Schatz calls for resources to combat rapid ohia death

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is pressing federal and state authorities to bolster efforts to eradicate the fungus killing tens of thousands of acres of native ohia trees on the Big Island, comparing the spread of the disease known as rapid ohia death to a large forest fire in scope and degree of devastation.

The infestation is killing thousands of ohia trees and threatening native forests and watershed areas on Hawaii island, Schatz said.

Schatz (D-Hawaii) sent a letter Monday to U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell asking her to dispatch additional personnel and resources to keep the infestation currently in the Puna and Hilo districts from spreading to the Hamakua Coast.

“Preventing this will take sustained vigilance to identify infested trees — along with continued investment in research to understand (the disease) and its epidemiology, and to develop better management responses,” Schatz said in his letter Monday.

Gov. David Ige said Tuesday that he has had discussions with Schatz about the possibility of declaring a state of emergency regarding the infestation.

“I am concerned about the disease and am currently exploring all options, including federal, state and county funds that may be available to protect ohia and help stop the spread of this disease,” Ige told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Schatz said ohia trees on an estimated 4,624 acres have been completely lost, and about 32,733 acres have been partially infested with the fungus. Ohia trees cover more than 1 million acres statewide.

Ohia trees are regarded as a “keystone tree,” important in helping to create a native forest that provides shelter to endangered plants and animals and to preserving an island’s watershed, which provides water for drinking and irrigation.

With a more than 20 percent mortality rate, rapid ohia death is deadlier than the disease known as sudden oak death, which has a rate of 3 to 5 percent, Schatz said.

Scientists, Schatz said, have indicated there is a narrow window of opportunity to get ahead of the crisis, and a state of emergency declaration would allow Ige to redirect state funds to address the matter.

The fungus causes the crowns of mature ohia to turn yellow, then brown and to die within days to weeks, according to state agriculture officials.

A recent survey showed the spread of rapid ohia death has followed the same path as wind patterns on Hawaii island.

Scientists maintain that when beetles bore into contaminated wood, they create a frass, or powder, that can contain the rapid ohia death fungus, Ceratocystis fimbriata — a vascular wilt fungus. The frass can be spread by the wind.

Prevailing winds have kept the infected frass from spreading to the Hamakua Coast. But if the coast becomes infected, the wind will begin working against efforts to contain the fungus to one island, Schatz said.

“It is only a matter of time before a strong weather event carries the fine, talc-like frass across the channel to Maui,” Schatz said.

State conservation officials have warned the public against entering areas with rapid ohia death and possibly carrying out spores on vehicles and footwear.

In August the state imposed a ban on the export of ohia, its parts and products from the Big Island without a permit. The Department of Agriculture put the quarantine in place because of concerns that logs, leaves, flowers, seeds and cuttings could potentially spread the disease.