eyes open. If you see ʻōhiʻa with a limb or crown turning brown, take a picture and contact Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee via email (saveohia@hawaii.edu) or phone (808-821-1490). Be sure to provide details on the tree's exact location. Samples of the wood must be taken by trained technicians and tested in a laboratory to confirm the presence of the ROD fungi.
Sharing is Caring. Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues--anyone who is in a position to help educate neighbors and visitors about ʻōhiʻa and Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. To subscribe to receive your own copy of the newsletter, click here.
