According to Kim Rogers, a R.O.D spokesperson, it was discovered last Spring in the Moloa’a Forest Reserve are. Then later in the year it was detected in three other distinct location



“One was on the north side of the island -- Mauka. The third was on the South side of the island -- Mauka. And the fourth one came toward the middle of December and that was on the backside of Anahola Mountain." Said Rogers



Trying to keep it under control has been a multi-agency effort made-up of local, state, federal AND private organizations. They’re determined to save what's left of Kaua'is Ohi'a trees.



From May 2018 when R.O.D symptoms were first spotted, Rogers said the teams have collected multitudes of Ohi'a samples. By the year’s end 20-trees had tested positive.



"We are continuing to test trees. A good decent amount come back non-detected. And it's the smaller amount that's coming back positive with R.O.D." Said Rogers.



In December things went from bad to worse when the second and more aggressive R.O.D species was detected.



"These two species of Ceratocystis -- Ceratocystis huliohia and Ceratocystis lukuohia are known to target only Ohi'a trees."



Once an Ohi'a tree is infected, Rogers said there's no saving it. The way trees get exposed to the disease is by way of open wound.



"And so once it does get infected -- the fungus it is not visible on the the exterior of the trees. So it's not visible on the bark, on the leaves, or the flower. It actually enters the sapwood." Said Rogers.



Keeping R.O.D from getting out of hand hasn't been easy work, but Rogers said narrowing it down to a three-part process has helped.



"First with aerial surveys and helicopters where foresters go out and they're surveying the forest. Then the second step is to go in with some high tech drones and do some fine imagery."



Last -- boots on the ground, where crews physically take samples of trees that exhibit symptoms.

Through all the effort, Rogers said there’s hope.



"We may have resistant trees. And the second is that we caught it a little bit earlier and we know and we know a lot more about it, so hopefully we can contain it or manage it a little bit better in earlier stages." Said Rogers.