Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death Detected in Fifth Tree on O‘ahu

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death infected tree at Poamoho. Photo courtesy: DLNR

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death has been detected in a fifth tree on the island of O‘ahu, according to new information released by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Officials say that despite O‘ahu having the state’s highest population, the island has largely been spared from a wide-spread outbreak of the fungal disease.

Last week’s detection involves a tree that has the less virulent of two known strains of the fungus, C. huliohia.

The infected tree was spotted by staff from the O‘ahu branch of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.  Due to its proximity to the popular Poamoho trail, crews decided to close the trail until the tree can be removed. That is expected to happen sometime this week, and crews will also conduct sampling of surrounding trees to ensure the fungus has not spread.

DOFAW State Protection Forester Rob Hauff reminds people, entering forests anywhere in the state to practice clean hiking habits as the aggressive species, C. lukuohia, has not been detected on O‘ahu.  Some trailheads have boot disinfecting stations, but Hauff encourages everyone to clean their boots, equipment, and vehicles, no matter the location and every time you enter the forest.

More information on what you need to know is available here.

Hauff said, “We are taking a cautious and conservative approach toward removing the latest infected tree because Poamoho is a critical watershed and home to numerous endangered or threatened plants and animals.  We want to be sure someone doesn’t inadvertently spread Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death beyond this single ōhiʻa.”

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death was first detected on Hawai‘i Island in 2014. Land managers and scientists have been engaged in a six-year-long project to identify the cause of the disease and hope to ultimately discover a treatment.

On the Big Island it has killed or injured hundreds of thousands of trees, with one or the other of the two strains of the fungus now detected on Kaua‘i, Maui, and O‘ahu.

Regular aerial and ground surveys of ʻōhiʻa-dominated forests continue.  The species is considered the most important endemic tree in the state, comprising approximately 80% of Hawai‘i’s native forests.