HILO, Hawaii – The Hawaii County Council Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability was given a detailed update on Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death last Tuesday.

The fungus, Ceratocystis, has impacted 50,000 acres of ‘ōhi‘a forest, representing about 10% of all ‘ōhi‘a forest on Hawai‘i Island. Experts have been seeing 100% mortality in areas where the disease has been present for

several years.

J.B. Friday, an extension forester with the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, walked councilmembers through a power point presentation containing the latest information in the ongoing fight to contain the disease.

CTAHR has developed a Strategic Response Plan for Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara introduced a resolution in a later commitee meeting urging the legislature to fund the first phase of the plan, which needs an estimated $3.6 million for 2017, and $3.2 million for the following two years.