Celebrate the holidays with us by making an ʻōhiʻa-free holiday wreath to give as a gift or to decorate your hale!
In this FREE workshop, youʻll learn how to make a holiday wreath; how to harvest plants sustainably; and how to protect ʻōhiʻa and prevent the spread of the fungus thatʻs killing our most abundant tree in the forest--ʻōhiʻa.
Sponsored by the Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD) Outreach Team, your local Invasive Species Committees (ISCs), Watershed Partnerships (WP's), and the Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW).
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.
