Save ʻŌhiʻa Trees

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Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death

ʻŌhiʻa trees are so beautiful! These pillars of Hawaiian forests are celebrated in chant, song, dance, ceremony, lei, and other decorations. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, a newly identified disease caused by a foreign fungus is killing ʻōhiʻa, one of Hawaiʻi’s most important and abundant native trees. Hundreds of thousands of trees have already been killed on the Island of Hawaiʻi, and now, a new detection has been found on Kauaʻi Island, proving its potential to affect forests statewide. We can all help reduce the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). Here are a few ways you can contribute to the cause.

Video: Saving ʻŌhiʻa Documentary Trailer

Watch the trailer for the Saving ʻŌhiʻa - Hawaiʻi's Sacred Tree documentary. Knowledge is power in stopping this beautiful native tree from dying out! View Full Documentary

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Avoid Injuring ʻŌhiʻa

Wounds serve as entry points for the fungus and increase the odds that the tree will become infected and die from ROD. Avoid pruning ʻōhiʻa, and keep equipment and vehicles from damaging ʻōhiʻa trees.

Clean Soil Off Shoes and Gear

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death can travel in contaminated soil. Thoroughly clean your shoes and gear of all soil and debris and spray the bottoms of your shoes with 70% rubbing alcohol before and after entering a forest and before traveling to another island. The Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death disease can travel in contaminated soil.

Keep ʻŌhiʻa Contained

To prevent the further spread of ROD on the Island of Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi, and to prevent it from spreading to other islands, do not move ʻōhiʻa plants, ʻōhiʻa lei, flowers, as well as unfinished ʻōhiʻa wood, firewood or posts from an area known to have ROD. If you don’t know where the ʻōhiʻa wood is from, don’t move it. ʻŌhiʻa wood that is "finished" is heat treated for use in jewelry, bowls, and furniture, and may be moved. Heat treatment kills the disease.

Wash Your Vehicle

If you travel off-road in your vehicle, wash the tires and undercarriage with detergent to remove all soil or mud.

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