Report
Please report suspect ROD trees! Trees where the entire crown has turned brown may have been killed by ROD.
Island of Hawaii:
Contact the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) at 808-933-3340 or biisc@hawaii.edu, or the UH Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death extension program at 808-969-8268 or ohialove@hawaii.edu.
Neighboring islands:
If you see a tree with ROD symptoms (trees where the entire crown has turned brown over a few days or weeks) on another island, please contact the local Invasive Species Committee and include a photo and description in all email correspondence. We do not have any confirmed cases of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death from Molokaʻi or Lanaʻi and no additional cases on Maui.
Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee 808-821-1490 (kisc@hawaii.edu)
Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee 808-266-7994 (oisc@hawaii.edu)
Molokaʻi Invasive Species Committee, 808-553-5236 ext. 6585 (lbuchanan@tnc.org)
Maui Invasive Species Committee, 808-573-6472 (miscpr@hawaii.edu)
Help prevent the Spread
There is no effective treatment to protect ʻōhiʻa trees from becoming infected with Ceratocystis or cure for trees that exhibit symptoms of the disease. Therefore, we have an important role to help prevent the further spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. There are 5 simple things we can all do to help in this effort:
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 ROD. Avoid pruning and contact with heavy equipment wherever possible.
2) Don’t transport ʻōhiʻa inter-island. Follow the Hawai‘i State Department of Agriculture quarantine rule and don’t move ʻōhiʻa plants, whole or parts, ʻōhiʻa wood, or soil off of the Island of Hawaiʻi without a permit..
3) Don’t move ʻōhiʻa wood or ʻōhiʻa parts. Do not move ‘ōhi‘a wood, firewood, or posts, especially from an area known to have ROD. If you don’t know where the wood is from, don’t move it and keep it out of the greenwaste.
4) Clean gear and tools, including shoes and clothes, before and after entering forests. If you must work around or cut ʻōhiʻa, clean tools and gear before and after use, especially when used on infected ʻōhiʻa. Brush all soil off of tools and gear, then spray with 70% rubbing alcohol. Shoes and clothes should also be cleaned before and after entering forests. Wash clothes with hot water and soap.
5) Wash your vehicle with a high pressure-hose or washer if you’ve been off-roading or have picked up mud from driving. Wash the tires and undercarriage of your vehicle with detergent and remove all soil or mud, especially after traveling from an area with ROD and/or if you have traveled off-road.
Share
While we have many people involved in efforts to understand and educate communities about Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, we can always use your help.
- Share the 5 preventive measures and this website with your friends, family and community so that together we make a unified effort to save our ʻōhiʻa trees.
- Engage with us on Facebook and come out to learn more at community meetings.
- If you own a business or work for an organization that would like to make our ROD brochures available, email or give us a call to request brochures.
- If you are a teacher, print (or ask us for printed copies) of the educational materials and share them with your class, or develop your own materials and share them with us!
Organize and Volunteer
Talk to members of your community about organizing a community meeting and inviting us to share the latest updates and answer questions. Think of ways to organize your own community to prepare for the effects of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death or to help provide support for neighbors who have already been affected. Another great way for us to share facts and recommendations about Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death is to provide informational tables. If you want to help us staff these tables at local events, please email us at ohialove@hawaii.edu.